American Former Prisoners of War -- Benefits
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General InformationOver 16,000 POWs are receiving disability compensation for service-connected injuries, diseases, or illnesses.
For purposes of disability compensation, Congress has recognized that certain diseases are associated with a Former POW's captivity. These are called presumptive medical conditions, and if a former POW is diagnosed as having one or more of these conditions to a degree of 10% disabling, VA presumes that it is associated with the POW experience. The presumption of association is made for seven conditions regardless of the length of captivity:
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Psychosis
Dysthymic disorder, or depressive neurosis
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis
Any of the Anxiety States
Cold Injury
Stroke and complications
Heart Disease and complications
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Avitaminosis
Chronic Dysentery
Helminthiasis
Malnutrition, including associated Optic Atrophy deficiency
Peptic Ulcer Disease
Beriberi
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Pellagra and any other nutritional deficiency
Peripheral Neuropathy, except where directly related to infectious causes
More Information on Benefits
Two documents have been added to the amount of information for former prisoners of war. One is in the form of a pamphlet, the other a fact sheet. Both offer descriptions of benefits and services for Former Prisoners of War:
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Former Prisoner of War pamphlet, KEEPING THE PROMISE, dated 10/5/04, 41KB.
The
POW Fact Sheet.
Applying for Benefits
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Former POWs can apply for Compensation for their service-connected injuries, diseases or illnesses by downloading, completing and submitting VA Form 21-526 (Veterans Application for Compensation or Pension) (PDF file, 130 KB).
The form can be delivered in person or mailed to the VA regional office serving the applicant's residence.
An electronic version of the form may be completed on the Internet at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp.
In order to properly evaluate their health for purposes of disability compensation, former POWs should arrange for a POW protocol examination at the nearest VA Medical Center.