Veterans Administration

Vermont Avenue between H and I Streets NW.
Information: Room 132; DIstrict 6110, Branch 521
Press Relations: Room 160; DIstrict 6110, Branch 470

OFFICIALS
Administrator of Veterans Affairs Brig. Gen. Frank T. Hines
Assistant Administrator (Medical and Domiciliary Care, Construction,and Supplies) Col. George E. Ijams
Assistant Administrator (Compensation, Pension, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Education) Major Omer W. Clark
Assistant Administrator (Finance and Insurance) Harold W. Breining
Executive Assistant to the Administrator of Veterans Affairs Adelbert D. Hiller
Solicitor Edward E. Odom
Chairman, Board of Veterans Appeals Robert L. Jarnagin
Vice Chairman, Board of Veterans Appeals William B. Stacom
Medical Director Dr. Charles M. Griffith
Director of National Homes Col. Carl A. Neves
Director of Construction Col. Louis H. Tripp
Director of Supplies Raymond C. Kidd
Director of Dependents' Claims Service R.J. Hinton
Director of Veterans' Claims Service George E. Brown
Director of Vocational Rehabilitation and Education Services H.V. Stirling
Director of Finance Maurice Collins
Director of Insurance Horace L. McCoy
Special Assistant Solicitor Yorick D. Mathes
Assistant Solicitor, Legal Service George P. Hughes
Assistant Solicitor, Guardianship Service Charles E. Schuyler
Legislative Counsel Guy H. Birdsall
Director of Personnel G. Henderson Sweet
Budget Office and Chief of Statistics Samuel M. Moore, Jr.
Chief, Press Relations Edward McE. Lewis
Law Librarian Mrs. Gladys L. MacInnis
Medical Librarian Elizabeth Pomeroy


Creation and Authority.--The Veterans Administration was created by Executive Order 5398, dated July 21, 1930, under authorization of the act of Congress approved July 3, 1930 (46 Stat. 1016; 38 U.S.C. 11). This act authorized the President to consolidate and coordinate under a single control all Federal agencies dealing with veterans' affairs. The order consolidated in the Veterans Administration, the Bureau of Pensions (formerly under the Secretary of the Interior), the United States Veterans Bureau, and the National Home

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for Disabled Volunteer SOldiers (now known as the National Homes Service). The Veterans Administration is an independent establishment under the President.

Purpose.--The Veterans Administration administers all laws relating to the relief of, and other benefits provided by law for, former members of the military and naval forces. It is responsible for extending relief to veterans and to dependents of deceased veterans of all wars, and to veterans and to dependents of deceased veterans who served in the Government military and naval establishments during time of peace, as provided for by various acts of Congress. These laws including, in addition to compensation, pensions, vocational rehabilitation, and education, the guarantee of loans for purchase or construction of homes, farms and business property, readjustment allowance for veterans who are unemployed, Government life insurance, death benefits, adjusted compensation, emergency and other officers' retirement pay, and physical examinations, hospital and out-patient treatment, or domiciliary care. The Veterans Administration also provides Government life Insurance and administers the insurance section of the SOldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act for persons in the active military service.

Organization.--The Administrator of Veterans Affairs is charge with the control, direction, and management of all agencies and activities which compose the Veterans Administration, and all final decisions or orders of any part of the organization are, upon appeal, subject to review by him.

The Veterans Administration organization consists of the following offices and board in the Central Office, and in the field the Regional Offices, the Insular Offices, Area Offices, and Facilities, the managers of which are directly responsible to the Administration of Veterans Affairs for the performance of all functions assigned to them:

Office of Assistant Administrator, Compensation, Pension, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Education

Office of Assistant Administrator, Finance and Insurance

Office of Assistant Administrator, Medical and Domiciliary Care, Construction and Supplies

Office of Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Office of the Solicitor
Board of Veterans Appeals
Regional Offices in the Field
Insular Offices in the Field
Facilities in the Field
Area Offices in the Field

Activities

Office of Assistant Administrator, Compensation, Pension, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Education

Veterans' Claims Service.--This Service is under a Director who is responsible for requesting, receiving, and assembling evidence for the determination of entitlement ot pension and compensation in claims of veterans and of dependents of living veterans; determining the rate of pension and compensation of such claims; determining whether a pensionable disability incurred in or aggravated by service during World War II constitutes a vocational handicap; preparation and interpretation of a disability rating schedule and amendments thereto; and conducting research under a definite program by systematically

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assembling, recording, and evaluating disability factors and their effect upon earning capacity.

Dependents' Claims Service.--The Director of this Service is responsible for requesting, receiving, and assembling evidence for the determination of entitlement ot pension in the claims of widows and dependents of deceased veterans; determining the rate of pension in the claims of widows and dependents of deceased veterans; adjudicating claims for reimbursement for burial, funeral, and transportation expenses; and determining the distribution of accrued funds of deceased beneficiaries.

Vocational Rehabilitation and Education Service.--This Service is under a Director who is responsible for aiding and guiding disabled veterans of World War II in selection of courses of training and for prescribing, providing, and supervising such training to restore employability lost by virtue of a handicap due to service-incurred disabilities in order that the disabled veterans may be gainfully employed; determining eligibility and providing education or training for veterans of World War II, not otherwise receiving vocational rehabilitation as disabled veterans; conducting research on vocational rehabilitation problems so as to best utilize training to accomplish successful rehabilitation of the disabled veterans; and conducting occupational surveys.

