Two years ago, David Shulkin Veterans Affairs Secretary added bladder cancer, Parkinson’s-like symptoms, and hypothyroidism to the list of diseases assumed to be caused by Agent Orange. Now, thousands of veterans are still waiting on benefits for these illnesses. According to an article published by Military Times, “Heavily redacted emails and briefings released recently to former Army Spc….
Earlier this year, law legislation awarding presumptive benefits to “blue water” veterans was finalized, with more than 90,000 veterans eligible for disability benefits under this law. However, in June of this year, Veterans Affairs officials announced a six-month-long delay in processing “blue water” Vietnam benefits cases. According to an article published by Military Times, “VA Secretary Robert Wilkie…
Earlier this year, the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs announced that they may have reached a decision regarding the addition of four new illnesses to the Agent Orange presumptive benefits eligibility list. Now, almost five months later, they still have not been able to move forward on this. According to an article published by MilitaryTimes.com, “Last November, researchers…
In an effort to increase access to disability benefits and treatment at the Department of Veterans Affairs, a new bill (now connected to the National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2020) requires that servicemembers include whether they were exposed to toxic materials in their medical records. Later this year, lawmakers will rectify the…
This week, a lawsuit was filed against the Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie over his decision to suspend claims processing for tens of thousands of “Blue Water” Navy veterans until 2020. The lawsuit was filed by Military Veterans Advocacy and the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Association in the U.S. Court of Appeals and…
Last week, the President signed the legislation and passed the law. The “Blue water” Vietnam Veterans Benefits Act will now grant presumptive status for disability benefits to an estimated 90,000 Navy veterans who served in the seas around Vietnam during the war. According to an article published by Military Times, “[Veterans] faced additional paperwork barriers to prove exposure…
‘Blue Water’ Navy veteran Alfred Procopio Jr. persevered through 13 years of denials to prove that his illnesses were exposure-related and caused by the toxic chemical Agent Orange during his time of service. Procopio was 61 years old when he originally filed his claim. Next month, he’ll be 74. According to an article published by…
This week the Senate unanimously passed legislation that grants disability benefits to “blue water” Vietnam veterans. The bill has now been sent to the White House to officially become law. According to an article published by MilitaryTimes.com, “The legislation, passed unanimously by the House last month, has been a focus of advocates fighting to ensure nearly 90,000…
In a filing with the Supreme Court Tuesday, the Department of Justice dropped its appeal of a federal court decision awarding disability benefits to tens of thousands of veterans who claim their illnesses are related to the exposure of toxic chemicals while serving. According to an article published by MilitaryTimes.com, the “Congressional Budget Office officials had estimated that…
This year, lawmakers are closer than ever to passing legislation which would give tens of thousands of Vietnam veterans medical benefits – decades after they were exposed to the chemical Agent Orange. According to an article published by WBFO 88.7, “In 1991, Congress passed legislation creating medical benefits for Vietnam veterans exposed to the herbicide….
