VA Applications Go Online
From VA FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
http://www.va.gov/pressrel/aponline.htm
November 3, 2000
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Veterans can now apply for benefits and health care online with the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA). Two new systems will allow veterans quick, easy and secure access to apply for compensation, pension,
rehabilitation benefits and health care.
"This is the first step toward an electronic VA," said Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Hershel W.
Gober. "We will use the best in the business world and the latest in the high technology sector to deliver
world-class benefits and care to veterans. That's a promise."
To apply for health care, veterans can fill out and submit an Internet-based 10-10 EZ application available today
for the first time nationwide. Initially tested at 30 VA facilities, the 10-10 EZ is automatically e-mailed to
the VA health care facility selected by the veteran. VA employees register the data, print the form and mail it
back to the veteran for signature. Veterans can also print out the completed form and mail it to a VA health care
facility themselves.
"Veterans On Line Applications" (VONAPP) is designed for veterans to apply for compensation, pension,
and vocational rehabilitation benefits through the Internet. Completed applications are sent electronically to
the veteran's local VA office. Processing begins right away and veterans receive a response letting them know the
status of their applications.
"Of course, security is of paramount importance," said Gober. "These forms are individually encrypted,
ensuring the privacy of veterans' personal data. This is part of VA's approach to department-wide security planning
and management."
Later this year, VA plans to offer education applications on the Internet. Currently, veterans attending school
under the Montgomery GI Bill can make their monthly certification of enrollment at http://www.gibill.va.gov.
Along with 10-10 EZ and VONAPP, VA has redesigned its Web page. "When veterans access www.va.gov, there will
be no doubt that the focus and content reflects the department's commitment to veterans," said Gober. "The
new design makes it easy to find information, as well as online applications."
VA aims to eventually put all its health care and benefits applications online. However veterans are not required
to apply online and can continue to use paper applications. To download other VA applications see: http://www.va.gov/forms
"Online applications, bar coding for medications, computerized record systems, telemedicine and in the near
future -- Smart Cards -- are all examples of VA developing information technology on par, and often ahead of, the
rest of the country," said Gober. "I'm really excited about what technology can do to allow us to do
a better job in caring for the nation's veterans."
To access Internet applications: http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/
All of the diseases on the VA's list of conditions linked to the herbicide exposure appear in the left-hand column.
If there is a requirement that the disease appear within a certain period of time, the period of time appears in
the right-hand column.
DISEASES RECOGNIZED BY THE VA AS CONNECTED TO AGENT ORANGE EXPOSURE LENGTH OF TIME REQUIREMENTS: (WHEN SYMPTOMS
OF THE DISEASE HAVE TO APPEAR AND RESULT IN A DISABILITY AT LEAST 10 PERCENT DISABLING IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR
BENEFITS.)
TYPES OF CANCER
Cancer of the Bronchus Within 30 years of the last day the veteran served in Viet Nam
Cancer of the Larnyx Within 30 years of the last day the veteran served in Viet Nam
Lung Cancer Within 30 years of the last day the veteran served in Viet Nam
Cancer of the Trachea No time requirement (veteran qualifies no matter when the disease first appears.)
Prostate Cancer Within 30 years of the last day the veteran served in Viet Nam
Hodgkin's Disease No time requirement (veteran qualifies no matter when the disease first appears.)
Multiple Myeloma No time requirement (veteran qualifies no matter when the disease first appears.)
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma No time requirement (veteran qualifies no matter when the disease first appears.)
TYPES OF SOFT TISSUE SARCOMA TIME REQUIRE
TYPES OF SOFT TISSUE SARCOMA TIME REQUIREMENT
Adult Fibrosarcoma
Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma
Angiosarcoma
Clear Cell Sarcoma of Aponeuroses
Clear Cell Sarcoma of Tendons
Congenital Fibrosarcoma
Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans
Ectomesenchymoma
Epithelioid Malignant Leiomyosarcoma
Epithelioid Malignant Schwannoma
Epithelioid Sarcoma
Extraskeltal Ewing's Sarcoma
Hemangiosarcoma
Infantile Fibrosarcoma
Leiomyosarcoma
Liposarcoma
Lymphangiosarcoma
Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma
Malignant Giant Cell Tumor of the Tendon Sheath
Malignant Glandular Schwannoma
Malignant Glomus Tumor
Malignant Hemangiopericytoma
Malignant Mesenchymoma
Malignant Schwannoma with Rhabdomyoblastic Prolifertationg (systemic)
Angiendotheliomatosis
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Synovial Sarcoma
No Time Requirement
(veteran qualifies no matter when sarcoma first appears)
DISEASES OTHER THAN CANCER TIME REQUIREMENT
Peripheral Neuropathy (acute or subacute)
Just added as of April 1, 2000
Diabetes.....
Within months of exposure to agent orange in Vietnam and cured within 2 years after symptoms first appear
(Note: this time requirement is written so narrowly it appears to be impossible for any Vietnam veteran to qualify)
Chloracne Within one year of the last day the veteran served in Vietnam.
Porphyria Cutanea Tarda Within one year of the last day the veteran served in Vietnam.
DISABILITIES IN CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS TIME REQUIREMENT
Spina Bifida Child must have been conceived after veteran first arrived in Vietnam.
Q&A - VA Links Agent Orange and Diabetes Mellitus (Type II)
Diabetes mellitus (Type II, adult onset) has been added as a presumptive condition for in-country Vietnam veterans.
