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2 Years of VA Health Eligibility for Combat Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides cost-free health care services and nursing home care for conditions possibly related to military service to veterans with combat service after November 11, 1998 for a period of 2 years beginning on the date of their separation from active military service.

Veterans, including activated Reservists and National Guard members, are eligible if they served on active duty in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Gulf War or in combat against a hostile force during a period of “hostilities” after November 11, 1998 and have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.

“Hostilities” is defined as conflict in which Armed Forces members are subjected to the danger comparable to that faced in a period of war.  For purposes of establishing this special eligibility VA accepts service documentation that reflects service in a combat theater, receipt of combat service medals and/or receipt of imminent danger or hostile fire pay or tax benefits.

Public Law 105-368 authorizes VA to provide combat veterans cost-free care for conditions potentially related to their combat service for up to two years following their discharge or release from active duty.  These veterans will be enrolled into Enrollment Priority Group 6 if not otherwise qualified for a higher enrollment priority group assignment.  VA provides full access to the Medical Benefits Package by virtue of this enrollment status.

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2007 Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents

The 2007 edition of VA’s Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents booklet is now available on line at http://www1.va.gov/opa/is1/index.asp.

Limited copies of this booklet are available at our office.

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Agent Orange Presumptive Conditions

The following health conditions are presumptively recognized for service connection as a result of exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange.  Vietnam veterans with one or more of these conditions do not have to show that their illness (es) is (are) related to their military service to get disability compensation.  VA presumes that their condition is service connected. 

Chloracne (must occur within 1 year of exposure to Agent Orange

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Soft tissue sarcoma (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, ormesothelioma)

Hodgkin’s disease

Porphyria cutanea tarda (must occur with 1 year of exposure

Multiple myeloma

Respiratory cancers, including cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus

Prostate Cancer

Acute and subacute transient peripheral neuropathy (must appear with 1 year of exposure and resolve with 2 years of date of onset)

Type 2 diabetes

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Information on these conditions can be found at the latest Agent Orange Review which is located at http://www1.va.gov/agentorange/docs/AONewsletterJul06.pdf. 

  Surviving spouses of Vietnam veterans whose death is attributed to one of the above listed conditions may be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.  Contact a veteran’s benefit counselor at (517) 887-4331 for further information or to get your claim started.