VA - new Agent Orange claims - The Firearms Forum

Marlin T · 11-02-2010, 07:09 PM

VA officials begin paying benefits for new Agent Orange claims

11/1/2010 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Department of Veterans Affairs officials have begun distributing disability benefits to Vietnam veterans who qualify for compensation under recently liberalized rules for Agent Orange exposure.
"The joint efforts of Congress and VA demonstrate a commitment to provide Vietnam veterans with treatment and compensation for the long-term health effects of herbicide exposure," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.
Up to 200,000 Vietnam veterans are potentially eligible to receive VA disability compensation for medical conditions recently associated with Agent Orange. The expansion of coverage involves B-cell (or hairy-cell) leukemia, Parkinson's disease and ischemic heart disease.
Secretary Shinseki said VA officials have launched a variety of initiatives, both technological and involving better business practices, to tackle an anticipated upsurge in Agent Orange-related claims.
"These initiatives show VA's ongoing resolve to modernize its processes for handling claims through automation and improvements in doing business, providing veterans with faster and more accurate decisions on their applications for benefits," Secretary Shinseki said.
Providing initial payments, or increases to existing payments, to the 200,000 veterans who now qualify for disability compensation for these three conditions is expected to take several months, but VA officials encourage all Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and suffer from one of the three diseases to make sure their applications have been submitted.
VA officials have offered veterans exposed to Agent Orange special access to health care since 1978, and priority medical care since 1981. They have been providing disability compensation to veterans with medical problems related to Agent Orange since 1985.
In practical terms, veterans who served in Vietnam during the war and who have a "presumed" illness do not have to prove an association between their illnesses and their military service. This "presumption" simplifies and speeds up the application process for benefits.
The three new illnesses -- B-cell (or hairy-cell) leukemia, Parkinson's disease and ischemic heart disease -- are added to the list of presumed illnesses previously recognized by VA officials.
Other recognized illnesses under VA's "presumption" rule for Agent Orange are:
* Acute and Subacute Transient Peripheral Neuropathy
* Chloracne
* Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
* Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2)
* Hodgkin's Disease
* Multiple Myeloma
* Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
* Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
* Prostate Cancer
* Respiratory Cancers
* Soft Tissue Sarcoma (other than Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, or Mesothelioma)
* AL Amyloidosis
Veterans interested in applying for disability compensation under one of the three new Agent Orange presumptives should go to www.fasttrack.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000.

Jeff Midguard · 11-05-2010, 09:28 AM

I had two cousins, both Vietnam vets, who died of Leukemia by the age of 40. Too late for them, but I'm glad the govt. is finally coming around.

Gun Geezer · 11-05-2010, 10:43 AM

My best friend and a Viet Nam vet just started receiving benefits for his exposure to agent orange. He is a brittle diabetic. He developed it about 10 yrs. after Nam. There was no previous history on either side of his family and he was in perfect physical condition. Toward the end of his tour of duty, he developed a malaria type of sickness that was never identified or cured. It just kinda comes and goes. He has also developed very unusual heart problems. The token monthly government check doesn't pay his tax increase and certainly isn't worth the damage that was done to his body nor the outcome of the "peace keeping action".

11-02-2010, 07:09 PM	#1
Marlin T Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Mexico Posts: 7,857	VA - new Agent Orange claims VA officials begin paying benefits for new Agent Orange claims 11/1/2010 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Department of Veterans Affairs officials have begun distributing disability benefits to Vietnam veterans who qualify for compensation under recently liberalized rules for Agent Orange exposure. "The joint efforts of Congress and VA demonstrate a commitment to provide Vietnam veterans with treatment and compensation for the long-term health effects of herbicide exposure," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. Up to 200,000 Vietnam veterans are potentially eligible to receive VA disability compensation for medical conditions recently associated with Agent Orange. The expansion of coverage involves B-cell (or hairy-cell) leukemia, Parkinson's disease and ischemic heart disease. Secretary Shinseki said VA officials have launched a variety of initiatives, both technological and involving better business practices, to tackle an anticipated upsurge in Agent Orange-related claims. "These initiatives show VA's ongoing resolve to modernize its processes for handling claims through automation and improvements in doing business, providing veterans with faster and more accurate decisions on their applications for benefits," Secretary Shinseki said. Providing initial payments, or increases to existing payments, to the 200,000 veterans who now qualify for disability compensation for these three conditions is expected to take several months, but VA officials encourage all Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and suffer from one of the three diseases to make sure their applications have been submitted. VA officials have offered veterans exposed to Agent Orange special access to health care since 1978, and priority medical care since 1981. They have been providing disability compensation to veterans with medical problems related to Agent Orange since 1985. In practical terms, veterans who served in Vietnam during the war and who have a "presumed" illness do not have to prove an association between their illnesses and their military service. This "presumption" simplifies and speeds up the application process for benefits. The three new illnesses -- B-cell (or hairy-cell) leukemia, Parkinson's disease and ischemic heart disease -- are added to the list of presumed illnesses previously recognized by VA officials. Other recognized illnesses under VA's "presumption" rule for Agent Orange are: * Acute and Subacute Transient Peripheral Neuropathy * Chloracne * Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia * Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2) * Hodgkin's Disease * Multiple Myeloma * Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma * Porphyria Cutanea Tarda * Prostate Cancer * Respiratory Cancers * Soft Tissue Sarcoma (other than Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, or Mesothelioma) * AL Amyloidosis Veterans interested in applying for disability compensation under one of the three new Agent Orange presumptives should go to www.fasttrack.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000. __________________ "But the simple truth--born of experience--is that tyranny thrives best where government need not fear the wrath of an armed people." Judge Alex Kozinski - United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from its government. - Thomas Paine Did you read todays GOOD shooting? >>>KEEPANDBEARARMS.COM <<< -->

11-05-2010, 09:28 AM	#2
Jeff Midguard V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Baja Arizona Posts: 233	Re: VA - new Agent Orange claims I had two cousins, both Vietnam vets, who died of Leukemia by the age of 40. Too late for them, but I'm glad the govt. is finally coming around.

11-05-2010, 10:43 AM	#3
Gun Geezer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,716	Re: VA - new Agent Orange claims My best friend and a Viet Nam vet just started receiving benefits for his exposure to agent orange. He is a brittle diabetic. He developed it about 10 yrs. after Nam. There was no previous history on either side of his family and he was in perfect physical condition. Toward the end of his tour of duty, he developed a malaria type of sickness that was never identified or cured. It just kinda comes and goes. He has also developed very unusual heart problems. The token monthly government check doesn't pay his tax increase and certainly isn't worth the damage that was done to his body nor the outcome of the "peace keeping action".