3.275—Criteria for evaluating net worth.
(a) General.
The following rules are for application in determining the corpus of estate or net worth of a veteran, surviving spouse or child under § 3.274.
(b) Definition.
The terms corpus of estate and net worth mean the market value, less mortgages or other encumbrances, of all real and personal property owned by the claimant, except the claimant's dwelling (single family unit), including a reasonable lot area, and personal effects suitable to and consistent with the claimant's reasonable mode of life.
(d) Evaluation.
In determining whether some part of the claimant's estate (or combined estates under § 3.274 (a) and (e)) should be consumed for the claimant's maintenance, consideration will be given to the amount of the claimant's income together with the following: Whether the property can be readily converted into cash at no substantial sacrifice; life expectancy; number of dependents who meet the definition of member of the family (the definition contained in § 3.250(b)(2) is applicable to the improved pension program); potential rate of depletion, including unusual medical expenses under the principles outlined in § 3.272(g) for the claimant and the claimant's dependents.
(e) Educational expenses.
There shall be excluded from the corpus of estate or net worth of a child reasonable amounts for actual or prospective educational or vocational expenses. The amount so excluded shall not be such as to provide for education or training beyond age 23.
(f) Agent Orange settlement payments.
There shall be excluded from the corpus of the estate or net worth of a claimant any payment made from the Agent Orange Settlement Fund or any other fund established pursuant to the settlement in the In re Agent Orange product liability litigation, M.D.L. No. 381 (E.D.N.Y.). (January 1, 1989)
(g) Restitution to individuals of Japanese ancestry.
There shall be excluded from the corpus of estate or net worth of a claimant any payment made as restitution under Public Law 100-383 to individuals of Japanese ancestry who were interned, evacuated, or relocated during the period December 7, 1941, through June 30, 1946, pursuant to any law, Executive order, Presidential proclamation, directive, or other official action respecting these individuals. (August 10, 1988)
(h) Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.
There shall be excluded from the corpus of estate or net worth of a claimant any payment made under Section 6 of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1990.
(i) Monetary allowance under 38 U.S.C. chapter 18 for certain individuals who are children of Vietnam veterans or children of veterans with covered service in Korea.
There shall be excluded from the corpus of estate or net worth of a claimant any allowance paid under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. chapter 18 to or for an individual who is a child of a Vietnam veteran or a child of a veteran with covered service in Korea.
(j) Victims of Crime Act.
There shall be excluded from the corpus of estate or net worth of a claimant any amounts received as compensation under the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 unless the total amount of assistance received from all federally funded programs is sufficient to fully compensate the claimant for losses suffered as a result of the crime.
(k) Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card and Transitional Assistance Program.
There shall be excluded from the corpus of estate or net worth of a claimant payments received under the Medicare transitional assistance program and any savings associated with the Medicare prescription drug discount card.