SUPPORT Bill Draft Request #95 - STAND UP FOR BILL
(And Other Veterans and Their Families)
I would like to create state and federal legislation that does the following:
1. Directs the Veterans Administration (VA) and the Nevada Department of Veterans Services
to create free, accredited continuing professional education (CPE) for civilian healthcare
workers and paramedical caseworkers (including social workers and chaplains) on veterans
health issues.
2. Directs all health care providers to change their intake forms and health questionnaires to
ask if patients “had any US military service” in order to “begin the conversation”. Self-identified
veterans should be asked to fill out an additional military questionnaire. A proposed
format is available.
3. Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to require that all healthcare workers (including
VA health care workers and CHOICE doctors) be familiar with compensable diseases and
disabilities so they can refer Vets and their families to the VA benefits office for evaluation and
additional assistance.
4. Directs the VA and the Nevada Department of Veterans Services to use public service
announcements and other media to reach out to veterans and their families to inform them
about presumed connected disabilities and report back to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the
Nevada state governor and the veterans legislative committee annually on the effectiveness of
these techniques.
5. Directs the VA and the Nevada Department of Veterans Services to prominently display
flyers and other media on presumed connected disabilities to all offices that work with veterans
and their families, including VA cemeteries.
6. Directs the VA and the Nevada Department of Veterans Services to prominently display
flyers and other media about survivor benefits to all offices that work with veterans and their
families, including VA cemeteries.
7. Directs the VA and the Nevada Department of Veterans Services to form strategic partnerships
with civilian support groups (e.g. the American Heart Association, the American Lung
Association or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) to identify veterans, children and
grandchildren who have a disease presumed connected to military service. Identified veterans
and family members should be referred to designated VA resources. Records of these referrals
should be rolled up to the governor, state legislative affairs committee and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs on a yearly basis.
8. Directs each state to keep records and prepare a yearly report to the governor, the veterans
legislative committee and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs evaluating the effectiveness of the
training delivered, contacts made and media used to provide information to veterans, spouses
and healthcare professionals.
WE MUST ACT NOW
• We must make sure that all Veterans who have a presumed connected disease take full
advantage of the benefits that they earned by their service to our country.
• We must make sure that all Veteran survivors have access to the benefits that their loved one
earned by their service to our country.
• We must make sure that veterans from all conflicts such as the Korean War, the Gulf War, Iraq
War, the war in Afghanistan, certain defense department projects and Camp LeJeune know
about the diseases and disabilities presumed connected to their military service and receive
the benefits they earned.
• We must act now to protect the children and grandchildren of veterans who were exposed
to toxic substances during their military service.
The VA has recognized certain cancers and other health problems as presumptive diseases.
Veterans and their survivors may be eligible for benefits for these diseases.
VIETNAM - AL Amyloidosis, Chronic B-cell Leukemias, Chloracne (or similar acneform
disease), Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, Hodgkin's Disease, Ischemic Heart Disease, Multiple
Myeloma, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Parkinson's Disease, Peripheral Neuropathy (early
onset), Porphria Cutanea Tarda, Prostate Cancer, Respiratory Cancers (includes lung cancer)
and cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, Soft Tissue Sarcomas (other than osteosarcoma,
chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, or mesothelioma) and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis aka
Lou Gehrig’s disease (this disease is associated with service in Vietnam).
GULF WAR - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Functional Gastrointestinal
Disorders, Undiagnosed Illnesses ( including fatigue, skin symptoms, headaches, muscle pain,
joint pain, neurological symptoms, respiratory symptoms, sleep disturbance, GI symptoms,
cardiovascular symptoms, weight loss, menstrual disorders), Chronic Multi-symptom Illnesses,
Gulf War Illness and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR - Psychosis, Any Anxiety State, Dysthymic Disorder,
Frostbite Residuals, Post_Traumatic Osteoarthritis, Heart Disease or Hypertensive Vascular
Disease, Stroke, Avitaminois, Beriberi, Chronic Dysentery, Helminthiasis, Malnutrition, Pellegra,
Nutritional Deficiencies, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Peptic Ulcer Disease, Peripheral Neuropathy
and Cirrhosis of the Liver.
ATOMIC VETERANS -All Forms of Leukemia (except chronic lymphocytic leukemia); Cancer
of the Thyroid, Breast, Pharynx, Esophagus, Stomach, Small Intestine, Pancreas, Bile Ducts,
Gall Bladder, Salivary Gland, Urinary Tract (kidneys, renal pelves, ureters, urinary bladder and
urethra), Brain, Bone, Lung, Colon, Ovary; Bronchiolo-alveolar Carcinoma; Multiple Myeloma;
Lymphomas (other than Hodgkin’s disease); and Primary Liver Cancer (except Cirrhosis or
Hepatitis B).
CAMP LEJEUNE - Adult Leukemia, Aplastic Anemia (and other myelodysplastic syndromes),
Bladder Cancer, Kidney Cancer, Liver Cancer, Multiple Myeloma, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
and Parkinson’s Disease.
BURN PITS - Allergy-like symptoms, Asthma, Breathing restrictions, Cancers (including but
not limited to lung, brain, bone, and skin), Chronic bronchitis, Chronic coughs, Constant
infections, Cramps and severe abdominal pain, Diarrhea, Leukemia, Lung cancer, Nose bleeds,
Pulmonary injuries, Restrictive Airways Disease (Bronchiolitis), Serious heart conditions, Severe
a headache, Skin infection, Sleep apnea, Throat infections, Ulcers, Unexpected weight loss,
Vomiting, Weeping lesions on extremities.
The VA believes these symptoms may be temporary.
If you would like to help me in this effort, or if you have ideas on how to spread the word about
presumed connected disabilities, please feel free to contact me. I am Barbara Rodgick and I
am the widow of an Agent Orange Vet. My phone number is 425-442-7563 and my email
address is barbara98065@gmail.com. 9/27/18
