Department of Veterans Affairs December 22, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this interim final rule to implement section 1032 of the ``Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005,'' (Public Law 109-13). Section 1032 of Public Law 109-13 establishes an automatic traumatic injury protection rider provision to Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI), effective December 1, 2005, providing automatic insurance for any SGLI insured who sustains a serious traumatic injury as prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense that results in certain losses prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense. This rule specifies the losses for which the traumatic injury benefit (TSGLI) will be paid and the amount of the TSGLI benefit payable for each loss. Section 1032(c)(1) of Public Law 109-13 also provides for the payment of TSGLI benefits to service members who experienced a traumatic injury between October 7, 2001, and the effective date of section 1032 of Public Law 109-13, i.e., December 1, 2005, if the loss was a direct result of injuries incurred in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.