Did you know that many Veterans who served during the Vietnam War are entitled to VA Benefits that they are not currently receiving? The back benefits owed can be substantial and we urge those who served in Vietnam to contact a Veteran’s Disability Lawyer to discuss their claim.

This is because there is an expanding list of health conditions and diseases that the Veteran’s Administration attaches a presumption of “service connection” to for Vietnam Veterans. The conditions now include some of the most common ailments in the general population including type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease and Parkinson’s disease. What this means, in a nutshell, is that Vietnam Vets who have these illnesses can claim VA disability benefits and health benefits without having to prove that their condition was connected to Agent Orange Exposure. This new 2010 policy applies to those who served in Vietnam from January 9, 2962 until May 7, 2975.

Call a personal injury lawyer from Goldberg Finnegan today at (888) 213-8140 for a free phone consultation on your rights to Veteran’s Benefits.

The decision to add Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and heart disease to the list of presumed service connected disabilities was made based on an independent study done by the Institute of Medicine titled, “Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 2008.” It should also be noted that the VA recently indicated it was going to “fast track” the claims process for service connected disabilities due to Agent Orange Exposure.

The list of conditions which receive a favorable presumption for service connected disability benefits now includes:

  • Type II Diabetes
  • Heart Disease
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Chloracne
  • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
  • Lung Cancer, Bronchus Cancer, Larynx Cancer, Hodgkin’s Disease
  • Multiple Myeloma
  • Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
  • All Chronic B-Cell Leukemias
  • Certain Soft Tissue Sarcomas
  • AL Amyloidosis
  • Certain Birth Defects in Children of Female Vets (including Spina Bifida)

The birth defects that are covered include achondroplasia, cleft lip and cleft palate, congenital heart disease, congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot), hip dysplasia, Hirschsprung’s disease, hypospadias, hydrocephalus due to aqueduct stenosis. For more information about the conditions covered for Vietnam Veterans review the document titled Agent Orange Review.pdf

Goldberg Finnegan, LLC works with a team of lawyers who provide free consultations to Veterans and their families about the additional benefits that they may be entitled to. Generally speaking the types of benefits include service connected disability benefits, Compensation for Injury or death caused by VA Health Care Malpractice, Pension Benefits For Veterans with Non-Service Connected Disabilities, and VA Benefits for Family Members of Veterans who served in the armed forces.