What this means
m21-1:X.i.4.A explains general information on philippine cases. In plain terms, the official guidance says use the table below to determine which regional office (RO) has jurisdiction over claims that are based on service in the Philippines. It also addresses eligibility for VA benefits based on service in the Philippines is shown below.
How this may help with a claim
Use m21-1:X.i.4.A as an internal VA audit trail for general information on philippine cases, not as a promise of a particular result. Compare the actions recorded in your claim file or decision notice with this source-specific detail: Use the table below to determine which regional office (RO) has jurisdiction over claims that are based on service in the Philippines. Eligibility for VA benefits based on service in the Philippines is shown below. If the record does not show the expected action, identify the missing step precisely when asking VA or an accredited representative to review the file.
What to review in your file
- Check the file against this official condition: Use the table below to determine which regional office (RO) has jurisdiction over claims that are based on service in the Philippines.
- Confirm that the record or notice addresses this source point: If service was in the … — Then …; regular or “old” Philippine Scouts (enlisted prior to October 6, 1945) Insular Forces of the U.S.
- Document how this stated step or exception applies: regular or “old” Philippine Scouts (enlisted prior to October 6, 1945) Insular Forces of the U.S.
Important limits
m21-1:X.i.4.A is primarily internal workflow guidance about general information on philippine cases. It can help identify what VA was expected to document, but it does not by itself create a claimant deadline, a freestanding entitlement, or a guaranteed remedy. The source also states: Use the table below to determine which regional office (RO) has jurisdiction over claims that are based on service in the Philippines. If service was in the … — Then …; regular or “old” Philippine Scouts (enlisted prior to October 6, 1945) Insular Forces of the U.S.
Search terms when useful
Phrases that may help when searching your claim file or this library.
- General Information on Philippine Cases
- m21-1:X.i.4.A
- Philippine Cases
- Determining Which Jurisdiction Over
- determining jurisdiction based type
- jurisdiction over accounts payable.
- X.i.4.A.1.a. Determining Jurisdiction Based
- table below determine which
Original VA guidance
The official VA text of this section
Overview
In This Section
This section contains the following topics:
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Topic | Topic Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Determining Which Regional Office (RO) Has Jurisdiction Over Philippine Cases |
| 2 | Exhibit 1: Eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits Based on Service in the Philippines |
1. Determining Which RO Has Jurisdiction Over Philippine Cases
Introduction
This topic contains information on determining which RO has jurisdiction over Philippine cases, including
- determining jurisdiction based on the type of service, and
- jurisdiction over accounts payable.
Change Date
May 7, 2026
X.i.4.A.1.a. Determining Jurisdiction Based on the Type of Service
Use the table below to determine which regional office (RO) has jurisdiction over claims that are based on service in the Philippines.
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| If service was in the … | Then … |
|---|---|
| regular or “old” Philippine Scouts (enlisted prior to October 6, 1945) Insular Forces of the U.S. Navy, or Armed Forces of the United States | jurisdiction is determined geographically, based on the claimant’s current address of record. |
| Special or “new” Philippine Scouts enlisted between October 6, 1945 and June 30, 1947, under Public Law (PL) 79-190 Commonwealth Army of the Philippines while such forces were included in the Armed Forces of the United States (The United States Armed Forces of the Far East or USAFFE), from July 26, 1941, through June 30, 1946, or guerrilla groups prior to July 1, 1946 | jurisdiction is determined based on the following conventions: the Manila RO for disability compensation rating claims the San Diego Benefit Eligibility Support Team for non-rating disability compensation claims the Philadelphia Pension Management Center (PMC) for all original Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) claims, all burial claims, and any claim with service-connected (SC) death as an issue the Milwaukee PMC for DIC claims where SC death was already granted, and the Milwaukee and St. Paul PMCs for pension claims. Important: Add the Philippine Service flash to the corresponding corporate record for any claim that falls under these periods of service. Note: The Philadelphia PMC has jurisdiction over burial benefits, and both the Philadelphia and Milwaukee PMCs have jurisdiction over DIC benefits at the full-dollar rate under PL 106-377 and PL 108-183. Reference: For more information on jurisdiction, see M21-1, Part II, Subpart ii, 3.1.b. |
X.i.4.A.1.b. Jurisdiction Over Accounts Payable
The Manila RO has jurisdiction over all accounts payable at the
- half-dollar rate, which is $0.50 for each dollar authorized under the applicable law, and
- full-dollar rate under PL 106-377 and PL 108-183.
Reference: For more information on the payment of benefits at the half-dollar rate and full-dollar rate, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 4.B and D.
2. Exhibit 1: Eligibility for VA Benefits Based on Service in the Philippines
Change Date
April 28, 2015
X.i.4.A.2.a. Eligibility Table
Eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits based on service in the Philippines is shown below.
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| Disability Benefits | Death Benefits | |||||||
| Type of Service | Compensation | Pension | Clothing Allowance | DIC | Pension | Burial Allowance | Burial Flag | Income Limit and Dependency Determination |
| Regular or “Old” Philippine Scouts - enlisted prior to 10/6/45 or Insular Force of the U.S. Navy | Yes, at the full rate | Yes, at the full rate | Yes, at the full rate | Yes, at the full rate | Yes, at the full rate | Yes, at the full rate | Yes | Income: full rate Dependency: half of the full rate |
| Special or “New” Philippine Scouts - enlisted between 10/6/45 and 6/30/47 under PL 79-190 | Yes at half of the full rate (since 05/27/46), and at the full rate for U.S. residents effective 12/16/03 | No | Yes, at half of the full rate | Yes at half of the full rate (since 05/27/46), and at the full rate for U.S. residents effective 12/16/03 | No | Yes (since 12/16/03), at the full rate | Yes (since 12/16/03) | Half of the full rate |
| Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, while such forces were included in the Armed Forces of the U.S. (USAFFE) from 07/26/41 to 06/20/46 | Yes at half of the full rate (since 02/18/46), and at the full rate for U.S. residents effective 10/27/00 | No | Yes, at half of the full rate | Yes at half of the full rate (since 02/18/46), and at the full rate for U.S. residents effective 12/16/03 | No | Yes at half of the full rate (since 04/25/51), and at the full rate for U.S. residents effective 11/1/00 | Yes (since 04/25/51) | Half of the full rate |
| guerilla service prior to 07/01/46 (Reconstructed Roster closed 06/30/48) | Yes at half of the full rate (since 02/18/46), and at the full rate for U.S. residents effective 10/27/00 | No | Yes, at half of the full rate | Yes at half of the full rate (since 02/18/46), and at the full rate for U.S. residents effective 12/16/03 | No | Yes at half of the full rate (since 02/18/46), and at the full rate for U.S. residents effective 11/01/00 | Yes (since 04/25/51) | Half of the full rate |