For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
See also: In The Military
Terror war veterans
eligible for free examQuestion: As a veteran of the Afghanistan war, I am concerned about possible long-term consequences of military service in Southern Asia. What is the Department of Veterans Affairs' involvement?
Answer: Veterans of the war on terrorism are welcome to contact the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical and Regional Office Center for a comprehensive medical examination. There is no charge for this examination.
Veterans who have an illness that developed in or worsened during their military service in Afghanistan (or elsewhere) are encouraged to file for disability compensation.
For information regarding VA benefits, they can call a VA veterans' service representative at 433-1000. For information on the free medical examination, call 433-0600.
Q: I read a couple of weeks ago that the VA has recognized a form of leukemia called CLL that is linked to Agent Orange. When will Vietnam veterans with this disease be able to receive compensation?
A: The VA must undertake formal regulation development to implement Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi's decision in January to grant service-connection to Vietnam veterans with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
Usually a proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, public comment is accepted and a final rule follows based on the input received. This process involves coordination with the Office of Management and Budget, but the VA will make every effort to make the regulation effective as soon as possible.
Vietnam veterans who know they have a diagnosis of CLL may wish to contact the VA either at the special issues help line at 800-749-8387 for more information or call the Honolulu VA benefits regional office for guidance on claims at 433-1000.
The new regulation, when enacted, will enable the VA to compensate in-country Vietnam veterans with CLL on a presumptive basis, meaning the VA will presume that the disease was connected with the individual's service. Veterans will not receive disability compensation automatically and will need to apply for the benefit.
Although claims can be filed now, claims cannot be decided until the final regulation is effective.
If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran,
call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049
or visit the VA Web site at www.va.gov/hawaii
or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin,
can be reached by phone at 294-4075
or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.