Va Ceases Benefits For Veteran Suffering Ailments Linked To Agent Orange

[carlie]

"VA ceases benefits for veteran suffering ailments linked to Agent Orange"

http://poststar.com/news/local/article_3a1107e2-8f27-11e0-a387-001cc4c03286.html

[Berta]

Mr. Cooley's benefits from the VA have been restored and they are paying him the retro they erroneously kept from him.

I dont have all the particulars yet - and might never find out what happened- but this was a clear and unmistakable error on VA's part in regards to their interpretation of established VA case law.

This was a CUE on VA's part that they apparently rectified fast due to pressure from advocates and one of our NY COngressmen.

[cooter]

Mr. Cooley's benefits from the VA have been restored and they are paying him the retro they erroneously kept from him.

I dont have all the particulars yet - and might never find out what happened- but this was a clear and unmistakable error on VA's part in regards to their interpretation of established VA case law.

This was a CUE on VA's part that they apparently rectified fast due to pressure from advocates and one of our NY COngressmen.

Bittersweet isn't it! But still happy for him. Oh by the way Berta, thanks for going to bat for this Veteran!

[carlie]

This is wonderful news.

I believe if this vet did not have the support that has been shown,

he would have been in limbo for an extended period of time and

been with out his benefits long enough to loose whatever he has.

I feel the media coverage was very helpful,with this specific situation.

[Berta]

Carlie- you are right-

without Will Doolittle's story in a small upstate NY newspaper (that quickly made it around the net vet community)-

this veteran would have never had his comp properly restored.

I didn't really help except for a phone call I made to the VACO media liason and a phone call to his vet rep, telling him what he could do to rectify this.

I think Sue Belanger ( notable AO advocate here in NY) and the vet's congressman were the ones who really got this squared away.

It does show how fast things can happen when the media is contacted and the story reveals that VA definitely erred in a proposed reduction.

This was not about one vet -it was a violation of the rights of all veterans.

[carlie]

Here's a link to the vet prevailing and they wound up paying him

quite a bit more comp than before : - )

http://poststar.com/news/local/article_0888c432-992a-11e0-b39d-001cc4c002e0.html

[cooter]

Berta

The phone calls you made added icing to the cake. The knowledge you gave I'm sure they used in their case, whether they admit it or not. I would of loved being a fly on the wall when you were talking to them. ha. Besides, you just proved again, the fact that you are willing to cover our backs is very welcoming to us here at Hadit or anyplace else.