A Contest to Like

This November, Alpha, and its sister Social Security disability advocacy group, Freedom Disability, are sponsoring a Moustache Photo Contest on Facebook to raise funds for the campaign.

 If you are a “Mo Bro” and are growing a moustache or goatee in support of the Movember Prostate Cancer awareness campaign, “like” our Alpha Facebook page to submit your photo to our Facebook Wall. You can also do the same on Freedom Disability’s Facebook page.

Even if you already wear a moustache, show it.  For every Facebook photo on Alpha or Freedom Disability’s Wall, we will donate $1*to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. 

Be a Mo Bro this November

Prostate cancer is a presumptive disease connected to Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War. It is also the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Over 30,000 men in this country die of prostate cancer every year.  Many are veterans – a good reason to be a Mo Bro this Movember.

The Alpha/Freedom Disability Moustache Photo Contest ends November 30. Read more about Moustache Season here. 

*The Alpha/Freedom Disability donation to the Prostate Cancer Society will be capped at $3,000.

Note: All representation coordinated by Alpha is provided by our employees, the Advocates, who are accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). No private organization that trains and employs accredited agents has been legally recognized by the VA for the purposes of preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims. This work must be done by the Advocates themselves and not organizations.

One way is at the Veterans Job Bank, at the National Resource Directory (NRD), a Web site created in partnership with the Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs. 

About the Veterans Job Bank

The Veterans Job Bank is a central online search engine. Job searches are pulled from various job boards and job search Web sites.  Recently, a new search tag has been added to improve search results. Businesses can now tag job listings as “Veteran Committed.” In this way, veterans can find jobs specifically targeted for them, and businesses can better connect to the qualified veterans they are looking to hire.

Job Bank Widget

Businesses can also add a Veterans Job Bank Widget to their Web site that will automatically update new “Veteran Committed” job offerings in the Veterans Job Bank. It is easy to install and requires no oversight.

Job Sites Commit to Veterans

As recently as this month, more job search websites have agreed to help “Veteran Committed” businesses connect with unemployed veterans. They include:

• Simply Hired
• LinkedIn
• Monster and Military.com
• Taleo
• Indeed
• BranchOut
• TweetMyJobs

Currently there are 900,000 veterans out of work.  Businesses, committed to hiring veterans, such as Alpha – more than 90 percent of Alpha employees are veterans – honor our veterans by hiring them.

Veterans and businesses can find out more about the Veterans Job Bank at www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov.

Note: All representation coordinated by Alpha is provided by our employees, the Advocates, who are accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). No private organization that trains and employs accredited agents has been legally recognized by the VA for the purposes of preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims. This work must be done by the Advocates themselves and not organizations.

In the words of Thomas J. Butler, Vietnam Veteran:

I filed my first claim for VA disability compensation in 2004 with a VA representative at the John McClellan VA Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. I filed for PTSD but was also being treated by my supervising physician at that facility for Diabetes Mellitus Type 2.

Back in 2000, Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 was approved by the VA for Agent Orange disability for any U.S. citizen who had ever visited Vietnam between 1968 and 1975. Vietnam veterans do not have to prove the cause for getting this disease. [Vietnam veterans with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 are presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange and are eligible for disability compensation]. But, the VA did not approve compensation for my diabetes because the VA representative on my case took the position that it was caused by my Ulcerative Colitis, not Agent Orange. And, I was denied for PTSD. That was my first encounter with a VA Evaluation Center.  I was left feeling that the VA used any means possible to deny me benefits.

Second Attempt Ends in Denial

After moving to Chillicothe, Ohio in 2005, I filed again for PTSD compensation at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center with the help of an AMVETS representative.  I had been diagnosed for PTSD from two VA-certified psychiatrists there, and I was diagnosed and treated for Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 by their medical staff. However, after completing all information requested by the Cleveland, Ohio Evaluation Board, I was again refused compensation, though my attending physician had placed two calls to the Board to plead my case. Even with the assistance of an AMVETS representative, I was denied.