Acting Secretary Herschel Gober announced this action on November 9, 2000. In-country service in Vietnam presumes
exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange if the veteran meets the criteria outlined in 38 CFR §3.313 regarding
dates of service and the condition being claimed is one listed in 38 CFR §3.307 (6)iii. VA is in the process
of writing the regulations, which will govern the adjudication of claims for diabetes as a presumptive condition
and add diabetes to the aforementioned section of 38 Code of Federal Regulations.
Questions and Answers (answers provided below):
What veterans will be affected when this condition is added as a presumptive condition for those exposed to herbicides/dioxins?
What does “presumptive condition” mean?
Must I have served “in-country” Vietnam to be eligible?
What does “in-country” mean? What if I served in support of operations in Vietnam, for example, on board a ship
in the Gulf of Tonkin?
Will private medical records be accepted as proof of my diabetes?
I applied for service-connection for my diabetes and was denied. The condition was however, rated as non-service
connected. Will I need to reapply for service connection?
My husband died from diabetes and was an in-country Vietnam veteran. Do I now qualify for service connected death
benefits (DIC)?
When will my benefits begin if I am granted service connection for diabetes?
Will I receive retroactive benefits based on a grant of service connection due to presumptive service in Vietnam?
If I am already service connected for diabetes, will I get an increase based on this change?
Will I be eligible for medical treatment?
Where can I get a copy of the National Academy of Sciences Study on Herbicide/Dioxin Exposure and Type 2 Diabetes?
1. What veterans will be affected when this condition is added as a presumptive condition for those exposed to
herbicides/dioxins?
- Honorably discharged veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during the period January 9, 1962 through
May 7, 1975 and have “adult onset diabetes mellitus.” This does not include veteran’s who served in the Republic
of Vietnam during the period February 28, 1961, to January 9, 1962.
2. What does “presumptive condition” mean?
- Normally, the claimant must show proof of relationship between service and the condition being claimed. Under
presumption of service connection, VA presumes the service-connected relationship exists based on the other qualifying
criteria, such as dates and location of service and that the condition being claimed, in this case, is associated
with exposure to Agent Orange.
3. Must I have served “in-country” Vietnam to be eligible?
- To have presumptive service connection granted for diabetes mellitus based on Vietnam service, the claimant must
have served in-country.
4. What does “in-country” mean? What if I served in support of operations in Vietnam, for example, on board a ship
in the Gulf of Tonkin?
- During the period 1/9/62 through 5/7/75, you must have physically served or visited in the Republic of Vietnam
(RVN), including service in the waters offshore if the conditions of service involved duty or visitation in Vietnam.
This means the ship must have come to port in the RVN and you disembarked.
5. Will private medical records be accepted as proof of my diabetes? Will I be required to undergo a VA examination?
- If private medical records are sufficient, VA can make a determination and grant based on those records. If not,
a VA examination will be required. These records should:
o Comment on the age of onset and the diagnostic test used to affirmatively diagnose this condition
o Comment on the treatment modalities (i.e. Insulin, diet, regulation of activities, etc.)
o Discuss, if applicable, the prior and current episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions. Were hospitalizations
required? What was the frequency of hospitalizations?
o Fully describe any complications that stem from the veteran’s diabetes mellitus; such as vision; cardiac; vascular;
renal; neurologic (including both peripheral neuropathy and cerebral effects); amputations; and other associated
complications.
6. I applied for service-connection for my diabetes and was denied. The condition was however, rated as non-service
connected. Will I need to reapply for service connection?
- As soon as the governing regulations regarding this issue are published, if you had in-country Vietnam service
and have diabetes, you will need to reapply. Any veteran in this situation should contact his or her local VA office
at 1-800-827-1000 or by e-mail through the VA web page. (www.va.gov).
7. My husband died from diabetes and was an in-country Vietnam veteran. Do I now qualify for service connected
death benefits (DIC)?
- If you believe the cause of death was related to diabetes and the veteran had in-country service, you should
contact the local VA office to determine your eligibility.
8. When will my benefits begin if I am granted service connection for diabetes?
- VA must publish regulations to implement this decision. Benefit payments cannot begin prior to the date VA publishes
the final regulation concerning this issue. We expect the process to be completed by late Spring 2001.
9. Will I receive retroactive benefits based on a grant of service connection due to presumptive service in Vietnam?
- Generally, no. The regulations will not have a provision for retroactive payment prior to the date the final
regulation is published. We note, however, that there is pending litigation before a United States district court
in the case of Nehmer v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which, depending on the outcome of that case, could
result in entitlement to retroactive benefits for certain individuals who have previously been denied service connection
for their disability.
10. If I am already service connected for diabetes, will I get an increase based on this change?
- You will not receive any additional benefits as a result of this change. However, if your diabetic condition
has increased in severity since you were last rated by VA, you should contact your local VA office. You can file
a claim for a reevaluation and the local VA office can provide assistance with that claim.
11. Will I be eligible for medical treatment?
- Even if you decide not to file a claim based on exposure to herbicide, you can still get a free physical examination
at the nearest VA Medial Center. You may also be entitled to free ongoing medical treatment at a VA medical facility.
You should contact the nearest VA medical facility or you can obtain information and an application for health
benefits at the Veterans Health Administration web site at www.va.gov/vbs/health/index.htm or by calling 1-877-222-8387.
12. Where can I get a copy of the National Academy of Sciences Study on Herbicide/Dioxin Exposure and Type 2 Diabetes?
- You can download a copy of the study from the NAS web site at www.nap.edu/html/diabetes.
SOURCE: Veterans Benefits Administration web page at
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/benefits/herbicide/index.htm
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