VA disability

FYI for the military veterans out there. If you served in Vietnam and have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you are eligibilty for VA disability. There is a presumption that the cancer was caused by exposure to Agent Orange. You only need to show that you are a Vietnam vet (submit your DD-214) and that you were diagnosed with the disesese. You do not have to prove exposure to Agent Orange. The length of time for the benefit depends on when treatment ends and other factors. VA has a web site and you can apply online, or see a veterans service officer.

  Do you have any idea how long it usually takes to get a reply from the VA on this type of request?  We went to our local VA rep., took all our papers and he filled out the form and submitted.  We got a letter stating they received the request and will be in touch.  We submitted around the end of Mar. 06.   Do different states respond sooner than others?  We are in PA.  My husband was originally diag at the VA Hospital in Pittsburgh with a PSA of 30 and a Gleason 9.  These sites and the information they provide is wonderful.  Hope you are doing well and can give me some idea of how long we will have to wait before we hear anything.

 Just an update and a question.  My husband got his awards letter - he is 100% sc for pc and will get his follow-up in six months.  He is due to get his hormone implant taken out in Dec of 2006.  We do not know if another implant is an option or not at this point but my husband is wondering if the doctor gives him another implant that will last another year til Dec 2007 will the VA still consider him 100%.  Are you eligible for the 100% as long as you are on a treatment?  I've been reading some VA sites and I think this is the case but not sure.

follow up:

the link came back up and filled it out.  so no response needed, thanks!

Here is a good place to start reading about some of the benefits from the VA.

My husband was in Vietnam during the time Agent Orange was used and now has prostate cancer.  The VA recently classified his prostate cancer as service connected and he now gets compensated for it and they will treat him if we choose.

http://www.vba.va.gov/benefit_facts/index.htm

 I applies for Va disabilityfor prostate cancer in early March also at atlanta region office. So far, all I have got is a lot of run around. One letter stated I had to prove that my prostate cancer was aggravated by my diabetes mellitus. I serviced in vietman(central high land  from 1965-1966. 

 elpaso said...
I applied for VA disability in early March and received my award letter today. I'm rated at 100 percent for six months and then get reviewed ... The benefit is awarded even if you are working full time ... Again this is connected to the possibility of Agent Orange exposure causing the cancer.

For anyone filing a claim at the VA for prostate cancer - There is a presumption that the cancer was caused by exposure to Agent Orange - therefore if you served on the ground in Vietnam within the timeframe they state - you do not have to prove - you only have to file the papers - do the exam - and wait.

We were advised it should not be submitted as a claim for prostate cancer that is caused by or aggravated by diabetis or anything other than Agent Orange.

Hope this helps someone.

Hi Pooks,

What exam are you talking about.  My husband was just going to give them a copy of his DD-214 and the pathology report showing that he had prostate cancer.  What more does he need to do and what is the exam?

The VA exam I mentioned is what the VA calls a C&P (Compensation & Pension) exam.  They may or may not schedule the vet for one of these but if they do you have to go if you want to get the claim rated as service connected.  My husband's exam was done by a VA doc who reviewed all of his medical records (even those we sent from our outside docs)regarding the pc, the treatment he is on, etc. Once the VA doc gives their findings to the rating board - a decision is made and you will be notified.  If they approve your claim you will get a rating from 0 - 100% on which they base the compensation you will receive.  As long as you are on any active type of treatment your percentage is 100%.  The most important thing for us was getting the pc classified as service connected  and knowing the VA will treat at no cost.  My husband is retired but I still work so he is presently still covered under my insurance.  So far the treatments he has had  were covered because I carry the insurance. However if I should lose my job it is a relief to know the VA will treat him and provide all the meds. needed to fight his pc.  There are also other benefits to help the spouse in the event the vet's death is a result of service connected pc.  One other thing - claims are paid retro from the date the VA acknowledges getting you claim - not from when you were diag. with pc.

pooks,

nice to hear from someone who has been through the whole process of this VA disability.  A question for you.  When you say it is retroactive to time of receipt, does that mean you get the three-four months of disability back to the time of acceptance of application?

We just got our letter dated Nov. 6th, will contact if need more information, etc.  So let's assume it takes four months (seems to be that long from what I have read on here), would you get the whole compensation for the four back months as a back payment and then monthly payments starting from there?

Also, I am sooo confused about the various treatments affecting compensation (not that we want to make the decision based on compensation, but may factor in among alternative effective treatments).  If you for instance, do surgery and all the cancer is removed, does some monthly compensation continue after the surgery? 

Sounds like you have quite a bit of experience, so thought I would see if you know. (or anyone else out there)

Thanks!

Tanya

 

thanks so much for the quick response!  I will definitely check out the site you recommend!

Tanya

Hi,

I have read a couple things that "blue water veterans" are eligible according to a recent decision.  Didn't pay too much attention to the articles because didn't apply in our case.

here is one article from a quick search

http://www.banderasnews.com/0608/vl-bluewatervets.htm

just a note for those who were land based in korea during the vietnam era. they also are presuming agent orange for pc, if you were in certain divisions