More Time Passes with Little Action

In August 2008 I learned about Reps for Vets and counted on the extensive competence and results their television advertisements proclaim.  But what I remember most about their representatives was that they always seemed to explain the reasons why they were unable to get anything accomplished for me. After a year and a half, they could not get a settlement in my favor.

Alpha Works Hard and Gets Results

My experience has been very different with the disability advocates at Alpha. They are working tirelessly on my behalf.  They submitted a new claim for me for Ischemic Heart Disease, which is another Vietnam Agent Orange service- connected disease, and have procured an initial settlement for me of $111,000 in back pay compensation. They are also continuing to work on getting me back pay for my diabetes and PTSD claims.

All of the Alpha advocates with whom I have come in contact with have been extremely knowledgeable about all areas of veterans’ benefits, and they are thoroughly professional.

Alpha is the most dedicated veterans disability advocacy group I have encountered since my original filing with the VA in 2004. They genuinely care about the veterans they represent. I have nothing but compliments to say for their competence and professionalism. 

 Sincerely,

Thomas J. Butler

Note: All representation coordinated by Alpha is provided by our employees, the Advocates, who are accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). No private organization that trains and employs accredited agents has been legally recognized by the VA for the purposes of preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims. This work must be done by the Advocates themselves and not organizations.

The Veterans’ Court

The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) is a national court located in Washington, D.C. It is a veterans’ court created in 1988 to ensure that veterans have legal recourse if denied VA benefits. The CAVC is separate from the Department of Veterans Affairs and has exclusive jurisdiction to provide reviews of final decisions by the Board of Veterans Appeals.

Alpha has CAVC Experts

Alpha has veterans advocates experienced in arguing cases before the CAVC. Their focus is on formulating the best possible argument for why you deserve benefits. Even if your case was not previously represented by an Alpha advocate at the Board of Veterans Appeals level, the legal experts at Alpha will take your case and help you get through this highest review of your appeal.

If you decide to practice your legal right to a judicial review, your Alpha advocate will file a Notice of Appeal for you with the CAVC. This must be done within 120 days after the final decision from the Board of Veterans Appeals was received.

The CAVC Decides the Appeal

The goal of your Alpha advocate is to convince the CAVC to either reverse the BVA decision and grant you benefits, or to send your claim back to the BVA for reconsideration. Once the CAVC reviews all evidence, CAVC will decide the appeal.

There is no fee for Alpha’s legal representation services. If your case is reversed or remanded back to the BVA, the federal government pays for legal fees and expenses under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA). The Advocate’s fee is subject to review by the VA’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC). The VA/OGC generally considers a fee of 20% of the retroactive award as a reasonable payment and we agree. Subject to the review of the OGC, and only if we win an appeal, your Alpha Advocate will be paid a one time fee of 20% of your retroactive award.

The number of cases decided by the CAVC has been steadily climbing. In 2009, the CAVC decided 4,379 cases. In 2010, the CAVC decided over 5,000 cases. Clearly more veterans are challenging VA decisions on their claims. If you are denied benefits, you have the right to fight back.

Contact Alpha for the expert legal representation you deserve to win the VA benefits you are entitled to.

Note: All representation coordinated by Alpha is provided by our employees, the Advocates, who are accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). No private organization that trains and employs accredited agents has been legally recognized by the VA for the purposes of preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims. This work must be done by the Advocates themselves and not organizations.

Why Hiring Veterans is Good for Business

Connecticut state leaders and private-sector employers gathered together at Alpha National Headquarters in Shelton, Connecticut on Monday, September 26 for a Hire Our Veterans Symposium to discuss why hiring veterans is good for business.

