Missouri Veterans Commission News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2013
Missouri's Veterans Received Over $2.3 Billion in VA benefits in 2012
Over $2.3 billion in medical, education, and compensation & pension benefits were awarded to Veterans, surviving spouses, and dependents in Missouri according to the FY 2012 Geographic Distribution of VA Expenditures Report (GDX) released by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Compensation and pension funds are comprised of Veterans' compensation for service-connected disability, dependency and indemnity compensation for service-connected death, Veterans' pension for non service-connected disabilities, and burial and other benefits to Veterans and their survivors.
Total expenditure reports for the fiscal year which ended September 30, 2012 showed the VA spent $2,527,524,000 in Missouri, including $161 million on Veterans education and employment, and a little over $1 billion on medical care while treating 135,475 Veterans at VA medical centers and outpatient clinics throughout the state.
"These payments are just a small part of what is owed for those who have sacrificed so much for our country," said Larry D. Kay, Executive Director of the Missouri Veterans Commission, "Not only do these funds help improve the quality of life of the Veteran or family member, they help support local economies as well.”
The complete FY 2012 Geographic Distribution of VA Expenditures Report, including data by state and county, can be found online at http://www.va.gov/vetdata/
If you are a Veteran, or the spouse or dependent of a Veteran and would like to know which benefits you may be eligible for, please contact the Missouri Veterans Commission at 1-866-VET-INFO or online at www.mvc.dps.mo.gov.
The Missouri Veterans Commission, a state agency, operates seven State Veterans Homes, five State Veterans Cemeteries, and the Veterans Services Program. The Commission is committed to honoring and serving Missouri's Veterans whose dedication and sacrifices have preserved our nation and its freedoms. For more information about the Missouri Veterans Commission programs, call 573-751-3779, online at www.mvc.dps.mo.gov, or facebook.com/MissouriVeteransCommission.
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For more information, call 573-522-1421 or e-mail Daniel.Bell@mvc.dps.mo.gov