• Latest
  • Trending
  • All

VA secretary promises ‘urgency’ in implementing new Agent Orange presumptive benefits rules

February 24, 2021

Veterans Day Message from President Trump

August 1, 2022

Navajo Code Talker Samuel Sandoval dies

August 1, 2022

#VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Victor “Brute” Harold Krulak

August 1, 2022

Trump supporters attempt world record boat parade near Clearwater Beach

August 1, 2022

Veteran honored for once-secret role in WWII ‘Ghost Army’

August 1, 2022

Helping a Fellow Vet with Disability Claim : Veterans

July 31, 2022

Table Tennis 1. European Championship1995 Vienna (Wien)Veterans Orlovwki Dvoracek Tischtennis

July 31, 2022

Low-Cost Tech Shaping Modern Battlefield > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News

July 31, 2022

The Army won’t lower its standards again to meet recruitment goals

July 31, 2022

Coast Guard veteran held without bail in ID theft mystery

July 31, 2022

British Normandy Memorial opens on D-Day anniversary

July 31, 2022

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Stories

July 31, 2022
Monday, January 30, 2023
  • PRESS RELEASE
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT
198 Veterans News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Global Veterans
  • USA Veterans
  • EU Veterans
  • Canadian Veterans
  • Australian Veterans
  • Asia Veterans
  • African Veterans
  • Veteran Supports
  • More
    • Global Veteran Supports
    • Veterans Nonprofits
    • Veterans Sponsors
    • Sponsorship
    • Veteran Blogs
    • Veteran Books
    • VIP videos of Veterans
198 Veterans News
No Result
View All Result
Home USA Veteran News

VA secretary promises ‘urgency’ in implementing new Agent Orange presumptive benefits rules

by The Editor
February 24, 2021
in USA Veteran News
243 10
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

[ad_1]

Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough on Tuesday promised an “urgent” review of new rules regarding presumptive benefits status for Vietnam veterans suffering from serious illnesses related to toxic chemical defoliant exposure, but offered no specific timeline for when veterans may see those changes put in place.

“We’re under the gun on this, and I think that’s a good thing,” McDonough told reporters during a press conference on Tuesday. “I feel some urgency on this … and we are trying to get spun up on it.”

In January, officials from President Donald Trump’s VA leadership team said it could be months or years before veterans suffering from bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinson’s-like symptoms — three new conditions added presumptive benefits list by Congress last year — would see any benefits from the change in law.

President Donald Trump signed legislation granting presumptive status for disability benefits to an estimated 90,000 Navy veterans who served in the seas around Vietnam during the war. (AP Photo)

Veterans advocates for years have fought for years to force the change, which would give about 34,000 Vietnam veterans a faster path to receiving disability benefits.

Past VA officials have argued against the move in part because of lingering questions about connections between the illnesses and chemical defoliant exposure (although National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine officials have said the science linking the two is conclusive) and in part because of the potential cost of the move, estimated at about $8 billion over the next 10 years

But Congress sided with the veterans advocates, putting language in the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act forcing the change.

Following the bill’s passage, VA officials said the regulatory process to implement the new rules can take up to 24 months. McDonough indicated he hopes to move much quicker.

Sign up for the Retirement Report

Each week, get insights on military retirement benefits and issues

By giving us your email, you are opting in to the Early Bird Brief.

Military Times Logo

“So many of the vets have been waiting while on this,” he said.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough speaks during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee on Jan. 27, 2021. (Sarah Silbiger/Pool via AP)

McDonough also promised to re-examine a related issue: the connection between hypertension and Agent Orange exposure, one that medical experts have said is strong but not as conclusive as the other approved illnesses.

Adding high-blood pressure to the presumptive list could potentially more than double the cost to VA, and benefit as many as 160,000 veterans.

“People often are inclined to focus first on the cost,” McDonough said. “I want to focus first on the facts and on the data.”



[ad_2]

Source link

Tags: AgentBenefitsimplementingOrangepresumptivepromisesRulesSecretaryurgency
Share197Tweet123Send
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

Desmond inquiry: Lionel Desmond’s case manager at Veterans Affairs begins testimony – Halifax

June 22, 2021

Afghans, Canadian veterans in Alberta fear Taliban takeover will undo years of progress

August 14, 2021

Lionel Desmond inquiry: Veterans Affairs review cites delays, calls for changes – Halifax

June 25, 2021

Hello world!

1

Lady Gaga Pulled Off One of the Best Halftime Shows Ever

0

Barack Obama’s Now Mainly Focusing on Wearing This Casual Backwards Hat

0

Veterans Day Message from President Trump

August 1, 2022

Navajo Code Talker Samuel Sandoval dies

August 1, 2022

#VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Victor “Brute” Harold Krulak

August 1, 2022
198 Veterans News

Own and operated by The Ike Lemuwa Group, LLC a Commonwealth of Virginia Limited Liability Company, USA.
Info@nigeriasmartnews.com / info@ikelemuwagroup.com
Toll-Free: 1 888 642 8433
3821 Dominion Drive Dumfries, Virginia, 22026. USA

Trending News

Brown Water Navy Heroes | The Veterans Site News

If Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling, veterans will not receive disability payments : Veterans

FINRA Form 211 and Getting Your Stock Trading

Troops En Route to Afghanistan Aim to Help Remove Civilians, Pentagon Official Says > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News

Vetsin Tech virtual Hiring event : Veterans

Recent News

Veterans Day Message from President Trump

Navajo Code Talker Samuel Sandoval dies

#VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Victor “Brute” Harold Krulak

Trump supporters attempt world record boat parade near Clearwater Beach

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Cookie Policy
  • T & C
  • Contact

198 Veterans News - Copyright AllRights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Global Veterans
  • USA Veterans
  • EU Veterans
  • Canadian Veterans
  • Australian Veterans
  • Asia Veterans
  • African Veterans
  • Veteran Supports
  • More
    • Global Veteran Supports
    • Veterans Nonprofits
    • Veterans Sponsors
    • Sponsorship
    • Veteran Blogs
    • Veteran Books
    • VIP videos of Veterans

198 Veterans News - Copyright AllRights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In