The event was organized and hosted by Alpha, a veterans disability advocacy group. Alpha  has a business model for hiring veterans recognized by state and local leaders as a business success. Over 90 percent of Alpha employees, many of whom are disabled, served in the military. These are veterans from all five branches of the military and who fought in the Vietnam and Gulf Wars, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The event was timely in light of President Obama’s recent introduction of the American Jobs Act that includes a veterans jobs bill to provide more job-training programs for veterans and tax incentives for companies to hire veterans. It includes a “Returning Heroes” tax credit of $2,400 for every short-term hire and $4,800 for every long-term hire, and a Wounded Warriors tax credit that will increase existing tax credits for employers who hire veterans with service-connected disabilities.

Key Takeaways Discussed at the Symposium

1. Work Opportunity Tax Credit (federal) per Veteran Employee

All veterans
• $1,500 maximum for 120 hours of work
• $2,400 maximum for 400 hours of work

Disabled veterans
• $3,000 maximum for 120 hours of work
• $4,800 maximum for 400 hours of work

Veterans from families receiving Temporary Assistance benefits
• $9,000 for a two-year combined period

2. Wage and Training Subsidies for On-the-Job Training (OJT) from the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (VR & E)

• Veterans are hired at an apprenticeship wage and VR & E supplements the salary and pays for training tools until the veteran has successfully completed training
• VR & E can reimburse employers who hire veterans who have faced obstacles to employment up to 50 percent of a veteran’s salary for up to six months
• VR & E pays for accommodations in the work environment for disabled veterans

3. How to Create an On-the-Job Training Plan

4. Resources for Employers
• U.S. Department of Labor –Hiring Veterans
• Department of Veterans Affairs –Information for Employers

A lineup of ten distinguished speakers shared their views on hiring veterans, including State Senator Carlo Leone, Senate Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, and Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman. Key highlights are below:
 

Senator Carlo Leone Kicks Off the Symposium

CT Senator Carlo Leone, Chair, Veterans Affairs Committee

The kickoff speaker for the Alpha Hire Our Veterans Symposium was Connecticut State Senator Carlo Leone (D-Stamford, Darien) who also serves as Senate Chair of the General Assembly’s Veterans Affairs Committee. Senator Leone, a U.S. Air Force veteran, met Alpha Vice President Sean Libby at the Connecticut Stand Down in Rocky Hill, Connecticut this September. Leone told symposium attendees that veterans have discipline, are self-sufficient and know how to get the job done. He said veterans have skills that translate across the workforce and that “if you’re looking for workers, please hire veterans first. At the state level, we are working together to come up with ideas to spur job growth. Veterans are an elite force of workers that deserve a chance. I’m here for you [the employer] and for the veterans. It’s really an honor to come here today to support Alpha and all that they’re doing to promote what we all can do for veterans.”

Letter from Congressman Chris Murphy

Stephanie Podewell, District Aid to Congressman Chris Murphy

Stephanie Podewell, district aid to Congressman Chris Murphy representing the 5^th district of Connecticut, spoke on behalf of the Congressman who could not attend. She shared a letter from the Congressman which, in part, said; “Thank you to Alpha Veterans Disability Advocates for organizing this symposium on the benefits of hiring the nation’s highly qualified heroes. Even though veterans are some of the best trained and most skilled Americans, there are one million unemployed. The rate is over 13 percent. As we continue to bring our service men and women home from Iraq and Afghanistan we have worked to change this statistic. I’m glad you have gathered to discuss making a difference. . . I recently conducted a survey of manufacturers in the state and almost all of them say that they either employ veterans or would seriously consider a veteran applicant. These men and women already possess the skills and disciplines required for these types of jobs especially in this time when some employers complain that skilled workers are hard to find . . .”

The Employer’s Perspective

Dave Lissy, CEO, Bright Horizons

Guest speaker, Dave Lissy, CEO of Bright Horizons said, “We have this adage: ‘We hire for attitude and train for skill.’ We think about people who can develop a passion around their mission; who can work as a member of the team; who can get a job done towards a common goal. Veterans represent that in spades.”

