A veteran convicted of a misdemeanor assault and battery while receiving 20% SC compensation will have their payments reduced?

The answer is that a veteran convicted of a misdemeanor assault and battery while receiving 20% service-connected compensation will not have their payments reduced. This is primarily because service-connected disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is generally not affected by misdemeanor convictions. The VA considers service connection primarily linked to a veteran’s military service and disability rather than personal conduct in civilian life.

Misdemeanor convictions, unless they are specific types of more serious offenses or lead to incarceration for a felony, typically do not trigger automatic adjustments to disability compensation. In this case, assault and battery, although serious, remains a misdemeanor and is less likely to impact benefits. Moreover, reductions in VA benefits are usually associated with felony convictions, dishonorable discharges, or if the offense is directly related to the disability itself.

Thus, in the context of the provided options, understanding the nature of the offenses and the established VA policy towards such situations clarifies why the correct answer is that the veteran's compensation payments will not be reduced.