You are here : Health >Diseases and Conditions >

Disabled Vietnam Veterans Can Receive Compensation

Add to Favourite

By: Gary Jacobsen | Nov 15, 2010 | 349 words | 123 views

Ranking:

( 0 time(s) )

Email |
Print |
0 Comment(s) |
Font size

The men and women who have service-connected disabilities as the result of their service in South Vietnam have not been forgotten by a grateful nation. Public laws and a number of regulations by the Department of Veterans Affairs are intended to ensure that these persons receive priority medical service at VA hospitals, or financial compensation, or both.

Vietnam veterans are now in their late sixties or early seventies and, as might be expected, many have medical problems that are associated merely with advancing age. These are conditions that are best treated by private physicians under Medicare or other private medical insurance programs. A percentage of these veterans, however, have medical problems that are directly traceable to their military service in South Vietnam.

In the ten-year period from 1961 to 1971, U. S. forces in Vietnam used a powerful herbicide defoliant called Agent Orange in the mistaken belief that it would reveal Viet Cong forest sanctuaries. Areas in and around Vietnam's northern I Corps--patrolled almost exclusively by U. S. Marines--received more of this defoliant than any other area in the country.

The military commanders who authorized the use of Agent Orange did not know that it was a carcinogen that, in time, would adversely affect U. S. forces. That is the problem that Americans must now deal with. For example, a 65-year-old Vietnam veteran who develops Hodgkin's disease may correctly assume that the medical condition is the result of his military service.

The Department of Veterans Affairs now makes a "presumption of service connection" if a Vietnam veteran develops any of the following: Parkinson's disease, ischemic heart disease, B-cell leukemia, type-II diabetes, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, prostate cancer, respiratory cancer or soft-tissue sarcoma. The presumption is in favor of the veteran, and it greatly simplifies his or her application for benefits.

Any veteran who served in South Vietnam between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975, and who has been diagnosed with any of the above conditions, should immediately contact the Department of Veterans Affairs and apply for benefits. The veteran can also call 1-800-749-8387 for additional information on how to apply.

Author Description :

The author has a B.S. degree from the University of Illinois and an M.B.A. degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

He was a career U. S. Marine officer for 20+ years, and then the CEO of a successful corporation in northern Virginia until 1997. From then until 2004 he was an adjunct professor of management at both 2-year and 4-year universities in Virginia.

He has written on a variety of topics for The Washington Post and The Potomac News.

Author's URL: http://garyjacobsen.yolasite.com

Share this story with friends:

Disabled Vietnam Veterans Can Receive Compensation

How to Handle SSA Disability Overpayment

Publisher: Joseph Devine

Persons suffering from disabilities are often entitled to compensation from the Social Security Administration (SSA). People receiving benefits may suffer from disabilities from birth or early childhood, or may have been injured in an accident or have developed the disability later in life. Regardless of the cause, benefits are often paid to help people cope with a lack of function or inability to work.

Disability Aids

Publisher: Rodney Munch

Disability aids are devices designed to assist in the lives of those people living with disabilities and can be anything from a bottle opener right through to a mobility scooter or stair left and beyond.

Applicants for Social Security Disability Insurance Fare Better With Representation

Publisher: Eugene Watson

Many experts agree that having a qualified Social Security Disability attorney or advocate represent you at a disability hearing can greatly increase your chances of receiving benefits. However, you should know what questions to ask so that you hire the best representative for your case.

Creating Your Individualized Plan For Disability

Publisher: David S Caldwell

If you are living with a serious disability that has left you unable to work and meet your necessary expenses, you understand well the impact of a disability on a person's livelihood. In addition to the cost of your medical needs, a disability can mean living with very limited income until you are able to return to work. With the help of disability benefits, however, you may be able to find relief from your medical expenses and receive assistance in returning to work.

University of California Receives Grant Money to Study Veteran Brain Injury

Publisher: Peter Kent

Personal Injury: Traumatic Brain Injury. The University of California San Diego recently was awarded a grant in part funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) to improve treatments for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for American citizens and returning war veterans.

War Veterans and Traumatic Brain Injury

Publisher: Katie Kelley

U.S. soldiers who have fought for their country and return home with disabilities because of a brain injury should be provided for in the best possible way. However, with so many soldiers returning from the war in Iraq with a brain injury, the war's signature injury, it becomes difficult to track and treat these men and women.

Can You Explain How Disability Coverage and Disability Insurance Work?

Publisher: Aaron Skloff

Three in 10 workers entering the work force today will become disabled before retiring. An illness or accident will keep 1 in 5 workers out of work for at least a year during their working careers. Unfortunately, over 70% of working Americans do not have enough savings to meet short-term emergencies. Most people do not understand their disability benefits until they are disabled.

Supplemental Disability Insurance

Publisher: David C. Paterson

If you need disability insurance, we can help you find it. Learn what you need and how to get it.

Mesothelioma Compensation-Are You Aware Of Structured Settlements?

Publisher: Bello kamorudeen

Asbestos cancer is a cancer that should have been prevented it is the result of deliberate negligence on the part of companies. People that have been exposed to it and developed this killer cancer from it and their families deserve to be compensated. Compensation in the form of structured settlements or payments can take care of the now disabled victim and the victim's family.

Sources of Disability Income

Publisher: James Witherspoon

Serious injuries and grave illnesses can prevent you from working and earning the income that you need to pay your medical bills and other basic needs. The stress of more and more debt can make it even harder for you to recover. Thus, to help you during this difficult time, you should consider applying for disability income.

Disability Insurance - Four Rules

Publisher: Corey Landis

You can ask any financial advisor what is the most often overlooked type of insurance that people should have, and almost all will tell you it's disability insurance. Many people ignore disability insurance in comparison to life insurance.

Comments

Add new Comment