Office of Assistant Administrator, Finance and Insurance

Finance Service.--This Service is under a Director who is responsible for all matters relating to the accounting for public moneys appropriated for the purposes set out in the laws governing the Veterans Administration, including investments for the United States Government life insurance and National Service Life Insurance funds and the adjusted service certificate fund; allotments and allowances under the War Risk insurance Act; loans on adjusted service certificates and converted insurance policies; the guarantee of loans for purchase or construction of homes, of farms and business property, and readjustment allowances for veterans of World War II who are unemployed.

Insurance Service.--This Service is under a DIrector who is responsible for the administration of the provisions of title III of the World War Veterans Act, 1924 (43 Stat. 6076; 38 U.S.C. 4212-), relative to insurance, of the National Service Life Insurance Act of 1940 (54 Stat. 1008; 38 U.S.C. 801-18), of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 (54 Stat. 1178; 40 U.S.C. 540-54), and the adjudication of claims for benefits thereunder; and for the issuance of certificates and the preparation and adjudication of all claims for adjusted compensation benefits.

Office of Assistant Administrator, Medical and Domiciliary Care, Construction, and Supplies

Medical and Hospital Service.--The Director of this Service is responsible for the direction and supervision of all medical and dental services rendered claimants and beneficiaries entitled thereto under the laws and regulations governing the operation of the Veterans Administration, and rendered under the authority on behalf of other

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Federal agencies and foreign governments. Such services comprehend medical and dental treatment and care for hospitalized patients (including ill or injured domiciled beneficiaries) and for out-patients, rendered at field stations or in homes of entitled beneficiaries; and physical and laboratory examinations, for adjudication or for medical treatment purposes.

National Homes Service.--This Service is under a Director who is responsible for all matters relating to the domiciliary care of beneficiaries and claimants under the laws relating to the Veterans Administration.

Construction Service.--The Director of this Service is responsible for preliminary inspection and engineering work in connection with the selection fo sites for new hospitals, homes, and other facilities; preparation of plans, specifications, and estimates covering construction, alterations, and repair of plants and equipment, and supervision of performance of such work; maintenance of contact with other services, Government departments, and agencies to provide facilities as and when required for service; construction contracts; supervision of the maintenance of buildings, grounds, and mechanical equipment under the control of the Veterans Administration, including motor transportation; and general supervision of maintenance and operation of utilities, heating, lighting, electric power, plumbing, sewage and refuse disposal, water supply, fire protection, refrigerating plants, carpentry, laundry, and telephones.

Supply Service.--This Service is under a Director who is responsible for purchase, storage, and distribution of all supplies and equipment for all Veterans Administration activities; accountability for all Government property and auditing of property accounts; operation and management of supply depots; contracts, leases, and agreements for all Veterans Administration activities, except construction contracts; and traffic management.

Office of Executive Assistant to the Administrator

The Executive Assistant is responsible for: all matters pertaining to budget estimates and control under a budget officer, and obtaining, compiling, and evaluating statistical data; the editing, coordinating, and compiling regulations, orders, bulletins, other formal issues, and forms; organization; establishment of field offices; territorial assignments; studies of policy, methods and procedure; investigations; liaison with the Federal Works Agency as to operation and maintenance of the Veterans Administration Building and storage space; mails and records; contact with military and naval departments to obtain service records; operation of motor transportation assigned to central office and all matters pertaining to telephone, dictograph, and mechanical equipment services; office supplies; equipment; services, excepting procurement; photostating, duplicating, printing, and machine repair work; contact with claimants, beneficiaries, and their representatives; personnel activities of the Administration, under a Director of Personnel, including personnel relations, employment, recruitment, training and placement, classification of positions, and regulation and control of efficiency ratings; contact with the press; and visual information and exhibits.

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Office of the Solicitor

Legal Service.--Preparation of opinions on all legal questions arising in the administration of the laws applicable to the Veterans Administration; cooperation and contact with the Department of Justice on litigation, including criminal prosecutions, actions on contracts, and civil recoveries involving the Veterans Administration.

Guardianship Service.--General supervision and direction of all guardianship affairs of the Veterans Administration, including litigation in the State courts when intervention by the Administrator of Veterans Affairs is necessary; research and preparations of briefs and legal opinions on State or Federal law and in appealed cases; cooperation with the Department of Justice in claims arising in guardianship cases, including guardianship matters in foreign countries and the insular and territorial possessions of the United States; and general supervision of all field examinations and inspection of all functions of offices of chief attorneys in field stations.

Office of Legislative Counsel.--Drafting of proposed legislation and Executive orders, and preparation of reports on pending legislation; coordination on legislative matters with affected or interested services or units in Veterans Administration, executive department, and with Members and committees of Congress; preparation of digests and r&eacuse;sumés of laws; publication of veterans' laws with annotations; maintenance and servicing of legislative--historical and reference--file.

Board of Veterans Appeals

The Board of Veterans Appeals is responsible for the consideration and disposition of final appeals to the Administrator of Veterans Affairs and for the conducting of necessary hearings. it has jurisdiction over all questions on claims for benefits under all laws administered by the Veterans Administration. Such appeals involve service connected disability and death compensation and pensions based on war or peacetime service, war service pensions without regard to service connection, emergency officers' retirement based upon service in World War I, insurance, vocational rehabilitation, education, waiver of overpayments, forfeiture of rights, reimbursement of medical expenses, burial allowances, adjusted compensation, and miscellaneous subjects.

