VA to Review 17,000 “Brown Water” Cases

Claims Processing, Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press, Veterans Law

by Kristina Derro The VA has recently agreed to review the cases of nearly 17,000 “Brown Water” Vietnam Era veterans who have claimed disabilities related to Agent Orange exposure. VA previously denied a number of these claims without properly determining whether they served in Vietnam’s inland waterways (“Brown Water”) or in other locations where they […]

Aug

16

VA PTSD FAQ & NEW AO RULES

Claims Processing, PTSD, Veterans Law

by Jim Fausone The VA is in the process of finalizing new rules that liberalize evidentiary standards for proving stressors in claims for PTSD. The goal is to lessen the burden of proving stressors when the basis of the claim is fear of military action and terrorist’s actions. The VA has recently issued a Frequently Ask […]

Aug

02

New AO Presumptions Funding

Claims Processing, Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press, Veterans Law

by Jim Fausone In late July 2010 the US House passed a funding bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Within the bill was $13.4 billion for the payment of benefits to Vietnam veterans and survivors for exposure to Agent Orange related to the three diseases recently added to the “presumptive-connection” list: Parkinson’s disease, ischemic […]

Jun

30

More Navy and Coast Guard Vietnam Vets May Qualify for Aid

Veterans Law

Veteran advocates are urging Navy and Coast Guard personnel who served in Vietnam to review an updated list of vessels that were exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange. The Department of Veterans Affairs recently released the new list of vessels that operated in the rivers and deltas of Vietnam. Additions include all Coast Guard vessels […]

Jun

22

New AO Presumptions On Hold

News and Press

Last October, the VA announced 3 new AO presumptions – ischemic heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and B-Cell Leukemia. Sen. James Webb, D-Va., says he will use a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing — rescheduled now for Sept. 23 — to have Secretary Shinseki explain his decision to compensate Vietnam veterans, and many surviving spouses, for three […]