We are petitioning President Obama to amend M21-1MR, Part III, Subpart v, Chapter 8, Section B of the Veteran Affairs Compensation and Pension Code 38 of Federal Regulations.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2007 America’s penal institutions housed “an estimated 140,000 veterans held in state and federal prisons.” As it stands, veteran's pensions and disability ratings are reduced when a veteran is incarcerated for more than 60 days. Whether it be because of effects of their service, inability to reintegrate into society or something unrelated, our veterans deserve their full benefits. Pensions and disability from time in service are not ‘entitlements’ they have been earned by our military members, and shall be fully retained, regardless of incarceration status.