War Activities

Monetary Benefits.--Pursuant to the War Program the personnel of the Army, Navy,Marine Corps, and Coast Guard has been greatly increased by new inductions and commissions and by recalling to active duty members of the reserves. While there have been many discharges fo reason other than disability, such as under age, over age, to accept employment in an essential industry, etc., there have been many other instances wherein men and women of the armed forces have been discharged for disability. As a result a large number of claims for disability pension have ben filed with the Veterans Administration and this trend may be expected to continue in ever-increasing volume as

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the war progresses and after its cessation. The claims of enlisted personnel discharged for disability where the claim is filed at or prior to time of discharge and hospitalization in a Veterans Administration Facility is not immediately effected, are forwarded by the discharge centers together with service and medical records to the area offices having appropriate jurisdiction. There is one area office for each Army Service Command. Their jurisdiction is limited to initial adjudication in the type of case mentioned above following which such claim with all related service and medical records is transferred to the regional office having jurisdiction over the home address of the veteran concerned. Claims not in the above category are handled directly by the regional office.

In determining entitlement to disability pension benefits active service on and after December 7, 1941, is considered to be of wartime character. Previous service not during a period of the present or a prior war constitutes peacetime service and any disability resulting from injury or disease contracted in line of duty or aggravation of a pre-existing injury or disease in line of duty during such service in pensionable under the act of March 20, 1933 (48 Stat. 8; 38 U.S.C. 701), as amended, at the rates provided in Veterans Regulation 1 (a), part II, as amended by the act of August 4, 1939 (53 Stat. 1180; 38 U.S.C. ch. 12, note), provided the veteran is discharged under conditions other than dishonorable and was note released under the nonentitling circumstances specified in section 300 of the act of June 22, 1944 (58 Stat. 286), and his disability is not the result of his own willful misconduct as contemplated by act of September 27, 1944 (58 Stat 752). The rates of disability pension for disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by wartime service vary according to the evaluation assigned in the particular case ranging from $11.50 monthly based upon a 10 percent evaluation to $115 monthly where total or permanent total disability is shown. In addition there are certain special monthly allowances authorized by law for specified loss or loss of use of functions and in the very exceptional case disability pension benefits may be awarded based upon World War II service in the maximum of $265 monthly. The rates for a disability incurred in or aggravated by service other than in time of war are approximately 75 percent of the amounts payable for war injuries or diseases.

Disability pension is payable to veterans of World War II or previous hostilities for disease or injury not necessarily due to service where certain conditions are met. To establish entitlement in their case there must have been honorable active service of 90 days or more except where there were less than 90 days active service the veteran was discharged for disability incurred in service in line of duty. The rate of pension payable under Veterans Regulation 1 (a), part III, as amended, is $50 monthly for permanent total disability not the result of willful misconduct or vicious habits. The pension is increased to $60 monthly if the veteran is rated permanent total and has been in receipt of pension for a continuous period of 10 years or, if permanent total, attains the age of 65 years. It is provided in paragraph II (a), Veterans Regulation 1 (a), part III, that payment of disability pension as stated above shall not be made to any unmarried person whose annual income exceeds $1,000, or to any married person or any person

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with minor children whose annual income exceeds $2,500. These income limitations do not apply to cases involving service connected benefits. An act of May 27, 1944 (58 Stat. 230), made the provisions of Veterans Regulation 1 (a), part III, as amended, applicable to World War II veterans.

Active service, including service for training purposes, performed by a reserve officer or member of the enlisted reserves of the United States Army, Navy,or Marine Corps is considered as active military or naval service for the purpose of granting benefits under Veterans Regulation 1 (a) (50 Stat. 305; 38 U.S.C. ch. 12, note). Reserve officers, if called or ordered into the active military service by the Federal Government for extended military service in excess of 30 days, and who suffer disability or death in line of duty from disease or injury while so employed, are deemed to have been in the active military service during such period and are in all respects entitled to receive the same pensions, retirement pay, and hospital benefits as are now or may hereafter by law or regulation be provided for officers of corresponding grades and length of service in the Regular Army (act of April 3, 1939, 53 Stat. 555; 10 U.S.C. 292b; act of July 25, 1939, 53 Stat. 1079; 10 U.S.C. 456).

As disability pension or compensation based on a person's own service may not be paid concurrently with active service pay, instances frequently arise where adjustments must be made due to the fact that veterans receiving disability pension or compensation benefits are recalled to active duty.

The act of May 27, 1944 (58 Stat. 230), provides that any person who is receiving retirement pay based upon service in the regular military or naval establishments and who would be eligible to receive pension or compensation under the laws administered by the Veterans Administration if he were not receiving such retired pay, may file a waiver of so much of his retired pay and allowances as is equal in amount to the pension or compensation.

The act of May 11, 1944 (58 Stat. 219), provides that any person who, on or after August 27, 1940, and prior to the termination of World War II, has applied or shall apply for enlistment or enrollment in the armed forces and who is provisionally accepted and directed or ordered to report to a designated place for final acceptance, or who is selected for service and after reporting pursuant to the call of his local board and prior to his rejection, or who after being called in the Federal service as a member of the National Guard but before being enrolled for such service, suffers an injury or disease in line of duty and not the result of his own (willful) misconduct, is to be considered as having incurred the disability in the active military or naval services for pension purposes.

When a person who served in the armed forces of the United States dies as a result of a disease or injury which was incurred in or aggravated by his military service, his widow, child, and dependent parents are entitled to pension under the act approved March 20, 1933 (48 Stat. 8; 38 Stat. 701), as amended when certain conditions are met. The rates range from $19 a month for one child to a maximum of $100 a month for a widow with children, or $40 to $45 a month for one parent or $20 to $35 a month each where there are two parents.

