Benefits Update

Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents - 2009

Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents - 2010 Edition

The 2010 Edition of VA's Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors booklet is available for viewing on-line or for download in portable document format (PDF) at http://www1.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book.asp

The booklet provides the rates for certain federal payments and outlines many programs and services provided by VA and other federal agencies. It also includes toll-free phone numbers, Internet addresses and a directory of VA facilities throughout the country. (more)

VA Expands AO Benefits

BY DAVID L. HOUPPERT, ESQ., DIRECTOR, VETERANS BENEFITS

On October 13, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki announced three additions to the presumptive service-connected list of diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents. Due to presumed exposure to herbicides collectively referred to as Agent Orange, Secretary Shinseki has determined that B cell leukemias, Parkinson’s disease, and ischemic heart disease will allow presumptive service connection. What follows is a brief overview of these conditions.

Leukemias are a very complex group of diseases. B cell leukemia refers to several types of lymphoid leukemia that affect B cells. These types of leukemia include B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, mature B-cell type, B-cell prolymphoblastic leukemia, mature B-cell type, B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia, precursor B lymphoblastic leukemia, and hairy cell leukemia.

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