USS Rich

From Chuck Weber, your Veteran Service Officer...

VA Presumptive AO Diseases

U.S. Senator Jon Tester successfully secured his landmark Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act (S.3444) in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – a must-pass annual defense bill that the Senate will vote on later this month. Tester’s bill requires the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide benefits for veterans suffering from diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

Currently, thousands of Vietnam veterans living with chronic health conditions developed as a result of their service are being denied critical benefits and health care from VA. Tester’s amendment would provide a presumption of service-connection—based on scientific review by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM)—for Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism.

[Excerpted from a Press Release | Sen. Jon Tester | July 2, 2020]

EDITOR’S NOTE – This bill must be passed by the Senate at the end of July in order to become law. So, CONTACT YOUR SENATOR IMMEDIATELY IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL. If you served on Rich on a Vietnam cruise, or on any other Blue Water Navy ship off Vietnam, or were in country in Vietnam you are already conceded by the VA as having been exposed to Agent Orange. You are already conceded for a number of other conditions and diseases. This bill will add Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism to the list of conceded conditions and diseases. If eligible, file your claim immediately with the VA through a certified Service Officer for the currently approved conditions. If you already have filed and have any of the three new conditions listed above, additionally file for them after the law is passed. DO NOT IGNORE THIS.