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WHen the death of a veteran of World War I was not the result of his service, pension may be payable to his widow and children if he rendered 90 days' service or w discharged from service for disability incurred in line of duty or was receiving or entitled to receive at the date of his death compensation, pension, or retirement pay for 10 percent service connected disability. The rates range from $18 a month for one child to a maximum of $74 a month for a widow with children. The rate for a widow alone is $35 a month.

When the death of a veteran of World War II was not the result of his service, pension may be payable to his widow and children if he was receiving or entitled to receive at the date of his death, compensation, pension, or retirement pay for 10 percent service connected disability, or if he rendered 90 days' service or was discharged from service for disability incurred in line of duty, and he had, at the date of his death, a service connected disability for which pension or compensation would have been payable if 10 percent or more in degree. The rates payable are the same as described in the preceding paragraph.

Although numerous claims have resulted from the War Program such claims are infinitesimal in numbers compared to the thousands of claims of veterans and their dependents which the Veterans Administration will be called upon to adjudicate in connection with the present war. Some legislative cognizance wax taken of this situation as early as December 19, 1941 in the act approved on that date (55 Stat. 844; 38 U.S.C. 724), and in the act approved July 13, 1943 (57 Stat. 554; 38 U.S.C. ch. 12 note, 450, 727).

Chiefly, the act of December 19, 1941, provides, as to disability, that any veteran otherwise entitled to pension under the provisions of part II of Veterans Regulation 1 (a), as amended, or the general pension law shall be entitled to receive the rte of pension provided in part I of the regulation if the disability resulted form an injury or disease received in line of duty (1) as a direct result of armed conflict, or 92) while engaged in extra hazardous service, including such service under conditions simulating war, or (3) while the United States is engaged bin war. The act of July 13, 1943, added World War II, from December 7, 1941, to the other wars in which the country has engaged. it also extended to war veterans a liberal presumption of soundness at time of entrance into active service which, however,may be rebutted by clear and unmistakable evidence. Additionally, this act provided that service, during the present war, as a cadet at the United States Military Academy or as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, or as a cadet at the United States Coast Guard Academy on or after December 7, 1941, would constitute active military or naval service in World War II for purposes of laws administered by the Veterans Administration. Under the act of Congress approved July 1, 1943 (57 Stat. 371; 50 App. U.S.C. 1551-55), members of the Women's Army Corps and their dependents became eligible to benefits administered by the Veterans Administration. Members of the Women's Reserve of the Navy and their dependents became eligible to such benefits under the act of Congress approved November 8, 1943 (57 Stat. 586; 34 U.S.C. 857c), and members of the Women's Reserve of the Coast Guard and their dependents, under the act approved December 23, 1943 (57 Stat. 609; 14 U.S.C. 121c).

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Vocational Rehabilitation and Education.--Under the act of March 24, 1943 (57 Stat. 43; 38 U.S.C. 701), vocational rehabilitation is provided for persons discharged from the service since September 16, 1940, under other than dishonorable conditions who are in receipt of a pension for a service incurred disability and who require training in order to restore employability lost by virtue of a handicap due to disability. No course of training may be approved which will require in excess of a period of 4 years. During the period training and for 2 months after employability is determined, each veteran, if entitled to pension in an amount less than compensation rates for total and temporary disability, shall be paid increased pension, which, when added to the amount to which he is otherwise entitled, will aggregate an amount equal to such rates. Necessary tuition, books, and supplies are paid for by the Veterans Administration. Education and training or a refresher or retrainer course for a period of 1 year may be given to any veteran discharged since September 16, 1940, under other than dishonorable conditions who has served for 90 days or more and meets other requirements of title II of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, of June 22, 1944 (58 Stat. 284). Additional training beyond 1 year, but not to exceed a total of 4 years, is dependent upon a showing of interruption of education by reason of entry into service and is of a period determined by length of time spent in active service with certain exclusions of time spent in college training programs of the Army and Navy. persons not over 25 at time of entry into active service are presumed to have had their education or training impeded, delayed, interrupted, or interfered with. During the period of training the veteran is paid a subsistence allowance of $50 a month if without a dependent and $75 a month if he has a dependent. Tuition, books, and supplies not to exceed $500 an ordinary school year are paid for by the Veterans Administration. In adminisitering both of these programs the facilities of approved institutions, schools, colleges, and universities, as well as business establishments, will be utilized in affording vocational rehabilitation, education, and training. The only two laws on the Federal statue books which grant vocational rehabilitation to disabled veterans and education and training to non-disabled veterans because of their services in the armed forces of the United States during this war are the acts of March 24, 1943, and June 22, 1944. Veterans may share in benefits provided by the Federal or State governments for civilians in general and if they do, these benefits are administered to the veterans not because they are veterans but because of their entitlement as civilians.

Domiciliary Care.--Domiciliary care (with medical treatment incident thereto) is provided in facilities under direct and exclusive jurisdiction of the Veterans Administration for applicants discharged from active service, either in wartime of peacetime, in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, and for officers and enlisted men retired from the Regular Establishment, when such applicants, otherwise eligible, are suffering from disability determined as requiring such care, under authority of the act of March 20, 1933, as amended by act approved March 17, 1943 (57 Stat. 21; 38 U.S.C. Ch. 12 note), and provisions of Veterans Regulations issued pursuant thereto.

