CGWC Orlando Injury Attorney Blog

Florida Veterans' Benefits Attorneys At The Florida Firm - Monday, January 25, 2010

The Florida Firm is proud to have experienced veteran's benefits attorneys on staff to help our proud veterans of past conflicts, including the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and the Iraq War. Veterans should be aware that the Veterans Administration is changing the way it approaches many veterans' claims. An experienced veterans' benefits attorney may be needed to navigate the complicated VA system.

In the past the VA has restricted claims for Agent Orange to servicemen and women who were physically present in Vietnam - the "boot on the ground" veterans. Many veterans who served on ships in the waters near Vietnam applied for and were denied benefits for diseases and health conditions caused by Agent Orange. This denial was unfair to those veterans because they were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides when those chemicals became airborne after being sprayed into the air.

The VA has since changed its policy and as of January, 2010, they have identified blue-water vessels which conducted operations on the inland "brown water" rivers and deltas in or near Vietnam, and also vessels which operated exclusively on the inland waterways in Vietnam. The VA has published a list of the vessels and their respective dates of service in the affected areas. Any serviceman who can establish his presence on one of those vessels during the relevant time period is can now be presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. Many Veterans are now qualified to apply for benefits and other the spouses of those Veterans that would have qualified and have since passed away may be eligible for death indemnity compensation benefits.

There are many benefits that may be available to Veterans. However, most Veterans do not know or are not aware of the benefits or their eligibility. If a Veteran or family member believes they are entitled to benefits, call The Florida Firm for a free consultation. For more information about veterans' benefits visit our website.

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