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In order to avoid losing thousands of dollars, the Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) of Lake County is reminding Vietnam veterans who have an existing medical diagnosis for any of the three new presumptive diseases to file their claims before August 30. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) refers to "presumptive diseases" as certain cancers and other health problems related to exposure to Agent Orange, or other herbicides during military service. The three new presumptive diseases include: Ischemic Heart Disease, Hairy Cell and other B-Cell Leukemias, and Parkinson's disease.
Qualifying veterans that file before the August 30 deadline are eligible to receive up to one year of retroactive benefits. They should contact the VAC at 847-377-3344 to make an appointment, or email veterans@lakecountyil.gov. The office is located at 20 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Waukegan. VAC reminds veterans to bring their Military Discharge, DD Form 214.
Mike Peck, VAC Superintendent, said, "We strongly recommend that veterans and their widows use a VA certified Veterans Service Officer through our office. Officers will ensure proper tracking of their claim and can provide representation through the process."
Additionally, if the Vietnam veteran died from a heart attack, the spouse may qualify for benefits because the death may be due to their husband's exposure to Agent Orange and a disability of Ischemic heart disease. Qualifying widows should file for "Dependent Indemnity Compensation" (DIC) with the VAC before the August 30 deadline.
The U.S. VA will streamline claims for these presumptive diseases through its "Agent Orange Fast Track Claims Processing System."
For more information, contact: Mike Peck847-377-3344 | 