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Medical Examination and Treatment (Hospital and Out-Patient.--Hospital\ treatment is provided for the same type of applicants specified for domiciliary care, under the same statutory authority and like regulatory provisions. Applicants requiring hospital treatment for diseases or injuries attributed to active military or naval service are given first preference, and are admitted under minimum requirements. hospital treatment is provided in the facilities under direct and exclusive jurisdiction of the Veterans Administration; in hospitals of other Federal services when available (Army, Navy, Public Health Service, Federal Security Agency), and in State and civilian contract hospitals (for male beneficiaries in emergencies arising in the course of a service-connected condition, and for female beneficiaries).

The act of March 17, 1943, included under the term "veteran of any war," persons who had served in World War II. Any person who served in the active military or naval service of the United States on or after December 7, 1941, and before the termination of hostilities in the present war, including those who had active duty as members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, Women's Reserve of the Navy and the Marine Corps, and Women's Reserve of the Coast Guard become, under this act, potentially entitled to hospital treatment, domiciliary care, and burial benefits furnishable by the Veterans Administration to veterans of a war.

Such officers, warrant officers, and enlisted men of the Army (other than Regular Establishment) who, after having been called or ordered into active military service of the Federal Government for extended periods in excess of 30 days before December 7, 1941, suffer disability from disease while so employed, can be provided hospital treatment by the Veterans Administration under the eligibility requirements applying to applicants who had had peacetime military service, under authority of the act of April 3, 1939 (53 Stat. 1079; 10 U.S.C. 292b).

The Veterans Administration provides hospital treatment for officers and enlisted men of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, in active service, upon request from responsible officers of those services. Under special administrative authority, hospital treatment is also provided,upon request of the Surgeon General, Public Health Service, for tuberculous patents of that Service.

Hospital treatment is provided by the Veterans Administration upon request of various civilian agencies of the Federal Government, such as for classified civil-service beneficiaries of the United States Employees' Compensation Commission.

Out-patient treatment is provided (1) for ex-members of the military and naval forces suffering from diseases or injuries held to have been incurred or aggravated by such service; (2) for veterans receiving rehabilitation; and (3) for beneficiaries of the Employees' Compensation Commission and other Federal agencies.

Physical examinations are conducted by the Veterans Administration in connection with claims for monetary benefits from its own claimants and beneficiaries, and upon requests from various other Federal agencies.

The Veterans Administration provides seeing-eye or guide dogs trained for the aid of blind veterans who are entitled to disability compensation,

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and mechanical electronic equipment for aiding them in overcoming the handicap of blindness.

It also may provide an artificial limb or other appliance found reasonably necessary where loss of limb or the use thereof wsa through injury or disease incurred or contracted in line of duty.

United States Government Life Insurance

United States Government Life Insurance against total permanent disability or death may be granted to those persons in the military and naval services (or in civilian life) who served with the armed forces between October 6, 1917, and July 2, 1921. The insurance may be granted upon application and payment of premium, provided the applicant is in good health, in any multiple of $500 and not less than $1,000 or more than $10,000. Any Government Life Insurance previously surrendered for a cash value may not be replaced by new insurance. Not more than $10,000 Government Life Insurance may be in force on one life at any time, or if the insured has National Service Life Insurance, then the total amount of Government Life Insurance and National Service Life Insurance in force on one life at any time may not exceed $10,000.

Total disability insurance may be included in any contract of Government Life Insurance issued under authority of section 310 of the World War Veterans Act, 1924, upon application and payment of an additional premium, provided the applicant is in good health. The benefits of the total disability insurance at the monthly rate of $5.75 per thousand of insurance may be paid only after the insured has been totally disabled for a period of 4 months and before reaching the age of 65 years, and will be paid so long as he is totally disabled, even after reaching the age of 65 years. Any monthly installments payable under the total disability insurance will be in addition to any benefits to which the insured may be entitled under the life-insurance policy by reason of total permanent disability (sec. 311, W.W.V. Act 1924; 43 Stat. 607; 38 U.S.C. 512b).

National Service Life Insurance Act of 1940

The National Service Life Insurance Act of 1940 (54 Stat. 1008; 38 U.S.C. 801-18), approved October 8, 1940, establishes a separate system for granting life insurance ot persons who are hereafter examined, accepted, and enrolled in the active service, including persons selected for training and service under the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 (54 Stat. 885; 37 U.S.C. 13a, 14a, 23; 41 U.S.C. 1 note; 50 App. U.S.C. 124, 301-18, 403), and for those in the active service on the date of the enactment.

The insurance will be granted upon application and payment of premiums, and without medical examination, to persons who are accepted and enrolled in the active service after approval of the act, but such persons must make application within 120 days after entrance into active service and while in the service.

Persons in the active service may, after the expiration of the 120-day period mentioned in the foregoing paragraph, be granted this insurance upon application, payment of the premiums, and evidence satisfactory

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to the Administrator showing the applicant to be in good health at the time of application. A medical examination of the applicant is usually required in such cases.

The insurance will be granted in amounts of $1,000 to $10,000, in multiples of $500, but no person may carry a combined amount of National Service Life Insurance and United States Government Life Insurance in excess of $10,000 at any one time.

