# Adjustments for Service-Connected Benefits
**AGENCY:**
Department of Veterans Affairs.
**ACTION:**
Notice.
**SUMMARY:**
As required by the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2003, Pub. L. 108-147, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hereby giving notice of adjustments in certain benefit rates. These adjustments affect the compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) programs.
**DATES:**
These adjustments are effective December 1, 2003, the date provided by Pub. L. 108-147.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Paul Trowbridge, Consultant, Compensation and Pension Service (212B), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273-7218.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
Section 2 of Pub. L. 108-147 provides for an increase in each of the rates in sections 1114, 1115(1), 1162, 1311, 1313, and 1314 of title 38, United States Code. VA is required to increase these benefit rates by the same percentage as increases in the benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act. In computing increased rates in the cited title 38 sections, fractions of a dollar are rounded down to the nearest dollar. The increased rates are required to be published in the *Federal Register* .
The Social Security Administration has announced that there will be a 2.1 percent cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits. Therefore, applying the same percentage, the following rates for VA compensation and DIC programs will be effective December 1, 2003:
| Disability evaluation | Monthly rate |
| --- | --- |
| 10 | $106 |
| 20 | 205 |
| 30 | 316 |
| 40 | 454 |
| 50 | 646 |
| 60 | 817 |
| 70 | 1,029 |
| 80 | 1,195 |
| 90 | 1,344 |
| 100 | 2,239 |
| (38 U.S.C. 1114(k) | Monthly rate |
| --- | --- |
| 38 U.S.C. 1114(k) | $82; $2,785; $82; $3,907 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1114(l) | $2,785 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1114(m) | $3,073 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1114(n) | $3,496 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1114(o) | $3,907 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1114(p) | $3,907 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1114(r) | $1,677; $2,497 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1114(s) | $2,506 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1115(1) | Monthly rate |
| --- | --- |
| 38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(A) | $127 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(B) | $219; $65 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(C) | $86; $65 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(D) | $103 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(E) | $241 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(F) | $202 |
| Pay grade | Monthly rate |
| --- | --- |
| E-1 | $967 |
| E-2 | 967 |
| E-3 | 967 |
| E-4 | 967 |
| E-5 | 967 |
| E-6 | 967 |
| E-7 | 1,000 |
| E-8 | 1,056 |
| E-9 | 1,102 |
| W-1 | 1,022 |
| W-2 | 1,063 |
| W-3 | 1,094 |
| W-4 | 1,157 |
| O-1 | 1,022 |
| O-2 | 1,056 |
| O-3 | 1,130 |
| O-4 | 1,195 |
| O-5 | 1,316 |
| O-6 | 1,483 |
| O-7 | 1,602 |
| O-8 | 1,758 |
| O-9 | 1,881 |
| O-10 | 2,063 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1311(a) through (d) | Monthly rate |
| --- | --- |
| 38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1) | $967 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(2) | 208 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1311(b) | 241 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1311(c) | 241 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1311(d) | 115 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1313 | Monthly rate |
| --- | --- |
| 38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(1) | $410 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(2) | $590 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(3) | $767 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(4) | $767; $148 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1314 | Monthly rate |
| --- | --- |
| 38 U.S.C. 1314(a) | $241 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1314(b) | 410 |
| 38 U.S.C. 1314(c) | 205 |
Dated: February 20, 2004.
Anthony J. Principi,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.