Former American Prisoners of War are eligible for special veterans benefits, including medical care in VA hospitals and disability compensation for injuries and diseases caused by internment. These benefits are in addition to regular veterans benefits and services to which they, as veterans, are entitled.

As a prisoner of war the starvation, exposure to the elements and other things encountered by the Prisoner of War have been proven to cause long term damage, of which you may not be aware,  to vital organs. Now, many years later many common conditions  that you may now have (like arthritis, heart disease, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, etc.) can be directly traced back to your incarceration as a prisoner of war and as such you are entitled to receive VA disability compensation for them.

The American Ex-Prisoners of War would like to help you apply for your benefits or get your rating increased to the full 100%. We have National Service Officer throughout the country that have been trained to help you present your claim to the VA as former POW. There is no charge and you do nothave to be a member of AXPOW to receive this assistance.

We are trying to find all of our former Prisoners of War and their widows so we can help them! Please contact one of our National Service Officers if you are a former POW or the widow of a former POW and not currently receiving your benefits or you are not at the 100% rating - a listing of them can be found on this page of the website - American Ex-POW National Service Officers.

COMPENSATION
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. A former POW is eligible for disability compensation if any of the presumptive disabilities are found at any time at a compensable level (at least 10 percent disabling). For POWs detained for 30 days or more, it will be presumed that the disability was incurred in or aggravated during military service, unless there is evidence of some other cause.

Compensation is paid based on the degree of disability. 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 rated 100% disabled for one year or more prior to death are eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation.

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-internment requirement.

Certain veterans are eligible for disability compensation based on the presumption that their disability is service-connected. In addition to the presumptives for various classes of veterans (i.e. Agent Orange, ALS, etc.) certain disabilities are presumptives unique to former prisoners of war.

For former POWs who were imprisoned for any length of time, the following disabilities are presumed to be service-connected if they are rated at least 10 percent disabling anytime after military service: psychosis, any of the anxiety states, dysthymic disorder, organic residuals of frostbite, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, heart disease or hypertensive vascular disease and their complications, stroke and residuals of stroke.

For former POWs who were imprisoned for at least 30 days, the following conditions are also presumed to be service-connected: avitaminosis, beriberi, chronic dysentery, helminthiasis, malnutrition (including optic atrophy), pellagra and/or other nutritional deficiencies, irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer disease, peripheral neuropathy, osteoporosis (with PTSD) and cirrhosis of the liver.

Only a doctor can make the final decision, but the Service Officer can help you write your history so the facts are presented. You and your spouse can sit down with an NSO, go carefully over the necessary forms, and then talk you about what is happening in your life that may make you eligible for compensation. He or she will make no promises, but will put forth every effort to assist you.

In order to work with you, a POW Service Officer must have a Power of Attorney, issued to the American Ex-Prisoners of War. This has nothing to do with any of your financial arrangements; it is ONLY to grant authority to use your military records as needed to back up your claim for disability compensation. And by the way, don't neglect to try for compensation - it isn't a handout; you have earned every penny!

If you want to present your claims as a POW to the DVA, The best course of action is this: Ask the American Ex-POW National Service Officer in your area to help you put your claim in order, to present to your VA Regional Office. They have been trained in putting your POW experience testimony in the best order and light, for considering how the 20-plus POW presumptives may apply to your case. They relate to you and your POW experience in a way that most VA interviewers cannot. If there is no AXPOW NSO available, then another veterans service officer (DAV, VFW, etc.) or your county veterans service officer could be helpful. But remember, a qualified AXPOW NSO knows how to relate the POW presumptives best, to your personal case. They are your “specialists”.

Unless you have some very special connections with the VA POW Coordinator or specialist, DO NOT simply take your papers and present yourself to the closest VA hospital for a protocol examination. If you intend to file a claim, you need to use a service officer from the very start. The VA is very much interested in reaching out to all the POWs who have never connected with them, or who do not have 100% disability compensation already. They want to reach out and help upgrade all POWs with their VA claim benefits. And they are very helpful in working with our AXPOW NSOs, to achieve the highest disability compensation rating possible for us. Your AXPOW NSOs are here to help! Before you go to the VA, see us, or another qualified veterans service officer.

For more information contact one of our NSO Officers Or the Department of Veterans Affairs.