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Cheyenne VAMC's Former Prisioner of War (FPOW) Advocate Program: Never Forget

Mary Walton, Cheyenne VAMC FPOW Advocate

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Who Are Former Prisoners of War?

Since World War I, more than 142,000 Americans, including 85 women, have been captured and interned as POWs.  Not included in this figure are nearly 93,000 Americans who were lost or never recovered.  Only one fifth of America's former POWs since World War I are still living (about 22,641).  More than 90% of living former POWs were captured and interned during World War II.  About 15,367 former POWs are in receipt of compensation for service-connected injuries, diseases, or illnesses.

In 1981, Congress passed Public Law 97-37 entitled "Former Prisoners of War Benefit Act."  This law accomplished several things.  It established an Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War and mandated medical and dental care.  It also identified certain diagnoses as presumptive service-connected conditions for former POWs.  Subsequent public laws and policy decisions by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs have added additional diagnoses to the list of presumptive conditions.

 

How Should a Former POW Apply for VA Compensation?

Former POWs can apply for compensation for their service-connected injuries, diseases, or illnesses by completing VA Form 21-526, Veterans Application for Compensation and/or Pension.  They can also apply online at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp.

For more information, contact Cheyenne VA Medical Center's FPOW Advocate, Mary Walton at (970) 313-0027 or visit http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/benefits/pow/.

 

 

What Are the Presumptive Conditions for Former POWs?

Today, former POWs are generally entitled to a presumption of service-connection for eight diseases, regardless of the length of captivity, if manifested to a degree of 10 percent or more after discharge or release from active military, naval, or air service.  These diseases are:

 

Psychosis	Cold Injury
Dysthymic disorder or depressive neurosis	Stroke and Complications
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis	Heart Disease and Complications
Any of the Anxiety States	Osteoporosis, on or after October 10, 2008, when Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is diagnosed

 

If a former POW was interned for 30 days or more, the following additional diseases are presumed to be service-connected:

Avitaminosis	Beriberi
Chronic Dysentery	Cirrhosis of the Liver
Helminthiasis	Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Malnutrition, including associated Optic Atrophy Any other nutritional deficiency	Pellagra and any other nutritional deficiency Peripheral Neuropathy, except where directly related to infectious causes
Peptic Ulcer Disease	Osteoporosis, on or after September 28, 2009

 

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