washingtonscene
■ S. 546 — 20 new cosponsors (125-per- In addition, the bill would modify the
cent increase) law governing the DIC offset to Survivor
SBP-DIC offset repeal Benefi t Plan (SBP) annuities to ensure
■ H.R. 775 — 84 new cosponsors (55-per- whatever court decision is rendered in a
cent increase) currently pending lawsuit by certain SBP-
■ S. 535 — 29 new cosponsors (181-percent DIC survivors would apply equally to all
increase) SBP-DIC widows.
TRICARE fee protection Other legislators and military and vet-
■ H.R. 816 — 59 new cosponsors (82-per- erans’ association representatives attend-
cent increase) ed the press conference to express their
MOAA is proud of the Hill-storming ef- support for the new legislation.
forts of its council and chapter presidents
and national board and staff members
to meet with their legislators. However, Disability
none of this would be possible without
the grassroots efforts of our 370,000-plus Board Expands
members across the country. It’s because
all of you are willing to write, call, and Review
e-mail your legislators that MOAA has so
Board to review all conditions.
much success on Capitol Hill.
Buyer, Walz
Seek Fixes
P
entagon officials announced
in May that the Physical Disability
Board of Review (PDBR) will loos-
en current restrictions in two areas.
Bill would increase DIC rate.
The PDBR allows disabled service-
members who were medically separated
from service since Sept. 11, 2001, an op-
n May 5, Reps. Steve Buyer (R- portunity to have their disability ratings
Rep. Steve
Ind.) and Tim Walz (D-Minn.) an- reviewed to ensure fairness and accuracy.
Buyer
Onounced the introduction of their Currently, the board is limited to re-
(R-Ind.)
bipartisan Survivor Benefi t Improvement viewing the specifi c condition(s) that
Act of 2009 (H.R. 2243). MOAA President made a servicemember unfi t for contin-
Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret., joined ued military service. The board now will
their Capitol Hill press conference to expand its review to include all disability
voice MOAA’s strong support. fi ndings of a service during the medical
The proposed legislation has two evaluation process.
benefi ts for survivors. First, it would Additionally, any service-specifi c or
increase the amount of VA Dependency DoD guidance at the time that confl icted
and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) with the VA Schedule of Rating Disabili-
payable to survivors of currently serving ties (VASRD) will be disregarded during
Rep. Tim
Walz
servicemembers or veterans who die of a the review. In many cases, more restrictive
(D-Minn.)
service-connected cause. It would set the DoD/service guidance caused members to
DIC rate at 55 percent of the disability receive a lower disability rating than the
compensation paid to a totally disabled VASRD would have provided.
veteran. As a practical matter, that would MOAA previously identifi ed these
be $1,470 monthly versus the current board shortfalls to congressional staffers
rate of $1,154. and Pentagon offi cials and applauds DoD’s
34 MILITARY OFFICER JULY 2009
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