Fry Chapter 14

Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam and other areas will have an easier path to access quality health care and qualify for disability compensation under a final regulation published on August 31, 2010 in the Federal Register by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The new rule expands the list of health problems VA will presume to be related to Agent Orange and other herbicide exposures to add two new conditions and expand one existing category of conditions. The final regulation follows Shinseki’s determination to expand the list of conditions for which service connection for Vietnam Veterans is presumed. VA is adding Parkinson’s disease and ischemic heart disease and expanding chronic lymphocytic leukemia to include all chronic B cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia. More than 150,000 Veterans are expected to submit Agent Orange claims in the next 12 to 18 months, many of whom are potentially eligible for retroactive disability payments based on past claims.  Additionally, VA will review approximately 90,000 previously denied claims by Vietnam Veterans for service connection for these conditions.  All those awarded service-connection who are not currently eligible for enrollment into the VA healthcare system will become eligible. For more information, go to http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1945

Starting 12 July, the Service Officer hours are changing to 1200-1600 Monday through Thursday. This change will allow the Service Officers to have more space and privacy to better serve our veterans. This change will not affect the Transportation Office hours.

The DAV Fry Chapter 14 June 2010 Commander’s Newsletter is now online. This document is not limited to disabled vets; it has a variety of information applicable to all veterans. The newsletter has been formatted to provide summaries of actions and initiatives to the reader. More comprehensive information can be found using the hyperlinks. This newsletter will not be mailed to reduce postal costs. It can be downloaded and printed on your computer. Copies of the newsletter will be available for veterans to read at the chapter office for those vets without access to a computer. Click here  for the newsletter or go directly to the “News” Section of this website.

As part of VA Secretary Shinseki's effort to reduce the claims backlog, the VA is reducing the paperwork and expediting the process for Veterans seeking compensation for service-connected disabilities.  VA has shortened application forms to reduce paperwork. The new forms, which are being made available on VA's Web site at www.va.gov/vaforms Forms include:

*A shortened VA Form 21-526 for Veterans applying for the first-time to VA for disability compensation or pension benefits. This form has been cut in half - from 23 to 10 pages. It is immediately available to Veterans via Web download, and will be available through VA's online claim-filing process later this summer at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp

* VA Form 21-526b for Veterans seeking increased benefits for conditions already determined by VA to be service-connected. This new form more clearly describes the information needed to support claims for
 increased benefits.

To schedule DAV transportation, please call the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System at (520) 792-1450 (AZ toll free1-800-470-8262) ext.6565 at least 5 working days in advance. You must call the DAV Transportation Office at (520) 458-5776 between 1000-1200 on the last working day before your appointment to confirm your ride. The Transportation Office is open Monday-Friday 1000-1200. For DAV transportation rules, go to http://azdav.org/shuttle.