Disabled Veterans National Foundation Reminds Veterans of VA's 2014 COLA Increase

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Disabled Veterans National Foundation (www.dvnf.org), a nonprofit veterans service organization that focuses on helping men and women who serve and return home wounded or sick after defending our safety and our freedom, is applauding the Department of Veterans Affairs on new rules that would expand disability pay for some veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131220/PH36892)

The regulation, set to begin in January, would add pay for veterans who were diagnosed with TBI, but also exhibit any of 5 other conditions. Veterans with TBI and Parkinson's, various types of dementia, seizures, depression, or diseases of the hypothalamus or pituitary glands would be eligible for this increase in pay.

The reason for this new regulation is a result of a study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences that found evidence that connects TBI with any of those 5 ailments.

According to the VA, much of the compensation decision will depend on the severity of the TBI, and the TBI must be a service-connected disability. If doctors link one of those 5 disorders to the veteran's TBI, then that second ailment will also be considered service connected.

"This new regulation is equally as unsettling as it is comforting," said DVNF CEO Joseph VanFonda (SgtMaj Ret). "It is disturbing that TBI can be this serious of an ailment, but it is great that the VA is proactively taking steps to help veterans who are suffering from additional TBI-related illnesses." 

VanFonda also stated that he believed this course of action was an appropriate one for the VA to take, as TBI continues to grow in scope among combat troops.

For more, go to www.dvnf.org.

Media Contact:
Doug Walker, Communications Manager, 202-737-0522 Email

Read more news from Disabled Veterans National Foundation

SOURCE Disabled Veterans National Foundation

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