Joe Berardo, CEO MagnaCare

Joe Berardo, CEO of MagnaCare, a healthcare network for employers, said that Alpha has “opened my eyes as an employer. There’s a whole population out there that, if we take a few extra steps and put a little effort to find them, we can have employees who can, quite frankly, help our company while we help them create lives that they are proud of, and that we’re proud of. “

Focus on the Positive: Companies are Hiring

Bill Purcell, President, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce

Bill Purcell, president of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce  serving the Connecticut communities of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton, said, “It is striking that there are one million unemployed veterans. That’s not acceptable. If we owe them anything it is to welcome them back home to productive employment . . . I’m encouraged by surveys of manufacturers who say they are doing it [hiring veterans] or intend to do it, but they are waiting for the economy to rebound. I say, stop it! You are the economy. So let’s get things moving today. We have to change the conversation. Focus on the positives in our state and region. Companies are hiring. . . Let’s focus on those stories. The real challenge is to make certain that opportunities are being created and skill sets of returning veterans are matched. Adapt their team-building, leadership, and hands-on skills and apply them to the private sector.  Companies are lean and mean and are trying to come up with unique and creative ways to expand their workforce and productivity. I’m going to learn today about financial incentives to hire veterans and share theses messages with my Chamber colleagues across the state, as well as local employers, that there are advantages, beyond the moral obligation, to hire a returning veteran. “

Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Visits Alpha Symposium

CT Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman

Half way through the speaker presentations, Connecticut’s Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman made a special guest appearance.  Lt. Governor Wyman has a record of many distinguished public-service accomplishments. Among them is what Alpha President Jon Mayhew (photo: left of Lt. Gov.) described as “closest to the hearts of those at Alpha.  In 2007 she sought private donations to create the Wall of Honor Tribute, an annual memorial ceremony in the state Capitol to the Connecticut men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

She called the Alpha Hire Our Veterans Symposium a great opportunity to bring businesses together to “talk about what is out there that would benefit your businesses and at the same time benefit our veterans. . . I went to the Stand Down in Rocky Hill. Seeing 900 veterans, some of them homeless, looking for jobs . . . we have to do something. . . As soon as we can get them working, then we don’t have to worry about homelessness. . . I just wanted to stop by and say thank you to Alpha and to all of you gathered here to show us what we can do to get our veterans working again . . .”

Alpha Business Model Puts Veterans Back to Work

Allen Gumpenberger, Director, Alpha Disability Advocacy

Next on the agenda was Allen Gumpenberger, Alpha’s Directory of Disability Advocacy, who gave an overview of Alpha’s unique On the Job Training Program and how businesses can develop their own training program for their businesses. He said, “The unemployment rate among veterans is outrageous considering the sacrifices veterans have made and the incentives created to encourage employers to recruit and hire veterans. . . I can assure you that you won’t find a more dedicated and motivated group from which to recruit talent. Simply put, veterans make excellent employees . . . When we launched Alpha we made a commitment to employ veterans. We wanted to offer, not just jobs, but career opportunities for veterans, especially disabled veterans. In pursuit of this goal we partnered with the Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs and together we created a new program to bring in veterans and train them to become independently accredited Veterans Disability Advocates. Today, we employ veterans from all five branches of the military that include veterans of the Vietnam and Gulf Wars, as well as Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. I have been privileged to see their work ethic, their camaraderie, and their commitment to help fellow veterans and drive Alpha’s mission forward.”                                                     

Where Veterans Can Go to Find a Job – How Employers Can Find Them

Jason Coppola, Veterans Employment Representative

“Not many people know about us,” said Jason Coppola, a veterans’ employment representative for the Connecticut Department of Labor. “We assist veterans who are unemployed, underemployed, or seeking career changes . . .” Coppola explained all the employment services available to veterans, from resumes to referrals, as well as a database available for employers to find skilled veterans to hire.  “We are passionate about what we do to help veterans. Some of them are here at Alpha,” said Coppola. “Let’s hire veterans into qualified positions and hopefully we’ll have a better economy.”

