EASIER TO GET VA BENEFITS - SOME DISEASES

VA Recognizes “Presumptive” Illnesses in Iraq, Afghanistan

March 18, 2010

Printable Version
Need Viewer Software?

Decision Makes It Easier for Gulf War Veterans to Receive Benefits

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki today announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking steps to make it easier for Veterans to obtain disability compensation for certain diseases associated with service in the Persian Gulf War or Afghanistan.  This will be the beginning of historic change for how VA considers Gulf War Veterans’ illnesses.
Following recommendations made by VA’s Gulf War Veterans Illnesses Task Force, VA is publishing a proposed regulation in the Federal Register that will establish new presumptions of service connection for nine specific infectious diseases associated with military service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War, or inAfghanistan on or after September 19, 2001.  
“We recognize the frustrations that many Gulf War and Afghanistan Veterans and their families experience on a daily basis as they look for answers to health questions, and seek benefits from VA,” said Secretary Shinseki. 
The proposed rule includes information about the long-term health effects potentially associated with the nine diseases: Brucellosis, Campylobacter jejuni, Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), malaria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Nontyphoid Salmonella, Shigella, Visceral leishmaniasis and West Nile virus.  
For non-presumptive conditions, a Veteran is required to provide medical evidence that can be used to establish an actual connection between military service in Southwest Asia or in Afghanistan, and a specific disease.  
With the proposed rule, a Veteran will only have to show service in Southwest Asia or Afghanistan, and a current diagnosis of one of the nine diseases.  Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted over the next 60 days.  A final regulation will be published after consideration of all comments received.
The decision was made after reviewing the 2006 report of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), titled, “Gulf War and Health Volume 5: Infectious Diseases.”  The 2006 report differed from the four prior reports by looking at the long-term health effects of certain diseases determined to be pertinent to Gulf War Veterans.
The 1998 Persian Gulf War Veterans Act requires the Secretary to review NAS reports that study scientific information and possible associations between illnesses and exposure to toxic agents by Veterans who served in the Persian Gulf War. 
Because the Persian Gulf War has not officially been declared ended, Veterans serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom are eligible for VA’s new presumptions.  Secretary Shinseki decided to include Afghanistan Veterans in these presumptions because NAS found that the nine diseases are prevalent in that country.  
Noting that today’s proposed regulation reflects a significant determination of a positive association between service in the Persian Gulf War and certain diseases, Secretary Shinseki added, “By setting up scientifically-based presumptive service connection, we give these deserving Veterans a simple way to get the benefits they have earned in service to our country.”
Last year, VA received more than one million claims for disability compensation and pension.  VA provides compensation and pension benefits to over 3.8 million Veterans and beneficiaries.  Presently, the basic monthly rate of compensation ranges from $123 to $2,673 to Veterans without any dependents.
Disability compensation is a non-taxable, monthly monetary benefit paid to Veterans who are disabled as a result of an injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated during active military service. 
For more information about health problems associated with military service during operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and related VA programs go to www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/ or go to www.va.gov for information about disability compensation.

Read more...

BENEFITS - VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Benefits - Veterans Benefits Administration

VA to Provide Payments to Eligible Surviving Spouses                                       The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced immediate actions to quickly identify and pay surviving spouses who are eligible to receive the deceased veteran’s VA compensation or pension benefit for the month of the veteran’s death.   This benefit is only payable to surviving spouses of veterans who were receiving VA compensation or pension benefits at the time of their death.  Because VA does not always know if a veteran is survived by a spouse, some surviving spouses have not received the month-of-death benefit to which they are entitled.  If you are a surviving spouse of a veteran who was receiving VA benefits at the time of death and believe you may be eligible for the month-of-death benefit, please go to www.va.gov and provide the information requested.  VA will determine your eligibility.  When you reach the web page to ask your question, please select: ·          “Question” for the Type of Inquiry. ·           “Survivors Month of Death Benefit” for your Topic.  On the second page of the web form, please make sure to include: ·          Your full name, address and contact preference (e-mail, phone number, or US Mail), ·          And, the veteran’s o         First and last name, o         Social Security Number or VA claim number, o         Veteran’s date of birth, o         Branch of service, o         Service number, if you have it, and, o         Service dates, if possible. VA has also established a special Survivors’ Call Center for spouses who believe they may be entitled to this retroactive month-of-death benefit.  Surviving spouses are encouraged to contact the Survivors’ Call Center at the toll-free telephone number, 1-800-749-8387.  Call center agents will assist surviving spouses in providing VA with the information needed to determine their eligibility.  The Call Center is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm central standard time.

Read more...

11Feb10 Military Council Meeting

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

The Pahrump Military Retiree's and Veterans Council met on 11Feb 2010 at Wuffy's Clubhouse at 1800 hrs. There were 54 attendee's and the Council was:

1. Called to order.

2. The Pledge of allegiance.

3. Introduction of the Council Members present.

4. An Explanation of our purpose.

5. A review of the items already submitted by Department of the Army for the expansion of "Benefits" for Retiree's and Veterans.

6. An explanation of the proposed changes to "Benefits" that have been sumbitted to Presidio of Montery (POM) for inclusion in the package going to the Pentagon and the Army Retiree Council meeting in April 2010.

7. A Floor discussion was opened up to submit input for future inclusion to POM for the CAL/NEV council meeting on 18Jun10. Items were collected for staffing to the members of the Pahrump Council, which will include them in the next submission to POM.

8. A presentation on the new film "Who will Stand" was discussed and the producer will have copies available soon. This is a film about PTSD and how it affects service personnel.

9. The meeting was adjourned.

Read more...