thedrifter
01-08-07, 07:28 PM
January 08, 2007
Benefits examined for vets who can’t work
By Rick Maze
Staff writer
The Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission will tackle a thorny issue at its next meeting: the awarding of extra benefits to veterans who are unable to work.
The next meetings of the congressionally appointed commission will be on Jan. 18 and 19.
Commissioners will hear details from Center for Naval Analyses about the study of what is called individual unemployability, which can result in a veteran being considered totally disabled even if their actual disability is not that severe.
Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, the former chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has been among the few politicians to question unemployability as a factor in disability pay. Craig said getting extra money for not working could be a disincentive to getting better.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson had ordered a complete review of every veteran who has unemployability as a factor in their disability pay, but revoked that order after veterans complained that the review seemed to be an attempt to cut benefits without following the normal ratings review process.
Commissioners also will hear from military and veterans’ organizations about changing the federal government’s policy of providing compensation for disabilities that were incurred or aggravated in the line of duty. But exactly what constitutes “line of duty” injuries for service members who consider themselves on call 24 hours a day is a matter of some controversy.
The commission, formed by Congress in 2003 during debate about combining military and veterans’ benefits, is expected to send a final report to Congress in October.
Ellie
Benefits examined for vets who can’t work
By Rick Maze
Staff writer
The Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission will tackle a thorny issue at its next meeting: the awarding of extra benefits to veterans who are unable to work.
The next meetings of the congressionally appointed commission will be on Jan. 18 and 19.
Commissioners will hear details from Center for Naval Analyses about the study of what is called individual unemployability, which can result in a veteran being considered totally disabled even if their actual disability is not that severe.
Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, the former chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has been among the few politicians to question unemployability as a factor in disability pay. Craig said getting extra money for not working could be a disincentive to getting better.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson had ordered a complete review of every veteran who has unemployability as a factor in their disability pay, but revoked that order after veterans complained that the review seemed to be an attempt to cut benefits without following the normal ratings review process.
Commissioners also will hear from military and veterans’ organizations about changing the federal government’s policy of providing compensation for disabilities that were incurred or aggravated in the line of duty. But exactly what constitutes “line of duty” injuries for service members who consider themselves on call 24 hours a day is a matter of some controversy.
The commission, formed by Congress in 2003 during debate about combining military and veterans’ benefits, is expected to send a final report to Congress in October.
Ellie