Alpha’s Apprenticeship Program

Paul Femia, Dept. of Labor Office of Apprenticeship Training

Paul Femia, representative from the Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship Training, explained his role in helping Alpha develop its one-year veterans disability advocate training apprenticeship program.  “Alpha has grown into something big.  Alpha hired 17 new apprentices in 16 months. To put that in perspective, we have roughly 500 apprentices statewide and about 2,500 companies and unions. If we could get each of them to hire one apprentice a month, that would be 2,500 new hires. From someone who has been doing this [apprenticeship training] for over 20 years, that’s phenomenal growth.”

Kim Pignatiello, Employment Coordinator, Dept. of Veterans Affairs

Kim Pignatiello, Employment Coordinator for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) said, “My job is to serve disabled veterans. Alpha Disability has hired quite a few of my clients. I thank any employer in this room who is hiring veterans. At least 20 percent of the veterans I work with are looking for jobs in the private sector. It is so important for me to touch base with you.” Pignatiello went on to explain how the VA accommodates employers and supports veterans.

Symposium a Great Success

The Alpha Hire Our Veterans Symposium gave attendees a very unique perspective on the many and varied benefits of hiring veterans, including incentives, tax credits, and resources for locating veterans.  Janna Rahnig, from the Adecco Group, an HR services group that helps people with work and career opportunities, called the Symposium “an incredible experience,” and left feeling invigorated with ideas on how her company can help connect veterans to jobs.

The Symposium concluded with speakers and attendees already looking forward to the next one.

Events of the Alpha Hire Our Veterans Symposium were reported in real-time on Alpha’s Twitter and Facebook pages

Note: All representation coordinated by Alpha is provided by our employees, the Advocates, who are accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). No private organization that trains and employs accredited agents has been legally recognized by the VA for the purposes of preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims. This work must be done by the Advocates themselves and not organizations.

I am a Vietnam veteran, but I never thought of applying to the VA for help. I’ve been healthy all my life until now. I thought getting cancer was just something that happened.  I didn’t think it had anything to do with service in Vietnam. It was my sister-in-law’s dad, and a veteran, who told me I could get cash benefits from the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs). He said I should give it a try.  

I Got Immediate Attention and Service at Alpha

I called them many times but I could never get through. I was always getting disconnected. I couldn’t get a hold of anybody there. So, I started hunting around for veterans groups to help me, and found Alpha.

From the start, I got respect, and service. Every time I called my Alpha advocate I got through to him. He took my case very seriously and pushed hard for me. He kept me updated on progress. And when my condition was upgraded to Stage IV he called the VA and told them they needed to expedite the decision process.  I got what I never expected – a 100 percent disability rating and cash benefits within four months of my Alpha advocate submitting my initial claim.

Vietnam Veterans Need to Know about VA Benefits

When I got sick and could no longer work, my wife and I were really getting nervous. Bills were piling up and, though we have health insurance from her job, it didn’t cover everything.  It really was by chance that I found out I could get help from the VA because I’m a Vietnam veteran. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it. I suspect that there are many Vietnam veterans who are seriously sick and don’t know that their conditions could have been caused because they were in Vietnam. They need to know that they can apply for financial help, and get it, like I did.

VA Benefits Provide for My Family

My main concern is for my family. I had been worried about how they will continue on if I’m not here. But I got back benefits from the date my Alpha advocate filed the claim. I got a lot of money.  And I’m getting a special monthly compensation for being house bound, as well as medical aid and attendance when I need it. My 100 percent rating also gets my wife tax-free survivor benefits of $1,154 a month. That’s another thing I didn’t know about – survivor benefits (Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC))

I can’t say it enough. I really appreciate everything my Alpha advocate has done for me and my family.  I am so grateful. – Leon

Note: Exposure to the killer herbicide Agent Orange has been found to have caused many serious conditions in veterans who stepped foot on Vietnam soil during the Vietnam War. Prostate cancer is one of those conditions. Find out more in the Wartime Veterans section of this Web site.

