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Retroactive Traumatic Injury Benefits No Longer Just For OEF/OIF
Injuries
TSGLI Payments Will Be Made for Qualifying Injuries
Sept 16, 2011
WASHINGTON (September 16, 2011) - The Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) is extending retroactive traumatic injury benefits to
Servicemembers who suffered qualifying injuries during the period Oct.
7, 2001 to Nov. 30, 2005, regardless of the geographic location where
the injuries occurred.
"Now all of our nation's Servicemembers who suffered severe traumatic
injuries while serving their country can receive the same traumatic
injury benefits, regardless of where their injury occurred," said
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "We at VA appreciate the
efforts of Congress and the President to improve benefits for our
troops."
Effective Oct. 1, the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI)
Traumatic Injury Protection benefit, known as TSGLI, will be payable for
all qualifying injuries incurred during this period. This retroactive
benefit is payable whether or not the Servicemember had SGLI coverage at
the time of the injury.
The Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2010, passed by Congress and
signed by President Obama in October of 2010, removes the requirement
that injuries during this period be incurred in Operations Enduring or
Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). This is welcome news for the many
Servicemembers who suffered serious traumatic injuries while serving
stateside or in other areas outside of OEF/OIF during this time period,
but until now have not been eligible for TSGLI.
TSGLI provides a payment ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 to
Servicemembers sustaining certain severe traumatic injuries resulting in
a range of losses, including amputations; limb salvage; paralysis;
burns; loss of sight, hearing or speech; facial reconstruction; 15-day
continuous hospitalization; coma; and loss of activities of daily living
due to traumatic brain injury or other traumatic injuries.
National Guard and Reserve members who were injured during the
retroactive period and suffered a qualifying loss are also eligible for
a TSGLI payment, even if the cause was not related to military service,
such as a civilian automobile accident or severe injury which occurred
while working around their home.
National Guard and Reserve members make up more than 40 percent of the
total force which has been deployed since 9-11. Those who are no longer
in the National Guard or Reserves can also apply as long as their injury
occurred while they were in service.
"I am extremely pleased that these total force warriors who defend our
freedoms are getting the recognition and benefits they have rightfully
earned in service to our nation," added Under Secretary for Benefits
Allison A. Hickey.
VA is working with the Department of Defense to publicize this change in
the TSGLI law. Additionally, all of the branches of service are
identifying any claims previously denied because the injury was not
incurred in OEF/OIF and reaching out to those individuals.
Although applications are currently being accepted by branch of service
TSGLI offices, benefits will not be paid until Oct. 1, 2011, the
effective date of the law.
For more information or to apply for a TSGLI payment, Servicemembers and
Veterans should go to
http://www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/TSGLI/TSGLI.htm
or contact their branch of service TSGLI Office (contact
information available at above link) |