Veterans Win Agent Orange Court Victory

Fox News ^ | April 01, 2002 | AP

[Pern]

SAN FRANCISCO

[Pern]

I think it's so shameful that our government denied this all these years. And it's disgusting that these Veteran's even had to go to court to claim what was rightfully theirs. I guess our brave men and women that served in defense of this country aren't equal to 'Special Interest Groups.'

I'm shocked that a Federal Court actually ruled against the Federal Government.

[glock rocks]

ping

[mathurine]

This is great; however I have heard that those disabled veterans who are retired military get nothing for their disabilities. The military retirement is judged all the government owes them regardless of how banged up or f--ked up they are as a result of their service to the country. If the same guy got out disabled and ran for the senate or worked for the Department of Education, he would receive his veteran's disability and his federal retirement. The only people the government screws in this way are military retirees. Congress sucks big time on this one.

[Spirited]

It is criminal that we ask these people to go to war and risk their lives, bring some of them home so they can fight for money to help with the illness caused by our own government in the field.

If this was the only infamy it would be enough.

We aren't shy about giving money to every hand in the world that is out. Our own, however, have to spend everything they have and then some to go to court to get what won't even cover.

[Fish out of Water]

fyi

[dstarr]

The real crime is that veterans who are disabled must pay their own disability. What this means is that their retirement pay is reduced by the amount of disability pay that they receive. Supposedly, Congress had approved changing this and the President (I don't know which one) had signed his approval of it. There have not been funds allocated for this though. My husband received information on this just the other day. If he had been a civilian who had retired with a pension and also been eligible for disability he would have received full payment of both. As it is, my husband pays for his own disability check each month.

[B4Ranch]

Thirty one years ago we sprayed Agent Orange, claims were coming out in 1976 for benefits. FINALLY, we get a judge who feels the GI's claims are valid. THIS ONLY TOOK 25 YEARS!! However, as I expected, they have made the list as small as possible as to who will be paid anything.

When it comes to being a patriot, it is this kind of crap that makes me bend both ways. My SWAG (scientific wild assed guess) is that if we weren't fighting in Afghanistan right now, these vets would have been turned down again.

Our politicians forget about veterans so quickly once the shooting stops. It should be a national law that if you want to serve in Washington or your State Legislature, you have to serve in the military first. Maybe that would keep their memories a little sharper.

[backhoe]

Just back online- my ISP's been dead since last night. Thanks!