Fact Sheet: VA benefits for former POWs
Former American prisoners of war (POWs) are eligible for special veterans benefits, including enrollment in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care for treatment in VA hospitals and clinics without co-payments as well as disability compensation for injuries and
diseases that have been associated with internment.  These benefits are in addition to regular veterans benefits and services to which they, as veterans, are entitled.

Records show that 142,246 Americans were captured and interned during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the Somalia and Kosovo conflicts, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

There were no service members reported missing in action from the Bosnia deployment nor from recent Afghanistan operations.  Of the 125,214 Americans surviving captivity, about 29,350 were estimated to be alive at the end of 2005. 

American Prisoners Of War at End of 2005
Captured and Interned Died while POW Returned to U.S. Military Control
Refused   to Return Alive at end of 2005

GRAND TOTAL 142,246 17,009 125,214 21 29,350
WW I 4,120 147 3,973 -- --
WW II 130,201 14,072 116,129 -- 26,750
Korean 7,140 2,701 4,418 21 2,000
Vietnam 725 64 661 -- 579
Gulf War 47 25 21 -- 21
Somalia 1 -- 1 -- 1
Kosovo 3 -- 3 -- 3
Iraq 9 -- 8 -- 8

The estimate of the number alive from World War II and the Korean War at the end of 2005 is based on mortality estimates from VA's Office of the Actuary that are rounded to the nearest 50.  This report assumes all returned POWs of the Gulf War, Somalia and Kosovo are still
alive, but the government has not individually tracked their vital
status.  Because of the advanced age of World War I veterans, estimates
of those alive would be too unreliable to report.

Congress has defined a prisoner of war as a person who, while serving on active duty, was forcibly detained by an enemy government or a hostile force, during a period of war or in situations comparable to war.

With nine out of ten former POWs having served in World War II, the
estimated number of living POWs decreased from nearly 32,500 to 29,000
during 2005 due mainly to the estimated death rates for World War II and
Korean POWs.

Compensation
As of August 2006, there were 16,884 former POWs receiving compensation benefits from VA.  Approximately 13,000 of them are rated as 100 percent disabled.

Studies have shown that the physical hardships and psychological stress
endured by POWs have life-long effects on health and on social and
vocational adjustment.  These studies also indicate increased
vulnerability to psychological stress.  The laws on former POW benefits
recognize that military medical records do not cover periods of
captivity.  For many diseases, unless there is evidence of some other
cause, VA disability compensation can be paid on the basis of a
presumption that a disease present today is associated with the
veteran's captivity or internment.

For POWs detained for 30 days or more, such eligibility covers any of
the following illnesses that are found at a compensable level (at least
10 percent disabling): avitaminosis; beriberi; chronic dysentery;
cirrhosis of the liver; helminthiasis; irritable bowel syndrome and
malnutrition, including associated optic atrophy.  Also covered are:
pellagra and any other nutritional deficiency; peptic ulcer disease; and
peripheral neuropathy, except where directly related to infectious
causes.  Several categories of diseases are presumptively associated
with captivity without any 30-day limit:  psychosis; any anxiety state;
dysthymic disorders; cold injury; post-traumatic arthritis; strokes; and
common heart diseases.

The rate of VA monthly compensation, according to degree of disability,
ranges from $112 to $2,393 per month.  Veterans rated as 30 percent or
more disabled qualify for additional benefits based upon the number of
dependents.  Dependents of those rated 100 percent disabled may qualify
for educational assistance.

Spouses of veterans who die as a result of service-connected
disabilities are eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation.
Spouses of former POWs who were rated 100 percent disabled and who died of a condition unrelated to their service also may be eligible,
depending on the date of death and how long the veteran held the 100
percent disability rating.  Those non-service-connected deaths prior to
October 1999 are covered if the former POW had been 100 percent disabled for at least 10 years.  More recent non-service-connected deaths are covered under a law that provides the benefit when the former POWs was 100 percent disabled for a year or more.

Medical Care
Former POWs receive special priority for VA health-care enrollment, even if their illness has not been formally associated with their service.
Former POWs are exempt from making means test co-payments for inpatient and outpatient medical care and medications, but they have the same co-pay rules as other veterans for extended care.  They also are now eligible for dental care without any length-of-interment requirement.

VA periodically has provided training for its medical staff about former
POWs, and an online curriculum is maintained at
http://www1.va.gov/VHI/page.cfm?pg=9.

Outreach Campaign
In collaboration with its Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War,
VA launched a campaign in 2003 to ensure that eligible former POWs are
aware of their VA benefits. 

Direct mail was used where addresses could be found for veterans who were not currently on the rolls.  Those already receiving VA benefits were reminded of the possible availability of increased compensation if a condition has worsened, and they also were alerted to the improvement of benefits in recent years.  In
addition, to seek former POWs for whom VA could not locate an address
and to reach widows of veterans who may have died of a service-connected condition, VA issued news releases and provided interviews to alert the public to expanded policies.  Brochures, exhibits and VA Web sites were improved to provide more information to former POWs and the public.

Later in 2004 and 2005, VA initiated another outreach campaign to locate
former POWs who were experiencing two new presumptive conditions - heart disease or stroke - to alert them to the change in law.

Additional Resources
POW coordinators are assigned to each VA regional office and medical
center and are available to provide more information.  Former POWs may contact VA regional offices with general benefits questions at
800-827-1000.    Medical eligibility questions may be directed to
877-222-8387.  Additional information for former POWs also is available
from VA's Web site at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/POW/.