ORLAND MEMORIAL POST 111

Service-Connected Disabilities

Disability Compensation for Presumptive Conditions

Certain chronic and tropical diseases (for example, multiple sclerosis, diabetes mellitus and arthritis) may be service connected if the disease becomes at least 10 percent disabling within the applicable time limit following service. For a comprehensive list of these chronic diseases see 38 CFR 3.309; for applicable time limits see 38 CER 3.307.

All veterans who develop Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, at any time after separation from service may be eligible for that disability. To be eligible, the Veteran must have served a minimum of 90 consecutive days of active service.

Prisoners of War: For former Prisoners of War (POWs) who were imprisoned for any length of time, presumes the following disabilities to be service connected if they become at least 10 percent disabling any time after military service: psychosis, any of the anxiety states, dysthymic disorder, organic residuals of frostbite, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, atherosclerotic heart disease or hypertensive vascular disease and their complications, stroke and its complications, and, effective Oct. 10, 2008, osteoporosis if the Veteran has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

For former POWs who were imprisoned for at least 30 days, the following conditions are also presumed to be service connected: avitaminosis, beriberi, chronic dysentery, helminthiasis, malnutrition (including optic atrophy associated with malnutrition), pellagra and/or other nutritional deficiencies, irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer disease, peripheral neuropathy except where related to infectious causes, cirrhosis of the liver, and, effective 09/28/2008, osteoporosis.

Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange and other Herbicides: A Veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam between 01/09/1962 and 05/07/1975, is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange and other herbicides used in support of military operations.

The VA presumes the following diseases to be service connected for such exposed Veterans: AL amyloidosis, chloracne or other acneiform similar to chloracne, porphyria cutane tarda, soft-tissue sarcoma (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma or mesothelioma), Hodgkin’s disease, multiple myeloma, respiratory cancers (lung, bronchus, larynx, trachea), non-Hodgkin’s respiratory cancers (lung, bronchus, larynx, trachea), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma prostate cancer, acute and sub-acute peripheraineuropathy, diabetes mellitus (Type 2), all chronic B-Cell leukemias (including, but not limited to hairy-cell leukemia chronic lymphocytic leukemia), Parkinson’s disease, and ischemic heart disease.

Veterans Exposed to Radiation: For Veterans who participated in radiation risk activities as defined in VA regulations while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, the following conditions are presumed to be service connected: All forms of leukemia (except for chronic lymphocytic leukemia); cancer of the thyroid, breast, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, bile ducts, gall bladder, salivary gland, urinary tract (renal pelvis, ureter, urinary ladder and urethra), brain, bone, lung, colon and ovary; bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma; multiple myeloma; lymphomas (other than Hodgkin’s disease), and primary liver cancer (except if cirrhosis or hepatitis B indicated).

To determine service connection for other conditions or exposures not eligible for presumptive service connection. VA considers factors such as the amount of radiation exposure, duration of exposure, elapsed time between exposure and onset of the disease, gender and family history, age at the time of exposure, the extent to which a non-service exposure could contribute to disease and the relative sensitivity of exposed tissue.

(To Be Continued Next Month)

Reminder: All paid Legion members are eligible for the Legionnaire Insurance Trust benefit program, but members must confirm on the following web site: thelit.comand navigate to the PRODUCTS menu bar item and select No Cost LegionCare. On the No Cost LegionCare page, select the Sign Up Now button. You will need to supply the following: Zip Code, DOB info, Department (IL), Belong To info, American Legion Member number, Email Address, Name Info, Street Address info, Phone and Gender. You must perform the sign-up process. You will be covered with $1000 accidental death insurance and $5000 while on official American Legion business.

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Greg Bowling, Sal Estrada, Warren Koerner, Robert Lewis, Henry Callahan, Robert Palucki, Stan Kuchta, Ralph McCurdy, 

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