With a presumptive condition or death, it is presumed. the veteran served in a certain arena or time the military service was the cause of condition or death.

Usually, a veteran or a qualifying surviving dependent must show a nexus between the veteran's condition or death and his/her military service.  However, with a presumptive condition or death, it is presumed that because the veteran served in a certain arena or during a certain time his/her military service was the cause of his condition or death.

As a POW, veterans were exposed to a multitude of life threatening conditions in which some manifested at the time of incarceration and some later in life due to complications related to poor hygiene and lack of nourishment.  Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental and physical conditions can result in a service connected award.  Additionally,  conditions, such as hypertension, heart disease, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis and more are also included.

Vietnam veterans who had their "boot on the ground" for even one day from January 9, 1962 thru May 7, 1975 who later get diabetes type II, respiratory cancer, prostate cancer, certain leukemias or other cancers should file a claim related to exposure to Agent Orange.  Recently, Parkinson's disease, ischemic heart condition, and hairy cell leukemia were added to the list.  Additionally, the VA recently released the names of a large number of ships that were exposed to Agent Orange with the possibility of a veteran serving on one of these ships (with no boot on the ground) also being able to file for these presumptive conditions.

Those veterans who have served in the Middle East since August 2, 1990 should file a claim if they are diagnosed with any chronic condition such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, or any other condition that is chronic and unexplained. 

Veterans with certain cancers ie Nagasaki or Hiroshima or participated in areas where there was atmospheric testing of the atomic bond and who later are diagnosed with certain cancers should also file.

Veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS – Lou Gehrig's disease) who served at least ninety days active duty should file.  Eligible survivors of these dependents should also file, even if the veteran died of ALS many years ago. 

Other conditions may also be presumptive; e.g. multiple sclerosis if diagnosed with seven years of discharge; tuberculosis if diagnosed within three years of discharge; any chronic condition (e.g. hypertension, heart disease, arthritis, stroke, etc.) that is diagnosed or causes death within one year of discharge. 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted on:

Comments are closed.

Close
loading...