Disability Benefits Extended to Air Force, Reserve Personnel Who Were Exposed to Agent Orange

    WASHINGTON, DC, August 05, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A new group of veterans recently became eligible for disability benefits covering treatment of conditions tied to Agent Orange exposure. According to a news release issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the benefits will be available to an estimated 1,500 to 2,100 service members who were part of the Air Force and Air Force Reserve during the Vietnam War.

The Air Force personnel and reservists suspected of exposure to Agent Orange acted as flight, ground and medical crew members on C-123 aircraft used to disperse the herbicide during the Vietnam War. The VA has identified 14 conditions associated with Agent Orange exposure, including Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes and multiple forms of cancer.

"The VA's decision to extend benefits eligibility to these veterans is the right thing to do," said Vanessa Brice, a veterans' benefits attorney with the Orlando law firm of Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter. "These men risked their lives for our country, and now that decades have passed and we know about the devastating consequences of Agent Orange exposure, the government has a duty to make adequate compensation available."

According to The New York Times, this decision marks the first time the VA has extended disability benefits for Agent Orange exposure to service members who weren't deployed on land or inland bodies of water during the Vietnam War. An estimated $47.5 million is expected to be set aside over the next 10 years.

Unfortunately, service members who are now eligible for disability benefits to cover the cost of treatment for diseases tied to Agent Orange aren't automatically guaranteed the compensation they deserve, Brice said.

"The application for VA benefits is very strict, and many deserving veterans have their claims denied," she said. "An experienced attorney can review a serviceman or servicewoman's medical records and provide support throughout the appeals process."

About Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter

Founded in 2005, Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter is a plaintiffs' personal injury law firm representing clients in Orlando, the state of Florida and nationwide. Attorneys at the firm also have experience launching appeals on behalf of veterans of the U.S. military whose disability benefits claims were denied by the Department of Veterans Affairs. For more information, please visit www.thefloridafirm.com

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