An appeal was not required for this initial claim; therefore, no fee was paid to Alpha for winning the most in compensation benefits possible for this veteran. The Advocate’s fee is subject to review by the VA’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC). The VA/OGC generally considers a fee of 20% of the retroactive award as a reasonable payment and we agree. Subject to the review of the OGC, and only if we win an appeal, your Alpha Advocate will be paid a one time fee of 20% of your retroactive award.

Note: All representation coordinated by Alpha is provided by our employees, the Advocates, who are accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). No private organization that trains and employs accredited agents has been legally recognized by the VA for the purposes of preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims. This work must be done by the Advocates themselves and not organizations.

For Alpha’s Vice President Sean Libby, (left) and Director of Veterans Disability Advocacy, Allen Gumpenberger, it was an honor to be there.

“Allen and I were proud to attend such an outstanding event,” said Libby, “Disabled veterans deserve the maximum in VA benefits to which they are entitled. At the Stand Down we had the chance to speak with many veterans in need of professional advocacy. It’s important they know they have choices for representation. It’s important they know about Alpha and our VA-accredited advocates who provide a unique service to disabled veterans, not only in Connecticut, where our national headquarters is located, but to veterans all across the country.”

According to Connecticut’s Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Linda Schwartz, the state’s Stand Down event is one of the best-attended in the country. She calls it a “happening.”

 “There are so many veterans that are one paycheck from being homeless,” said Schwartz. “What you see today is Connecticut at its best.”

(feature photo courtesy: Joseph Wenzel IV, Rocky Hill Patch)

Note: All representation coordinated by Alpha is provided by our employees, the Advocates, who are accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). No private organization that trains and employs accredited agents has been legally recognized by the VA for the purposes of preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims. This work must be done by the Advocates themselves and not organizations.

I am dedicated to do whatever I can to minimize, if not totally eliminate, the feelings of frustration and anger associated with the veterans’ ability to get their well-deserved disability compensation benefits. Why? Because I know how it feels.

I am a disabled Vietnam veteran. I am proud to have served in Vietnam for 12 months as a combat aerial machine gunner and structural mechanic with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263 (HMM-263). We flew CH-46 tandem rotor helicopters primarily in long and short range recon insertions, emergency extractions, medical evacuations and troop movements. During my tour I flew 500 combat missions and received 25 air medals. I also had the honor of flying with crew chief Mike Clausen who received the Medal of Honor for rescuing a platoon of six Marines trapped in a minefield.

Because I was exposed to loud jet engine noises and 50-caliber machine-gun fire without any adequate protection for my ears, I have tinnitus and have lost most of my hearing.

I first filed for disability for my hearing and tinnitus in 1983. I was granted 10 percent for tinnitus and zero percent for hearing. I appealed the VA decision for my hearing and got stonewalled.

I reopened my claim in 2002. By then I had 80 percent loss in my left ear and 60 percent loss in my right. However, the VA upheld the zero percent compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

In 2009 I again reopened my case. I was reevaluated and finally granted 40 percent disability for bilateral hearing loss.

It took years to get compensated for my hearing loss. It was a frustrating and discouraging experience.

That’s why I came to Alpha. There are an incredible number of disabled veterans currently not getting the full benefits they deserve.   As a disabled veteran myself, I can identify with the many veterans I talk to every day.  I’m in the position, from my training and from personal experience, to help them navigate through the complexities of the VA, make the process easier for them, and get them positive results.

Just as I was proud to serve my country in Vietnam, I am also proud – and honored – to be a veterans disability advocate at Alpha.

Note: All representation coordinated by Alpha is provided by our employees, the Advocates, who are accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). No private organization that trains and employs accredited agents has been legally recognized by the VA for the purposes of preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims. This work must be done by the Advocates themselves and not organizations.

A 10-year health data study of Gulf War Veterans reveals that there is a higher rate of health-related problems for this group of veterans than among veterans who did not deploy to the Persian Gulf in 1990-1991.

