please review my latest ltte re:recent veterans health decisions before I print

[w8liftinglady]

especially for the usual spelling,punctuation,grammer-thanks as always :)


As a member of Veterans for Common Sense,Veterans for Peace,and the mother of an Iraq War veteran,I try to stay up-to-date on Veterans Administration rulings,as they effect my family and friends directly. In the last 2 years,I have finally been seeing a marked improvement in the mindset of the VA. Two events happened on 09/29/10 that confirmed a new direction.

The first event is the revelation that the VA will be reviewing thousands of claims of Vietnam War Veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Following oversight requests from Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka,the VA has agreed to review 19,000 claims from previously-denied "Brown Water" and other veterans. These veterans served in waterways leading into Vietnam,and had previously been denied service-related disabilities.

The second event is the announcement of the VA's final rule on presumptive diseases as they relate to Gulf War One,Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. This provision ensures that a veteran merely needs to show deployment "in country" to qualify for "service connection" and VA compensation and medical treatment. This relates to nine specific infectious diseases seen in many GW1,Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki has proven himself to be a true veterans' advocate. His statement - “This is part of historic changes in how VA considers Gulf War Veterans’ illnesses”- couldn't have come at a better time. One million new applicants were received by the VA medical system in 2009.

My friend Larry Scott of VA Watchdog has provided a list of links for those seeking VA benefits:

http://www.vawatchdog.org/va%20links%20ez%20guide.htm

You may also call The VA North Dallas Medical Center at
214-857-1365 or 214-857-2664.

I would advise every veteran of Vietnam,Gulf War One,Iraq and Afghanistan who may have any of these conditions to contact the VA asap.There is change on the horizon.
The VA still has a long way to go in treatment of our veterans.The appointment of Secretary Shinseki was a huge step in the right direction.Let's hope we are truly seeing "a historic change" in support of our veterans.

[babylonsister]

1. Damn, Beth, you are providing a public service here. This is

fantastic! So many props to you for doing this! :loveya: And your letter is perfect. I didn't know about this until just now.

[w8liftinglady]

2. I love you,sweet cheeks >..Thanks for the props

:pals:

[bobbolink]

3. K&R

[w8liftinglady]

4. thanks,friend-i thought it important to show who really supports the troops...

especially when they return...

[pinboy3niner]

5. K&R

Another job well done! :thumbsup:

:patriot:

[w8liftinglady]

6. thanks,bro-coming from you-that means a LOT!

:patriot:

[midnight]

7. This is ,long long awaited, good news for those vets who have diseases...

I know you advise vets from war time service, but I wonder about the soldiers who used equipment tainted with agent orange from Vietnam to train off of. Also soldiers that have medical complications via inoculations. Just some thoughts....

[w8liftinglady]

9. I've tried to address some of that..I'll do better

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady/83
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady/62
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady/54
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady/49
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady/32

[Dystopian]

8. Thank you.....

for all you do...a labor of love...

peace~