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From: chelsa51@gmail.com
To: 1076VVAHNV@GMAIL.COM
Subject: Vietnam Vet dies waiting on military benefits after Agent Orange exposure
Date: Mon, 11 May 2015 15:45:14 -0700
WREG NEWS CHANNEL 3 – MEMPHIS (CBS)
Vietnam Vet dies waiting on military benefits after Agent Orange exposure
article can be read at: http://wreg.com/2015/05/08/vietnam-vet-dies-waiting-on-military-benefits-after-agent-orange-exposure/
MAY 8, 2015,
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A sad update to a WREG investigation into problems facing Vietnam vets and their families. Thursday morning, the vet we introduced you to last week passed away.
His death came hours after finishing paper work for full benefits. WREG found out this battle may not be over.
This is exactly what so many Vietnam vets fear dying before their benefits kick in.
New wars created a backlog as older vets got sick and eventually passed away. However, in our investigation we learned the fight can continue even after death.
"Do you want to die at home or do you want to die at the hospital. That's why I'm here. I'm here to die," said Paul Hines last week to WREG.
Paul Hines got his wish to die at home.
He passed Thursday morning after battling a long list of health problems his private doctors linked to his days in the Navy and exposure to Agent Orange.
In our investigation WREG found out his wife can file to receive his benefits if he died from one of these presumptive diseases caused by Agent Orange.
"We've yet to have one where there hasn't been a widow of a Vietnam Veteran unaware that they were entitled to benefit income if their husband passed," said Barry Rice, TN State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America, at a recent meeting in Munford, TN.
The meeting was the 10th in the state hosted by the council to inform Vietnam veterans of their disability rights.
Hines suffered from a number of the presumptive diseases caused by exposure to Agent Orange. After WREG got involved the Veterans Administration immediately awarded him 60% disability.
His appeal had waited behind some newer Iraq and Afghanistan vets and the more than 10,000 disability claims back logged at Veterans Affairs. His wife, Marie, told WREG they just finished filling out final documents for him to receive 100% disability just hours before Hines passed away.
"The country has deserted our Vietnam vets. Their spouses too. Their families," his wife told WREG last week.
We also found out spouses of vets are eligible to file for benefits even if the vet never filed while alive.
Veterans Affairs can use medical records from private physicians as proof of Agent Orange exposure.
Tina Sansouci
Secretary
VVA Chapter 1076
702-294-0402 (Home)
702-635-2695 (Cell)
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