The report confirms higher rates of new onset diseases such as arthritis, hypertension and heart disease, and higher rates of unexplained chronic multi-symptom illnesses , including chronic fatigue syndrome and post traumatic stress disorder.

Researchers evaluated health data from participating veterans in 1995 and again in 2005. Their goals were to determine if the health of Gulf War veterans changed over time; and how their health compared with other Gulf War-era veterans.  The data confirms that the health of Gulf War veterans is getting worse.

The veterans advocates at Alpha stand ready to help those impacted to apply for and receive disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  

The latest update, Longitudinal Health Study of US 1991 Gulf War Veterans; Changes in Health Status at 10-Year Follow-Up, as well as a series of publications written by the researchers in the study, is posted to the VA Web site.

Note: All representation coordinated by Alpha is provided by our employees, the Advocates, who are accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). No private organization that trains and employs accredited agents has been legally recognized by the VA for the purposes of preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims. This work must be done by the Advocates themselves and not organizations.

A specific group of Vietnam-era veterans with illnesses caused by Agent Orange exposure have struggled for years to prove it to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These veterans, who served on military bases in Thailand spanning 14 years from February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975, have had their disability claims routinely denied for illnesses identified as presumptive for veterans who served in Vietnam.

Why? Because the VA deemed that these veterans were not actually part of the Vietnam War. They did not set foot on Vietnam soil. Therefore, veterans who served in Thailand at that time were not exposed to Agent Orange.

Use of Agent Orange Confirmed on Vietnam-Era Thailand Military Bases

But now the barrier to VA disability compensation for these veterans has seemingly lifted. Evidence suppressed since 1973 agrees with what they have been saying all along. The declassified Department of Defense (DoD) “Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report: Base Defense in Thailand 1968-1972”reveals top-secret security operations in Thailand and confirms that Agent Orange was used extensively to defoliate the perimeters surrounding the Royal Thai Air Force Bases of U- Tapaco, Ubon, Nakhon, Phanom, Udom, Takhli, Korat, and Don Muang.  The DoD report has led to a rule-changer for processing disability claims for Vietnam-era veterans who served in Thailand.

New VA Guidelines for Agent Orange Claims

In fact, just over a year ago, in May, 2010, the VA added guidelines to the Agent Orange Act (CFR Title 38 Section 1116) that extends compensation to veterans who supported the Vietnam conflict outside of Vietnam, such as Blue Water Vietnam Veterans. The guidelines are also to be used for processing claims for veterans of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, military police (MP) and Army personnel who provided perimeter security in Thailand.

According to the guidelines, a statement of involvement in perimeter security duty in Thailand with “credible evidence supporting this statement” is required to establish Agent Orange exposure.  This means that VA regional officers cannot dismiss an Agent Orange claim because the veteran did not set foot in Vietnam. Instead, they are required to evaluate all aspects of the case to fairly determine if the veteran’s duties, based on “facts found” or on a “direct basis,” led to Agent Orange exposure and illness. If the evidence supports the claim, this would allow for presumptive service connection and disability benefits for the veteran.

Pathway to VA Disability Benefits Still Tough

However, veterans who served in Thailand are finding that it is still hard to break through the “service in-country” stigma at some VA regional offices. And, despite the VA rule changes, the pathway to benefits is not easy.  The VA is tough on evaluating proof, even for veterans suffering from presumptive illnesses such as Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Ischemic heart disease, or Parkinson’s disease.  

Alpha advocates believe that these Vietnam-era veterans, many of whom have struggled with the VA for over 30 years, have waited long enough for benefits due them and their families. They should not give up the fight, and are urged to contact a VA-accredited Alpha advocate to help them prove their claim to the VA.

Note: All representation coordinated by Alpha is provided by our employees, the Advocates, who are accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). No private organization that trains and employs accredited agents has been legally recognized by the VA for the purposes of preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims. This work must be done by the Advocates themselves and not organizations.