Changes Making it Easier for Vets to Obtain Benefits in Persian Gulf War and Afghanistan

By: Dan Meyer

The office hours for the Big Stone County Veterans Service Office are 7:30 am – 4:00 pm Monday through Friday. My office phone number is (320) 839-6398.

A friendly reminder. I will be out of the office from May 12 through May 21 for the Annual Meyer Father and Son’s Canada fishing trip in Ontario. We know it’s going to be freezing this year, however, any day fish’n is a great day! Wish us luck!

VA is recognizing “Presumptive” illnesses for those veterans who served this great Nation in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking steps to make is easier for veterans to obtain disability compensation for certain diseases associated with service in the Persian Gulf War or Afghanistan. VA is publishing a proposed regulation that will establish new presumptions of service-connection for nine specific disease associated with service in the Persian Gulf War, or in Afghanistan.

The presumptive diseases are: Brucellosis, Campylobacter jejuni, Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), malaria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Nontyphoid Salmonella, Shigella, Visceral leishmaniasis, and West Nile virus.

In other news. VA to Fast Track to claims for Agent Orange exposure.

VA has announced an aggressive new initiative to solicit private-sector input on a proposed “fast track” veterans’ claims process for service-connected presumptive illnesses due to Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War. They affect veterans with Parkinson’s disease, ischemic heart disease, and B-cell leukemias. In practical terms, veterans covered by the “presumptive of service-connection” don’t have to prove an association between their medical problems and military service.

Until next week, take care and “Fair Winds and Following Seas!”


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