And another DoD Fuck You to Vietnam veterans

[unhappycamper]

VA delay may stall benefits for Vietnam vets
By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Mar 2, 2010 9:40:58 EST

Three veterans groups have threatened the Veterans Affairs Department with a lawsuit if VA does not publish regulations by March 12 about three Agent Orange-related diseases that the Institute of Medicine has deemed should be presumed connected to military service.

Every two years, the IoM reviews scientific evidence to determine if diseases could have been caused by dioxin, the harmful ingredient in Agent Orange. Agent Orange is an exfoliate widely used during the Vietnam War to clear forests.

In its latest review, IoM found that ischemic heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and B-cell leukemias all could be linked to Agent Orange exposure. VA is required by the Agent Orange Act of 1991 to publish a regulation, making veterans eligible for benefits, within 210 days of such findings. In this case, that would have been Feb. 19. VA doesn’t have to pay out benefits until after the regulation is actually published.

The American Legion, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the National Veterans Legal Services Program sent a letter to VA on Monday demanding that the organization publish the regulation by March 12.

“VA Secretary Shinseki in September agreed to add the three diseases,” said Barton Stichman, joint executive director of the National Veterans Legal Services Program. “But his agency has let him down on paying anyone their benefits.”


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/03/military_VAdeadline_agentorange_030110w/

[Captain Hilts]

1. NOT acceptable. nt

[Soylent Brice]

2. how lovely

De Planque said as many as 200,000 veterans may seek benefits just for heart disease, which could add to the already considerable backlog of VA benefits claims and cause further delays. De Planque recommended that veterans file claims as soon as possible, and not wait for the regulation to come out.

[era veteran]

3. The VA's plan; Wait until they all die

[unhappycamper]

4. Yup.

It's much cheaper that way. :(

[madokie]

5. So maybe this explains my chest cat scan tomorrow morning

I am disabled now because of PAD and I'm having a hard time doing any exertion at all and its getting worse. Prior to this I worked was a concrete finisher for 15+ years so I know what work is and I can't do it now, like I used to anyway.