Legal Help for Veterans blog.
News and Press
Veterans who served at the Karshi-Khanabad (K2) base in Uzbekistan after September 11, 2001, are now eligible for expanded access to VA benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced new steps to ensure these Veterans—and their survivors—receive the care and compensation they deserve. These changes aim to lower the burden of proof for […]
READ MORE
News and Press, Veterans Law
On May 18, 2022, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and ranking member Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) announced a bipartisan agreement on comprehensive legislation affecting all generations of toxic-exposed veterans. The bill is known as the SFC. Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022, would afford these […]
READ MORE
Uncategorized
Last month, a very important bill was introduced that aims to research a possible link between aviation veterans and increased cancer rates. Aviator Cancer Examination Study Act The bill was introduced by U.S. Representative August Pfleuger from Texas and is being called the Aviator Cancer Examination Study Act or “ACES Act.” If passed, it would […]
READ MORE
News and Press
All Israeli Navy veterans that were forced to swim in the heavily polluted Kishon River in northern Israel during service and have since contracted a disease will be recognized as Israeli Defense Force (IDF) disabled veterans, the Defense Ministry announced. For those affected, this will give them access to additional benefits and services, after years […]
READ MORE
Uncategorized
Lawmakers have recently passed a pair of bills that aim to address the military’s use of toxic burn pits. This new burn pit legislation included 2 bills that were signed into law on December 28, 2021, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2022. New Burn Pit Legislation The bills are: H.R. 4397 […]
READ MORE
News and Press, Veterans Law
President Biden has signed two bills into law that address the military’s use of toxic burn pits as part of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. The bills – authored by Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA) – will expand the Burn Pits Registry and enhance training on the health effects of burn pits. For years, U.S. […]
READ MORE
Medical Issues / Disability, Veterans Law
According to a 2021 VA-funded research proposal by Rajeev Samant: “There is a notably high incidence of breast cancer among younger military women (20-40%). The incident rate of breast cancer for active-duty women is seven times higher than the average incident rate of 15 other cancer types across all service members. An estimated 90 percent […]
READ MORE
Uncategorized
On August 2nd, the VA began processing disability claims for asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis due to presumed burn pit exposure during military service. This applies to veterans who served in Southwest Asia and certain other areas. To qualify, your conditions must have started within 10 years of your separation from active duty. Asthma is a […]
READ MORE
Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press, Veterans Law
On May 27, 2021, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that they would be adding three new presumptive conditions to the list of Agent Orange exposure disability. The three conditions; Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism were added as provisions under the Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283). Bladder cancer is a […]
READ MORE
Veterans Law
A Tennessee senator has blocked the confirmation of four nominees to Veterans Affairs leadership posts. The move comes over lingering comments about the department’s lack of response on the cost and scope of a pending toxic exposure bill that would grant more generous benefits to victims of toxic exposure. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., made the […]
READ MORE