Compensation Service expanded and updated the Intranet ships list website: http://vba.vba.va.gov/bl/21/rating/docs/shiplist.doc located at the Vietnam Era Navy Ship Agent Orange Exposure Development Site under “Rating Job Aids”. (Remember, you have to be inside VA’s firewall to access this website.) The website now includes additional ships based on evidence documenting inland waterway travel, shore/pier docking, or close coastal offshore operations with small boats and/or crew members going ashore. This website serves as a development tool for claims from veterans who served aboard ships operating on the offshore “blue water” of Vietnam. Development procedures are explained in Training Letter (TL) 10-06, Adjudicating…
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Millions of Americans are now caring for their aging parents. Aging parents and their caregiving children are in difficult financial economic times. Consequently, the aging parents and their children are entering into legal agreements, “caregiver agreements,” in order to compensate children who are providing caregiving services. In preparing these caregiving agreements, families should consider the following: What types of services are being performed? Therefore, define the duties and responsibilities, of the parent and caregiving children How much compensation shall be paid to the caregiver? What services are being performed? What is reasonable compensation? Have all family members involved in the…
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Even though mesothelioma-afflicted veterans are just as entitled to VA disability benefits as those who were wounded in battle, many struggle to get the compensation they deserve. The difficulty in obtaining VA benefits stems from the “burden of proof.” In order to qualify for benefits, a veteran must prove that their illness is related to asbestos exposure during their time of service. Because asbestos was so widely used up until the late 1970s—and because illnesses like mesothelioma may take 20 to 40 years to emerge—it can be a grueling process to pinpoint which product or application was responsible for…
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Frederick, MD 
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