Thank you.
This reflects the options that veterans have available to them with the pain and suffering compensation. They have a choice, when a decision is made, to receive either a monthly payment for a lifetime or a lump sum payment. The increase in spending, as you highlight, reflects the fact that with more disability application decisions being processed by the department, more individuals have the opportunity to choose a one-time lump sum payment for their disability compensation. That is a big aspect of the increase in the annual spending.