Prisoner of War
What is it? 
For former Prisoners of War (POWs) who were imprisoned for any length of time, there are disabilities that are presumed to be service-connected.
Who qualifies?
For someone who:
- Is declared to have been a Prisoners of War (POW) and,
- are VA rated at least 10 percent disabled anytime after military service
The following conditions are presumed to be service-connected:
- any of the anxiety states,
- dysthymic disorder,
- organic residuals of frostbite,
- post-traumatic osteoarthritis,
- heart disease or hypertensive vascular disease and their complications,
- stroke and residuals of stroke
Additionally, for someone who:
- was imprisoned as a Prisoner of War (POW) for at least 30 days
The following conditions are also presumed to be service-connected:
- avitaminosis
- beriberi
- chronic dysentery
- helminthiasis
- malnutrition (including optic atrophy)
- pellagra and/or other nutritional deficiencies
- irritable bowel syndrome
- peptic ulcer disease
- peripheral neuropathy
- cirrhosis of the liver
How to get it?
Meet with your local Texas Veterans Commission representative or Veterans County Service Officer who will guide you through the process and identify any paperwork required. Completing forms completely and correctly will affect the outcome of your request. Our expert counselors will assist you in completing the forms to get the best results possible. Find the office closest to you.