Presumptive Disease Archives | Cameron Firm, PC

30 Mar 2023

Does the PACT Act Cover Vietnam Veterans?

Agent Orange, Presumptive Disease, Toxic Exposure

Passed in 2019, the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act helps veterans obtain disability compensation for illnesses commonly linked to certain periods and geographic areas of service. We’ll explain the PACT Act and what it means for Vietnam veterans. What is the PACT Act? The PACT Act makes it easier for veterans to obtain benefits for illnesses caused by exposure to toxic substances like Agent Orange. It can also be called the veteran “burn pit bill” because it expanded access to compensation for veterans who served in areas near burn pits during the Gulf War and post-9/11…

18 Oct 2022

VA Changes PACT Act Process

Burn Pits, Presumptive Disease, VA appeals Attorney, VA Benefits, VA Disability Compensation, VA Law, Veterans Disability, Veterans Disability Attorney, Veterans Disability Lawyer, Veterans' Appeals

VA Changes PACT Act Process Before the VA changed the PACT Act process, the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act required veterans who wanted to file claims for compensation for a presumptive illness to wait a couple of years for the legislation to go into effect. Burn pit and other victims would have to wait up to a year before they applied for benefits. Now, the VA has sped up the law's implementation so veterans may file these claims immediately. As of October 1, post-9/11 veterans have one year to enroll in VA health care if they meet one of…

19 Oct 2021

Burn Pit

Burn Pits, Presumptive Disease, VA appeals Attorney, VA Benefits, VA Disability Compensation

VA Adds Smoke From A Burn Pit To Presumptive Injury List Veterans who developed rhinitis, sinusitis, or asthma after being exposed to burn pit smoke are now presumptively entitled to monthly benefits. VA Secretary Denis McDonough said the decision was "the right move". Further, McDonough hinted that he may add more conditions to the presumptive list in the future. The current presumption applies to Veterans who served in Southwest Asia in 1990 or later, or in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Syria, and Uzbekistan in September 2001 or later. They have to have gotten sick within the last 10 years. The…

07 Jan 2021

Top Five Presumptive Agent Orange Conditions

Agent Orange, Hodgkin's disease, Presumptive Disease, Radiation Exposure, Toxic Exposure

Top Five Presumptive Agent Orange Conditions Here we present five of the most prominent presumptive Agent Orange conditions. The most important component of a VA disability claim is normally a service-related connection. In most cases, Veterans must use a combination of service records, medical records, and buddy statements to establish this connection. This process requires lots of work, as considerable evidence must be produced. Most Agent Orange cases are different. Generally, if the Veteran served in the Vietnam theater between 1961 and 1971, and that Veteran later developed a certain illness, there is a conclusive presumption that service-related Agent Orange…

30 Jul 2020

Presumptive Service Connection

Agent Orange, Presumptive Disease

Does My Agent Orange Exposure Qualify for the Presumptive Service Connection? What are the qualifying factors for the Presumptive Service Connection? Monsanto’s Agent Orange, an extremely powerful defoliant, was widely used by the U.S. military throughout much of the mid and late 20th century. It killed plants quickly, which explains its widespread use in Vietnam during the 1960s and 70s. Unfortunately, it killed people too, or at least made them very ill. These effects did not occur immediately. Instead, they generally took decades. Theoretically, any Veteran with exposure and a health condition associated with Agent Orange exposure could qualify for…

19 Nov 2018

Agent Orange and Colon Cancer

Agent Orange, Presumptive Disease

The Link Between Agent Orange and Colon Cancer This article will detail the link between Agent Orange and Colon Cancer. The VA has recognized that several cancers can be linked to Agent Orange. For these cancers, the VA will provide presumptive benefits for veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and suffer from a cancer on the VA’s list. However, the VA has yet to acknowledge a link between colon cancer with Agent Orange exposure to allow presumptive benefits. Nevertheless, disability compensation may be available for Vietnam veterans who need it. Agent Orange causes cancer – period. Simply because it…

28 Feb 2018

In-service Assault

Presumptive Disease, PTSD Disability

PTSD Based on In-service Assault Post traumatic stress disorder claims based upon In-service Assault, notably sexual assaults, cause distinctive difficulties regarding corroboration. Due to the hypersensitive nature associated with sexual attacks, a number of sufferers do not report them. As a result, there may seldom be records or some other documentation associated with the attack. Due to this difficulty, the VA has relaxed the evidentiary needs regarding confirming this sort of in-service stress factor. According to the most current Title 38 regulating Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief: (5) If a posttraumatic stress disorder claim is based on in-service personal assault,…

13 Jan 2017

VA Appeals for Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Agent Orange, Presumptive Disease, VA Disability Compensation, Veterans' Appeals

VA Appeals for Soft Tissue Sarcomas & Benefits Explained Are you looking for information on VA appeals for soft tissue sarcomas?This article explains soft tissue sarcoma, VA benefits and the appeals process if you have been denied. Understanding soft tissue sarcoma Soft tissue sarcomas are a group of cancers in body tissues such as muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels and connective tissues (that is, distinct from hard tissue such as bone or cartilage). Relatively rare and apart from the much more common carcinomas because these tumors happen in a different kind of tissue. There are often no symptoms in…

05 Jan 2017

VA Appeals For Respiratory Cancers

Agent Orange, Presumptive Disease, VA Disability Compensation, Veterans' Appeals

VA Appeals For Respiratory Cancers And Agent Orange This article explains about VA Appeals for respiratory cancers caused by agent orange. Respiratory Cancers include cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus. Depending on the location of the cancer, symptoms can vary. Lung cancer—a new cough or cough that doesn’t go away, coughing blood, shortness of breath, chest pain, hoarseness. A Cancer of the trachea—dry cough, hoarseness, breathlessness, difficulty swallowing Cancer of the larynx (at the top of the trachea)—hoarseness, voice changes, sore throat or earache, feeling of a lump in the throat Cancer of the bronchus—cough, chest pain, coughing…

29 Dec 2016

VA Appeals for Prostate Cancer

Agent Orange, Presumptive Disease, Toxic Exposure, Veterans' Appeals

VA Appeals for Prostate Cancer - Who's At Risk This article covers VA Appeals for prostate cancer. Cancer of the prostate is one of the most common cancers among men. The prostate is a small gland in the male reproductive system. Symptoms and Risk Factors Some men may have urinary problems, but some men don't have symptoms early on. The greatest risk factor for prostate cancer is increasing age. Other risk factors include having a father or brother with the disease and being African American. Prostate cancer is often first detected with a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test or digital…

Category: Presumptive Disease