National Service Life Insurance is payable only in the event of death of the insured to a beneficiary within the relationship to the insured of wife, husband, child (including an adopted child, or, if designated, a stepchild, or an illegitimate child), parent (including parents by adoption and persons in loco parentis), brothers and sisters (including those of the half-blood). Benefits are payable in 240 equal monthly installments of $5.31 per $1,000 of insurance in the beneficiary is under 30 years of age at the time of the death of the insured. If at such time the beneficiary is 30 or more years of age, benefits are payable in equal monthly installments for 120 months certain in an amount to be determined by the beneficiary's age on the date of the insured's death, with such payments continuing during the remaining lifetime of such beneficiary. In lieu of the foregoing modes of settlement the insured, or the beneficiary first receiving payment, may elect a refund life income payable in monthly installments in an amount to be determined by the beneficiary's age on the date of the insured's death, and for such period certain as may be required in order that the sum of the installments certain (including a reduced final installment) will equal the face value of the insurance less any indebtedness. if no contingent beneficiary has been named, any installments certain of insurance remaining unpaid at the death of any beneficiary are payable in equal monthly installments in an amount equal to the monthly installments paid to the first beneficiary, to the person or person then in being within certain specified classes. If no beneficiary is designated by the insured, or if the designated beneficiary does not survive the insured, the beneficiary or beneficiaries entitled to monthly installments of insurance will be determined in accordance with the devolution prescribed by section 602 (h) of the act of October 1940.

The law provides that waiver of payment of premiums may be granted during 6o or more months of continuous total disability of the insured which commenced subsequent to the effective date of application for insurance, while the insurance was in force under premium paying conditions and prior to the insured's sixtieth birthday. All National Service Life Insurance policies carry a right of reinstatement following lapse, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Administrator.

All National Service Life Insurance will be issued upon the 5-year level premium term plan, with the privilege of conversion or exchange by the insured at any time after the policy has bene in effect for 1 year and within the 5-year term period to policies of insurance upon the following plans: ordinary life, twenty-payment life, or thirty-payment life.

Aviation Cadets of Naval Service.--Aviation cadets of naval service are provided National Service Life Insurance up to a maximum of $10,000 at Government expense. After being commissioned pursuant

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to the Naval Aviation Cadet Act of 1942 and until released form active duty they are required to carry $10,000 insurance at their own expense. Thereafter insurance is optional (act of April 15, 1935, 40 Stat. 157; 34 U.S.C. 846; act of June 13, 1939, 53 Stat. 820; 34 U.S.C. 849e; and act of August 4, 1942, 56 Stat. 737; 34 U.S.C. 841h, 850a-850m).

Aviation Pilots of Naval Service.--Aviation pilots of naval service, including enlisted personnel of the Naval Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve who on or after November 5, 1941, began flight training leading to designation of aviation pilot are provided up to a maximum of $10,000 National Service Life Insurance at Government expense during such training and continuing while the individual is in an enlisted status of aviation pilot. When such persons are commissioned in the active service or released from active duty, insurance is optional (act of November 6, 1941, 55 Stat. 759).

Aviation Students and Cadets of Regular Army and United States Military Academy.--National Service Life Insurance up to a maximum of $10,000 is provided at Government expense for all persons of the foregoing categories who are undergoing training involving regular and frequent aerial flights. When commissioned or appointed flight officers and until relieved from duty involving regular and frequent aerial flights such persons are required to continue $10,000 insurance at their own expense. Upon release from such duty insurance is optional.

Protection for such aviation cadets and students of military and naval services is immediate, but regular application (Form 350) is received for beneficiary purposes. Insurance for these groups is term insurance and cannot be converted while the Government pays the premiums. In all other respects it is a standard National Service Life Insurance policy, with the same rights, benefits, and privileges of any such policyholder.

Coast and Geodetic Survey.--Under the provisions of the act of Congress approved December 3, 1942 (56 Stat. 1038; 33 U.S.C. 855a), commissioned officer of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, who are assigned to duty during the period of the present war, on projects for the War or Navy Department in areas outside the continental United States, or in Alaska, or in coastal areas of the United States, determined by the War or Navy Department to be of immediate military hazard, shall, while on such duty, be entitled to apply for National Service Life Insurance.

Women's Army Corps.--Under the provision of the act approved July 1, 1943, persons enlisting in the Women's Army Corps, or appointed as officers under the provisions of the act, are entitled to apply for National Service Life Insurance.

Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940

The Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 (54 Stat. 1183; 50 U.S.C 540-554), approved October 17, 1940 (Article IV), as amended by the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act amendments of 1942 (56 Stat. 769; 50 App. U.S.C. 540-48), approved October 6, 1942 (Article IV), directs that a policy of insurance issued by a commercial

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insurer (including fraternal and beneficial associations) shall not lapse for nonpayment of premiums, or otherwise terminate, while the insured is in the active military service, and the United States guarantees payment of the premiums during such period. Upon application by the insured sent to the insuring company, protection is afforded on policies with a total face value not in excess of $10,000 on which a premium was paid at least 30 days prior to entry into service, provided such policies are not voided by reason of military service. Benefits of the act shall not extend more than 2 years after insured's separation from military service, nor more than 2 years after the act ceases to be in force. The act will remain in force until May 15, 1945, or if the United States it then at war, it shall remain in force until termination of the war and for 6 months thereafter.

The United States will have a lien on the policy subject only to any lien existing prior to date of application.

Field Organization

Veterans Administration Facilities, Regional Offices, and Area Offices are located in each State (with the exception of Delaware), as listed below, to facilitate the granting of benefits provided for veterans and their dependents. Two insular offices are also located in the insular possessions, listed below, for the purpose of rendering service to veterans.

