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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Mar 20, 2010 - 5:39:42 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) |
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced legislation to provide a minimum compensation level for veterans whose service-connected injuries require continuous medication or adaptive devices, such as hearing aids.
"Today, veterans who suffer a service-connected injury that requires continual medication or adaptive devices, like hearing aids, may not receive any disability compensation payments. It is important that all of these veterans be compensated in a fair and equitable manner. Veterans with similar disabilities should receive similar benefits," said Akaka.
The Veterans' Compensation Equity Act of 2008 would ensure a minimum 10 percent disability rating for all veterans whose service-connected disability requires continuous treatment. The provision is in line with a recommendation made by leading veterans service organizations in the Independent Budget.
Chairman Akaka's floor statement on the legislation is copied below:
Today I introduce the proposed "Veterans' Compensation Equity Act of 2008." This legislation would mandate fair and equitable ratings for veterans whose disabilities require continuous medication or the use of adaptive devices, such as hearing aids.
Specifically, the bill would require that all veterans who receive continuous medication or require use of one or more adaptive devices, such as hearing aids, prescribed by the Department of Veterans Affairs or other licensed health care provider for treatment of a service-connected disability, shall be rated at not less than ten percent.
The amount of compensation veterans with service-connected conditions receive is based on a disability rating, which VA assigns. VA uses its Rating Schedule to determine which rating to assign to a veteran's particular condition. Currently the Rating Schedule provides a minimum compensable rating of ten percent or higher for most but not all disabilities that require continuous medication. I do not see any reason why one veteran who requires continuous medication for treatment of a service-connected disability, such as diabetes or asthma, should receive a compensable rating and another veteran who requires continuous medication for treatment of another disability, such as hypertension or chronic sinusitis, is assigned a zero percent rating and receives no compensation.
This legislation would also provide a minimum compensable rating when a veteran requires the use of a hearing aid or other adaptive device, but is nonetheless assigned a noncompensable rating under the current Rating Schedule. The use of adaptive devices prescribed by a Department of Veterans Affairs or other licensed health care provider for treatment of a service-connected condition would result in a rating of at least ten percent.
It is important that veterans who are disabled as a result of military service are compensated in a fair and equitable manner. Providing different compensation for different medical conditions that all require continuous medication or adaptive devices is not just.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure, so that veterans seeking compensation will be treated in a fair and equitable manner.
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Lymarie
25 Jul 2009, 05:07
Good day. I would like to know if Filipino veterans who lives in US can
grab the privalege to petition thier families in Philippines to US?
Thank you.
Bill
27 Jan 2009, 08:59
According to govtrack.us this bill was introduced April 7, 2008, and that's
as far as it got. The bill is dead in the water. The link is here:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-2825 This is very
frustrating to me. I am almost stone deaf in my left ear. I got "issued" a
hearing aide by the Army more than a year before I got out. According to
the VA, because the hearing in my right ear is O.K., 0% Service Connected.
Doesn't makes sense why they would NEED to introduce a bill to correct
this. Should be a gimme.
Fred Vincenzo
27 Nov 2008, 14:12
Thank you for something that is long overdue. Many of us who served were
permanently maimed by the gun fire, artillery, jet engine or machinery
noise that we were subjected to in the military. As you all know, the
degree of noise exposure in the military far exceeds the normal
occupational exposures in civilian life. However, many of us who have
permanent hearing loss are not compensated by the VA. Hearing loss is not
a subjective disability...testing is precise and it's easy to determine
whether the of loss was caused by service and if so, the degree of loss.
Thank you Senator!
Marty Stern
30 Sep 2008, 14:13
When will they vote on this bill?
Trent Pavely
21 Aug 2008, 19:16
This is something that is long overdue. Many servicemembers served in
NEC's or Specialties that caused moderate to profound hearing loss.
Unfortunately the present system doesn't recognize moderate hearing loss as
a diability. This is a slap in the face to the many soldiers, sailrs and
airmen that served their country honorably.
nick love
11 Jul 2008, 05:39
thank you
nickey love
04 Jul 2008, 13:21
i would like to know more about veterans equity bill thank you nickey love
Cris Jimeno
24 Jun 2008, 16:42
I hope the proposed bill passes. The monetary compensation that will be
extended to our men & women of our armed forces after they separates from
the military will be rewarding for those who developed their ailment while
serving their country
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