DAV Chapter 16

01/01/2020

Happy New Year, from all of us at DAV!

12/28/2019

Bill to help veterans charged with non-violent offences, but suffering substance abuse or mental health issues, remains stalled in D.C.

12/22/2019

The federal funding bill contains a provision that will require VA to respond on whether it plans to add new diseases to the list of conditions linked to herbicide exposure.

12/21/2019

12/11/2019

Iraq veteran finds cannabis helpful as Washington debates how to move forward Like many veterans, service took a toll on Ryan Rasnick. While he was driving in western Anbar Province in Iraq in 2009, an RKG-3—a Russian-made anti-tank hand grenade—was hur...

12/07/2019

Today marks 78 years since Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. December 7, 1941 was a date that forever changed our nation and the world. National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day honors the 2,403 U. S. citizens who were lost.

12/04/2019

On April 10, 2019, Representative Bruce Westerman (AR), introduced H.R. 2200, the Keeping Our Promises Act. This legislation would add multiple diseases to the presumptive disease list for Agent Orange exposure.

In the Veterans and Agent Orange update in 2016, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) committee concluded there was compelling evidence for adding bladder cancer and hypothyroid conditions to the presumptive disease list. Further, the study clarified that Vietnam veterans with "Parkinson-like symptoms," but without a formal diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, should be considered under the presumption of Parkinson's disease. In the Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 11, released in November 2018, the NAM concluded that there is sufficient evidence of an association between Agent Orange and the development of hypertension. The report elevated hypertension from suggestive evidence to sufficient evidence of a link.

The VA has not taken any action on adding these four diseases. We are concerned by the recent release of internal documents that indicate Administration officials challenged the previous Secretary's authority to add these four diseases and may have even impeded action. Even more troubling is the possibility that the Administration is outweighing the cost of adding these diseases over those veterans in need of VA benefits and health care. Three of these pending presumptive diseases have been held up for more than three years, leaving affected veterans, family members and survivors waiting.

DAV led a coalition of 20 military and veterans service organizations to bring this issue to the forefront. Earlier this month we called on Secretary Wilkie directly, to add these four diseases. To date, we have not had any response from the VA.

Because the VA and the Administration are not taking action, we must turn to Congress. H.R. 2200 will add bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, "Parkinson's-like symptoms", and hypertension to the presumptive disease list for Agent Orange exposure. All four of these diseases have been scientifically associated with Agent Orange and are recommended for inclusion by the National Academy of Medicine.

DAV strongly supports H.R. 2200 as it is aligned with DAV Resolution No. 174, which calls for the addition of these presumptive diseases. Please use the prepared letter or draft your own to urge your Representatives to support and cosponsor H.R. 2200. Stand with us and support the addition of these diseases as presumptive to Agent Orange. Thank you for your continued support of the DAV Commander's Action Network.

11/28/2019

Happy Thanksgiving, America! We are thankful our veterans and current military service members. On this day of thanks, let's not forget our military families and family caregivers who support us at home.

11/21/2019

We need to support this legislation PLEASE PLEASE CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE.

The following is a statement from Randy Reese, DAV Executive Director, Washington Headquarters Today, DAV is pleased to announce the introduction of the Veterans Burn Pit Exposure Recognition Act of 2019, S. 2950, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan (AK) and Joe Manchin (WV) t...

11/16/2019

WAUSAU (WAOW) - A non-profit aims to raise awareness about how dogs help veterans. Patriot K9s of Wisconsin offers service dog training for veterans with

11/15/2019

The Honorable Robert Wilkie Secretary of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20571 Mr. Secretary: On behalf of the millions of veterans, service members, their families and survivors that our organizations represent, we call on you to...