Veterans Information Site
Researchers Link Agent
Orange to Prostate Cancer
May 15, 2013
U.S. researchers say they
found a link between the herbicide Agent Orange used heavily
during the Vietnam War
and aggressive prostate cancer.
The study, published online
ahead of the print edition of the journal Cancer, found Agent Orange exposure
was linked with a 52 percent
increase in overall risk of prostate cancer detection by biopsy. Exposure
to the
herbicide did not confer
an increase in risk of low-grade prostate cancer, but it was linked with
a 75 percent
increase in risk of the
aggressive prostate cancer, the study said.
In addition, Agent Orange
exposure was associated with more than a two-fold increase in the most
lethal cancers.
Healthcare for Iraq/Afghan Veterans: Iraq and Afghanistan veterans
discharged from active duty on or after
January 28, 2003, may be eligible for five years of medical care.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is trying to reach
out to eligible veterans who served “in a theater of combat operations”
to let them know that they may be eligible for
complete health care coverage for five years post service. To determine
eligibility, visit the Veterans
Health Administration website at: http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/resources/eligibility_check.asp.
The VHA website
provides comprehensive health benefits and includes a link to their
fully developed Veterans Health Benefits Guide.
For more information, visit www.va.gov or call 1-877-222-VETS (8387),
8 a.m.-8 p.m. EST.
Transferring
your military license to a Wisconsin commercial driver license (CDL)
If you have a military license issued by any military
facility that allows you to operate a military commercial
vehicle, there is the possibility that you can use
it to obtain a Wisconsin commercial driver license (CDL).
This process allows you to obtain a CDL by waiving
the knowledge and skills exams due to your experience
and training with these vehicles in the military.
You must be a Wisconsin resident in order to be eligible for
this waiver. This waiver does not cover the Hazardous
Materials or School Bus endorsements.
VA Extends Presumptive Period for Undiagnosed Illnesses
On October 16, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published
final regulations extending the deadline for
the presumptive period for undiagnosed illnesses for Gulf War veterans
until December 31, 2016.
This is great news for the estimated 250,000 Gulf War veterans who
remain without treatments.
Purple Heart
Pass
Starting early 2013, Purple Heart recipients
will be able to visit museums and attractions in Milwaukee County for free.
A Purple Heart Pass will be available for
any veteran living in Wisconsin who received a Purple Heart.
The pass will provide the Purple Heart recipient
and one guest free admission to the Milwaukee Public Museum, Discovery
World, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee County Zoo, Harley-Davidson Museum,
Mitchell Park Conservatory (The Domes) and Boerner Botanical Gardens.
Plans are still being worked out for the Purple
Heart Pass, which is scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1.
Veterans can apply for them starting in December
through the Milwaukee County
Veterans Service Office, showing verification
of their Purple Heart and Wisconsin residency.
Please Contact to get on the list and receive
the application
Jim Duff
Director
Milwaukee County Veterans Service Office
James.Duff@milwcnty.com
Homeless Veterans & Families Benefits
Assistance for Veterans' Dependents
The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance
Program (DEA) (also known as the Chapter 35 benefit program)
provides education and training opportunities to eligible
dependents of certain veterans. Under the program, the dependent
can receive up to 45 months of educational benefits,
which may be used for degree or certificate programs, apprenticeship,
or on-the-job training. Also included under the program
are correspondence courses for the spouse of the veteran.
For more information, visit VA's Survivor
and Dependents Assistance (DEA) webpage.
Veterans Benefits Explained - You May Be Eligible
Veterans Wisconsin Education
Portal
Veterans Employment Information
ENTITLEMENT TO Dependency ad Indemnity Compensation
under 38 U.S.C. 1318.
Although the Veteran’s death may not be due to service-related conditions,
Dependency and
Indemnity Compensation benefits may be payable as if the cause of death
were service connected if
the cause of the veteran’s death was not due to willful misconduct
and the veteran was continuously rated
totally disabled by reason of service connected disabilities for a
period of 10 years or more immediately preceding death;
or for five years if the total evaluation was continuously in effect
from the date of discharge from military service;
or for one year if the veteran was a former POW who died after September
30, 1999.
MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS DIRECTORY
SERVICE
POINTS OF CONTACT
Once the family of an eligible veteran has requested
Military Funeral Honors, you can use this directory
to locate a military point of contact to help you arrange for the
funeral honors detail.
Social
Security Benefits For Wounded Warriors
CLICK
HERE TO READ THE VETERANS QUARTERLY
Obtaining Veteran Service Documents
Army veterans and family members
are eligible to receive service-related documents for free through official
sources.
Soldiers who separated in October,
2002 or later can submit a signed Standard Form 180/Request Pertaining
to
Military Records (www.archives.gov/research/order/standard-form-180.PDF)
to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command,
ATTN: AHRC-PDR-V/ Department
420, 1600 Spearhead Division Ave., Fort Knox, KY 40122-5402. Soldiers who
separated
prior to October, 2002 should
submit a signed SF 180 to the National Archives and Records Administration's
National
Personnel Records Center, 1
Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63132-1002, or telephone the NPRC at 314-801-0800.
National Guard Soldiers should
contact their State Adjutant General at their state's address found at
www.nationalguard.mil/resources/states.aspx.
Veterans can also access their information directly at eBenefits at www.ebenefits.va.gov
.
For more information, telephone
the Army Human Resource Command at 1-888-ARMYHRC (276-9472).
Wisconsin
New WDVA offices located
at 201 W. Washington St., Madison, WI.
Phone number is still
1-800-WIS-VETS.
MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS
Family
members of the deceased veteran should first notify their funeral director
of their desire to have military funeral honors rendered.
(There
is no cost to the veteran's family to have military funeral honors provided
by WDVA or the military.)
The family
should provide the funeral director with the following information, if
available:
•Name of
deceased, date of birth, Social Security number, form DD-214 (discharge),
or any other proof of veteran status or eligibility for burial honors.
•Branch
of service and type of service (active, reserve, National Guard, retired).
The funeral
director or family member, if not using a funeral director, should then
contact:
Wisconsin
Department of Veterans Affairs
Attn:
Military Funeral Honors Program
21731
Spring St.
Union
Grove, WI 53182
Phone:
(262) 878-5673
Toll Free
Phone: (877) 944-6667
Fax: (262)
878-5677
Toll Free
Fax: (866) 454-0356
Email:
honors@dva.state.wi.us
COMING SOON
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