Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 08/28/2008

My husband was in the Army from 1966 through '68. He was exposed to Agent Orange. He is getting disability from the Department of Veterans Affairs because he is a diabetic.

In July 2007, he was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which is scarring of the lungs. There is no cure for this disease. It is called idiopathic because doctors don't know what causes it. One of the pathologists who diagnosed his condition said it could be caused by his exposure to Agent Orange.

Could you tell me why IPF is not on the list of disabilities for Agent Orange? Could it be possible that it could have caused his IPF? I would be interested in your finding.

Thank you for listening.

Sincerely,
Claudette Z

Dear Claudette:
My sources tell me that this disease is not on the presumptive list because neither VA nor the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has established that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is "positively associated," even weakly, with exposure to environmental toxins such as Agent Orange. As the lady said, the etiology is "unknown."

Congress granted the presumptive power to NAS to look at these kinds of issues and, based on NAS findings, for VA to service-connect them - but they haven't identified this disease as so associated. Chapter 11 is full of diseases that Congress in earlier years presumptively service-connected, but I think the modern thought is that the designation should be driven by science, not politics.

Shaft Notes

The Sarge joins the 2.2 million of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in asking an airline trade association for help to establish a set baggage policy for all military personnel traveling on official orders.

This was prompted by a recent Texas newspaper article about an airline charging a young soldier heading to Iraq $100 for a third piece of luggage.

In a letter, George J. Lisicki, national commander of the VFW, asked the Air Transport Association to negotiate an agreement with its member airlines to exempt military personnel traveling on official orders from paying baggage fees on a third piece of luggage.

All major U.S. carriers waive baggage fees for up to two bags for military traveling under orders. However, a $100 fee for checking a third bag appears to be the industry norm, unless the passenger is flying first class or is an elite frequent flier.

"I completely understand the financial constraints the airline industry is in," wrote Mr. Lisicki, a Vietnam combat veteran from Carteret, N.J., "but I also know the military traveler is an extremely small fraction of the total passengers carried. Those who wear the uniform today are a special class of citizen who enable everyone else to enjoy every liberty our great country holds dear. They deserve special treatment because they have earned it."

According to the Air Transport Association, higher fuel and labor costs increased first-quarter 2008 operating costs by almost a third over the comparable period last year. In an effort to remain in business, airlines have raised prices and curtailed, eliminated or are charging for a number of formerly free in-flight services, such as meals, which were commonplace for decades. Next on the target list will be movies, beverages, snacks, pillows and blankets.

The Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that U.S. airlines carried more than 769 million domestic and international passengers last year, almost 25 million more than in 2006. Of that total were 5.8 million Defense Department passengers, according to the General Services Administration. That equates to less than eight-tenths of 1 percent of total passengers.

"I am not asking the airlines to open up their first-class lounges or to provide executive perks to military travelers, although that would be well-received," Mr. Lisicki said. "What I am requesting is for the airlines to begin allowing all military personnel traveling on orders to check a third bag without being charged.

"This should not be a difficult decision to reach, but it is one that needs to be made."

The Sarge lauds Rep. John Hall, New York Democrat, for putting his concern into legislative action for the more than 1 million disabled veterans expected to be stuck in the claims backlog at the Department of Veterans Affairs. These veterans would benefit from the Veterans Disability Claims Modernization Act (H.R. 5892), crafted to comprehensively overhaul the VA disability-benefits system. As chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, Mr. Hall has been working for more than a year and a half on this legislation, which will bring veterans and their survivors better and faster assistance from the VA.

Currently, disabled veterans suffering from combat wounds are faced with an adversarial claims-processing system as well as an average six-month wait before receiving assistance. Many veterans or their surviving spouses or families are forced to wait for years and, in some cases, decades for the VA to accept their disability pension claims.

Mr. Hall's proposed legislation, the Veterans Disability Claims Modernization Act, would make several sweeping changes to the VA's disability claims system to make it easier for injured veterans to get the benefits they are owed. A veteran's disability claim first has to be approved before a veteran may receive a monthly monetary benefit and expanded access to VA health care.

"The backlog at the VA is a national disgrace," Mr. Hall said. "Veterans currently face an overly bureaucratic administration at the VA. Heroes returning from war deserve to receive the benefits they have earned easily and promptly. My legislation will make sure veterans receive timely, accurate and quality attention from a grateful nation."

Legislation proposed by Rep. John Hall, New York Democrat, would make several sweeping changes to the VA's disability claims system to make it easier for injured veterans to get the benefits they are owed.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-257-5446 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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