Facilities and Regional and Area Offices

The Veterans Administration Facilities, Regional Offices, and Area Offices are under Managers who are responsible for the activities assigned to each field station as indicated by the symbols given in the table below. The functions of a Facility include the conducting of examinations, and care and treatment of ex-service men and women hospitalized; the rendering of laboratory and clinical service, social service, and recreational and library services; the examination of veterans for adjudicatory purposes; the furnishing of domiciliary (home) care to disable veterans incapable of self-support; and the maintenance of buildings, grounds, cemeteries, and standard provisions. The functions of a Regional Office are the furnishing of information as to all benefits; procuring data regarding claims; preparing and adjudicating claims for disability compensation and pension, death benefits, and statutory burial awards; determining and evaluating disability, service connection, and pre-war occupations for rating purposes; aiding, guiding, and prescribing of courses of training into employment, and the supervising of disabled veterans of WOrld War II in need of vocational rehabilitation; providing of courses of education or training of veterans not otherwise receiving vocational rehabilitation as disabled veterans; determining in death cases relationship between service-connected conditions and causes of death;l conducting physical examinations of veterans and of persons for other Government agencies; providing social service and out-patient treatment of veterans; establishing eligibility for hospitalization and domiciliary care; handling guardianship and fiduciary matters; and making field investigations and handling legal proceedings covered by administration instructions. Some Facilities perform

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Regional Office functions. The functions of an Area Office are to initially adjudicate all claims for disability pension filed by World War II veterans who are discharged from service because of disability and make application for pension at the time of discharge.

Facilities and Regional and Area Offices--Veterans Administration
[Key to symbols of Activity: R--Regional Office or a Facility having Regional Office Functions; GM--Facility having major General Medical Hospital Functions; NP--Facility having major Neuropsychiatric Hospital Functions; D--having Domiciliary or Home Functions; TB--Facility having major Tuberculosis Hospital Functions; C--Diagnostic Center; T--Tumor Clinic; A--Area Office]
Address Manager Activity
Albuquerque, N. Mex. David K. Dalager R GM
Alexandria, La. Dr. Tarleton F. Moore GM
Amarillo, Tex. Lt. Col. Oma E. Herndon GM
American Lake, Wash. Col. John G. Cullins NP
Aspinwall 15, Pa. Col. Kelso A. Carroll GM
Atlanta, Ga. J.M. Slaton, Jr. R T GM
Atlanta 3, Ga. (20 Houston St. NE) Wilkes H. Davis A4
Augusta, Ga. Dr. Henry O. Witten NP
Baltimore 2, Md. (1315 St. Paul St.) William L. Limburg R
Baltimore 2, Md. (10 N. Calvert St.) Edward A. Keck A3
Batavia, N.Y. C.F. Sargent R GM
Bath, N.Y. Col. John A. Hadley D GM
Bay Pines, Fla. M. Bryson R D GM
Bedford, Mass. Dr. Winthrop Adams NP
Biloxi, Miss. Eugene A. Hiller D GM
Boise, Idaho C.H. Hudelson R D GM
Boston 8, Mass. (17 Court St.) Frederick J. Shea A1
Boston 9, Mass. (Post Office Building) Gen. Wm. J. Blake R
Brecksville, Ohio Gen. William L. Marlin R GM
Bronx 63, N.Y. (130 W. Kingsbridge Rd.) Col. Robert C. Cook R T GM
Canandaigua, N.Y. Dr. Hans Hansen NP
Castle Point, N.Y. Col. Carleton Bates TB
Cheyenne, Wyo. James L. Laughlin R GM
Chicago 7, Ill. (610 S. Canal St.) John P. Cullen A6
Chillicothe, Ohio Col. Dennis J. Murphy NP
Coatesville, Pa. Dr. Clarence R. Miller NP
Columbia, S.C. S.C. Groeschel R GM
Columbus 15, Ohio (8 E. Chestnut St.) Vester Garrett A5
Dallas 2, Tex. Lt. Col. Charles L. Magruder GM
Dallas 2, Tex. (Old Customhouse) S.P. Kohen A8
Danville, Ill. Dr. George A. Rowland NP
Dayton, Ohio John H. Ale R D GM
Dearborn, Mich. Guy F. Palmer R GM
Denver 2, Colo. (Old Customhouse) A.D. Borden R
Des Moines 10, Iowa William B. Nugent R GM
Downey, Ill. Col. Delmar Goode NP
Dwight, Ill. Lt. Col. William F. Kendall GM
Elcesior Springs, Mo. Dr. Forest G. Bell TB
Fargo, N. Dak. C.T. Hoverson R GM
Fayetteville, Ark. Dr. Frank N. Gordon GM
Fayetteville, N.C. James S. Pittman R GM
Fort Bayard, N. Mex. Lt. Col. Albert G. Walker TB
Fort Custer, Mich. Dr. Roger P. Hentz NP
Fort Harrison, Mont. Dr. Herbert C. Watts R GM
Fort Howard, Md. Lt. Col. Warren L. Fleck GM
Fort Lyon, Colo. Col. Cecil B. Shrout NP
Fort Meade, S. Dak. James F. McMurrer, Acting NP
Fort Washington, Md. Col. Wm. G. Stephens D
Gulfport, Miss. Col. Gettis T. Sheffield NP
Hines, Ill. Charles G. Beck R C T GM
Hot Springs, S. Dak. Robert R. Gibson D GM

