In many situations, lay statements in a disability claim are very effective. Brain injuries are a good example. Since the brain often conceals its own injuries, many of these Veterans do not realize how badly they are hurt. So, a combination of their own testimony and a clinical medical exam only tells part of the […]
Veterans subjected to radiation exposure at Enewetak Atoll and the Marshall Islands may be eligible for VA disability benefits. In the early days of the Cold War, mostly during the 1950s, the United States and other nuclear powers routinely conducted atmospheric tests of weapons like hydrogen bombs. Most U.S. testing occurred in the Marshall Islands, […]
The legacy of Vietnam and Agent Orange continues to impact countless veterans. Agent Orange, a powerful herbicide used during the Vietnam War, has been definitively linked by medical science to a range of severe health conditions. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) now recognizes specific cancers and numerous other health problems as presumptive diseases associated […]
In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association(JAMA), Thomas B. Newman, M.D., MPH, and co-workers show that all cholesterol-lowering drugs, both the early drugs known as fibrates (Clofibrate, Gemfibrozil) and the newer drugs known as statins (Lipitor, Pravachol, Zocor), caused cancer in rodents at the equivalent doses used by humans. Researchers […]
Shortchanging Combat-Injured Veterans by the VA is under scrutiny. The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims has certified its first class action lawsuit. As a result, Veterans who served in Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan may potentially be impacted. The CAVC filed the class action lawsuit on March 2, 2017. The […]
Understanding VA Disability Compensation The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will pay monthly Veterans Disability Compensation to Veterans who have a service-connected disability. Veterans who received their discharge under circumstances other than honorable are eligible. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs describes Disability Compensation: The VA Disability Compensation is a tax-free monetary benefit paid […]
What is Agent Orange? The history and use of Agent Orange is detailed here along with the explanation of what it is. “Agent Orange” refers to a number of different herbicides. During the Vietnam War, U.S. Air Force aircraft sprayed various herbicides that killed the dense tropical foliage. Which in turn provided a natural cover […]
Open Air Burn Pits in Iraq and Afghanistan Open-air burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan have damaged the health of a vast number of veterans. Last year (January 2015), the U.S. Supreme Court allowed several lawsuits to move forward against government contractors that were used in Iraq and Afghanistan. The higher court declined to hear […]
What is “Individual Unemployability Compensation”? The Individual Unemployability Compensation is a part of VA’s disability compensation program. This allows the VA to pay certain Veterans disability compensation at the 100% rate. Even though VA has not rated their service-connected disabilities at the total level. What are the Eligibility Requirements for the Individual Unemployability Benefit? You […]
Examining The Impact Of Exposure To Toxic Chemicals On Veterans On September 29, 2015, Congress held an oversight hearing held to examine the impact of exposure to toxic chemicals. Particularly the many veterans exposed to Agent Orange. During the Vietnam War and water contamination at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Oversight hearings review or study […]