United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Philadelphia VA Regional Office & Insurance Center (VAROIC)

News About VA Benefits

Expanded Agent Orange Benefits

On October 13, 2009, Secretary Shinseki announced that hairy cell and other B-cell leukemias, Parkinson’s disease, and ischemic heart disease will be added to the list of diseases presumptively associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents. This means that if you served in Vietnam and you have one of these conditions, your condition is presumed to be service connected. Follow this link for more information about Expanded Agent Orange Benefits.

Expanded PTSD Benefits

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to change its adjudication regulations governing service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  The proposed change will in some cases relax the evidentiary standard for establishing the required in-service stressor. Here’s how the proposed change will work.

  • If you are claiming that your stressor is related to your fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and,
  • a VA psychiatrist or psychologist confirms that your claimed stressor is enough to support a diagnosis of PTSD and,
  • the stressor you are claiming is consistent with the places, types, and circumstances of your service and,
  • your symptoms are related to your claimed stressor,

you will not need to provide additional evidence that the stressor occurred.