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Facilities and Regional and Area Offices--Veterans Administration--Continued
Address Manager Activity
Huntington 1, W. Va. H.G. Hooks R GM
Indianapolis 44, Ind. B.C. Moore R GM
Jackson 107, Miss. (Federal Building) Jas. W. Butler, Acting R
Jefferson Barracks 23, Mo. Dr. Walter A. German GM
Kansas City 6, Mo. (1009 Wyandotte St.) John A. Brody R
Kecoughtan, Va. Col. Keith Ryan D GM
Knoxville, Iowa Dr. Frederick S. Salisbury NP
Lake City, Fla. Dr. Howard C. Von Dahm GM
Legion, Tex. Dr. Carrol L. Moore TB
Lexington, Ky. Harry W. Farmer R NP
Lincoln 1, Nebr. E.R. Benke R GM
Little Rock, Ark. (Federal Building) Jas. A. Winn R
Livermore, Calif. Lt. Col. Charles P. Murphy TB
Los Angeles 25, Calif. Col. R.A. Bringham R D T GM
Lyons N.J. M.E. Head R NP
Manchester, N.H. (Federal Building) James J. Doyle R
Marion, Ill. Dr. Edward A. Welch GM
Marion, Ind. Col. Harry H. Botts NP
Memphis 4, Tenn. Dr. H.C. Dodge GM
Mendota, Wis. Lt. Col. Letcher E. Trent NP
Minneapolis 6, Minn. C.D. Hibbard R GM
Montgomery 10, Ala. Robert P. Shields R GM
Mountain Home, Tenn. Maj. David H. Taylor D GM
Murfreesboro, Tenn. Sam Jared, Jr. R NP
Muskogee, Okla. Polk T. Lunquest R GM
Newington 11, Conn. Myer Schwolsky R GM
New Orleans 12, La. (333 St. Charles St.) Col. Harry T. Herring R
New York 11, N.Y. (215 W. 24th St.) E.B. Dunkleberger R
New York 5, N.Y. (120 Wall St.) Joseph F. O'Hearn A2
Northampton, Mass. Col. William M. Dobson NP
North Little Rock, Ark. Col. Duncan D. Campbell NP
Northport,, L.I., N.Y. Col. Louis F. Verdel NP
Oteen, N.C. Dr. Frank B. Brewer TB
Outwood, Ky. Dr. Samuel H. James TB
Palo Alto, Calif Dr. P.G. Lasché NP
Perry Point, Md. Col. Harry G. Clarke NP
Philadelphia 6, Pa. (New Customhouse) H.J. Crosson R
Pittsburgh 22, Pa. (1001 Liberty Ave.) Kenneth S. Covey R
Portland 7, Oreg. Col. Paul I. Carter R T GM
Providence 2, R.I. (Post Office Annex) Col. Davis G. Arnold R
Reno, Nev. Edward F. Reed R GM
Roanoke 17, Va. Col. Edwin W. Jordan R NP
Roseburg, Oreg. Dr. George M. Melvin NP
Rutland Heights, Mass. Dr. John N. Wilson TB
Salina, Kans. Col. Frederick W. Franke D GM
Salt Lake City 3, Utah E.A. Littlefield R GM
San Fernando, Calif. Dr. David C . Farnsworth TB
San Francisco 4, Calif. (140 Montgomery St.) Manie C. Perryman A9
San Francisco 21, Calif. Col. James G. Donnelly R C GM
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Dr. John S. Walsh GM
Seattle 4, Wash. (Federal Office Building) O.G. Fairburn R
Sheridan, Wyo. Col. Richard L. Harris NP
Sioux Falls, S. Dak. Charles B. Kaercher R
St. Cloud, Minn. Dr. John A. Pringle NP
St. Louis 1, Mo. (707 Market St.) Edward J. Wieland R
St. Louis 1, Mo. (Old Customhouse) Leon L. Leach A7
Sunmount, N.Y. Col. Harold R. Lipscomb TB
Togus, Maine M.L. Stoddard R NP
Tucson, Ariz. Col. Wm. T. Hardaway R TB
Tuscaloosa, Ala. Lt. Col. George L. Johnson NP

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Facilities and Regional and Area Offices--Veterans Administration--Continued
Address Manager Activity
Tuskegee, Ala. Col. Eugene H. Dibble, Jr. NP GM
Waco, Tex. Col. Harry Rubin R NP
Wadswoorth, Kans. Col. Chas M. Pearsall GM
Walla Walla, Wash. Lt. Col. Jesse J. Beatty TB
Washington 25, D.C. (300 Indiana Ave. NW) Howard F. Dickensheets R
Washington 7, D.C. (2650 Wisconsin Ave, NW) Col. Lewis G. Beardsley C T GM
Waukesha, Wis. Dr. Franklin C. Cassidy TB
West Roxbury 32, Mass. Gen. Wm. J. Blake GM
Whipple, Ariz. Dr. Grover C. Daniel TB
White River Junction, Vt. Col. L.C. Chapman R GM
Wichita 2, Kans. Leonard N. Sowards R GM
Wood, Wis. Paul G. Froemming R D GM

Insular Offices

The Veterans Administration Insular Offices are under managers who are responsible for making contacts with claimants and beneficiaries and for furnishing information concerning benefits under the law; procurement of data incident to adjudication of claims; investigations; conducting physical examinations and treatment; and providing hospital care.

Insular Offices--Veterans Administration
Location Manager Address
Honolulu 1, T.H. Carl M. Walker Federal Building
San Juan, P.R. Maj. Jaime S. Chavarry Federal Building

Approved.

Frank T. Hines
Administrator of Veterans Affairs

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Table of Contents

Transcribed and formatted for HTML by Patrick Clancey, HyperWar Foundation