Active-duty military members, veterans and their families face unique challenges when navigating a cancer diagnosis. In addition to the extra complexities that can come with navigating the military and VA healthcare systems, cancer treatment and side effects can prevent members from performing required duties which can affect overall service eligibility and career outcomes. 

The Colon Club brought together veterans and VA representatives to discuss some of these challenges and share strategies to cope with the complexities that come with a cancer diagnosis in the military community. 

The recording can be found here: https://youtu.be/n7y6BE48Pog

Resources:

VA RESOURCES
Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors:
https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book/2020_Federal_Benefits_for_Veterans_Dependents_and_Survivors.pdf   

VA Travel:
https://www.va.gov/health-care/get-reimbursed-for-travel-pay/    

VA Caregiver Support Program
https://www.caregiver.va.gov/ 

Presumptive Disability Benefits
https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/serviceconnected/presumption.pdf

Agent Orange:
https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/conditions/index.asp#veterans 

Exposure Ed
https://mobile.va.gov/app/exposure-ed

Claims Inquiry
https://ask.va.gov/

Virtual Claims Clinic (Link to schedule a telephone, in-person, or virtual visit with a St. Petersburg VA Regional Office Representative, Mon-Fri 9 am to 3 pm)
https://v2.waitwhile.com/lists/varegionaloffice/join

Veterans Benefit Administration
1-800-827-1000

VA Health Chat
https://mobile.va.gov/app/va-health-chat

Compassionate Allowances
https://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/

Clinical Contact Center
1-877-741-3400

FundFinder – helps with financials
https://fundfinder.panfoundation.org/

THE BLUE WATER NAVY CLAIMS PROCESS
The Blue Water Navy (BWN) Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 extended the presumption of herbicide exposure, such as Agent Orange, to Veterans who served in the offshore waters of the Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) encourages BWN Veterans, dependents, and survivors to file a claim for disability compensation if they believe they are entitled. WAYS TO FILE A CLAIM Apply using the guidance at https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/
•    I am a Blue Water Navy Veteran who filed an herbicide exposure claim before, but was denied in the past and wants to file another claim now. DO NOTHING –Stayed BWN claims are now being decided
•    I am a Blue Water Navy Veteran who never filed an herbicide-related claim but wants to now. USE VA FORM 21-526EZ
•    I am a Blue Water Navy Veteran who filed an herbicide exposure claim or appeal prior to Jan. 1, 2020 and it was stayed (currently in system). USE VA FORM 20-0995

White House VA Hotline
855-948-2311
https://www.va.gov/ve/whvaHotline.asp

SWOG – promoting cancer clinical trial access for veterans
https://www.swog.org/news-events/news/2020/11/10/grants-help-va-centers-enroll-vets-trials

OTHER SUPPORT RESOURCES
The Colon Club
https://www.colonclub.com/ 

Cancer Support Community:
https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/

Cancer Care
https://www.cancercare.org/ 

Living With Cancer
https://www.thisislivingwithcancer.com/

Man Up to Cancer
www.manuptocancer.com

Paltown Second Opinion Project
https://paltown.org/second-opinion/

Triage Cancer (Legal Services)
https://triagecancer.org/

US Veterans Magazine
https://usveteransmagazine.com/view-latest-digital-magazine/

Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge
https://disabilitydischarge.com/

Suicide Crisis Line
800-273-8255, press 1 for Veterans

Semper Fi & Americas Fund
https://semperfifund.org/