There is a marked upswing in the number of veterans who were stationed in Korea filing disability claims. These claims are being filed based on surfacing rumors and fears the United States both sprayed and buried hazardous chemicals in the area.
The fears come on the heels of a recent government admission there are more Korean War veterans who have been exposed to Agent Orange and other toxins during their service in or near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
As of January, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced any soldier stationed near the border between April 1, 1968 and Aug. 31, 1971 were presumably exposed to toxic defoliants.
As of last week, the VA had issued appeal decisions on more than 3,900 disability claims related to service in Korea in the first 5 months of 2011. That number is almost twice as high as the total amount of claims they decided in 2010. The VA and the Pentagon believe there are approximately 30,000 veterans who will be eligible for service-related benefits tied to their presumptive exposure to Agent Orange.
Recent allegations about US soldiers being ordered to bury Agent Orange in South Korea outside the VA's allotted time frame for benefits will could very easily cause yet another benefits nightmare for the VA's processing department.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.
Category: Veterans' Disability
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Soldiers can return home with a number of conditions, injuries, and aggravated preexisting conditions. If you believe you have a service-connected physical or psychological injury you may be entitled to Veterans’ Disability Compensation.