What is the history of cancer treatment at the VA?
In 1930, the year the Veterans Administration (the predecessor to today's Department of Veterans Affairs) was established, the Hines, Illinois, VA hospital created a cancer treatment center, in which surgeons, radiologists, and specialists worked together to provide the latest treatments for cancer patients. Learn more.
How does the VA help veterans with cancer?
To help Veterans with cancer live better lives, we provide VA doctors with new tools. This helps doctors find the best drugs and doses for your needs. As a result, this may shorten your treatment time.
Can I get VA disability for cancer?
If you received a cancer diagnosis during or after active military service, you might qualify for VA disability benefits. To receive veterans (VA) disability for cancer, you must prove a connection between your diagnosed medical condition and an injury, illness, or event during your service.
Who is eligible for VA health care benefits?
Veterans Affairs (VA) health care benefits may be available to veterans who served in active military service and were released under any condition other than dishonorable. An application can be submitted no matter how long it has been since service.
Does the VA help with cancer treatment?
If you received a cancer diagnosis during or after active military service, you might qualify for VA disability benefits. To receive veterans (VA) disability for cancer, you must prove a connection between your diagnosed medical condition and an injury, illness, or event during your service.
Does the VA check for cancer?
VA recommends routine screenings for four cancers: lung, colon and rectal (colorectal), breast and cervical. Age and certain risk factors, such as a past or current history of smoking and family history, all determine when you qualify for a cancer screening.
Is cancer service connected?
Not all service-connected cancer is the result of a specific war or military operation. In many cases, contaminated groundwater on military bases has been linked to certain cancer diagnoses among former active-duty servicemembers.
What does the VA provide for veterans?
Elderly Veterans may be eligible for a wide-variety of benefits available to all U.S. military Veterans. VA benefits include disability compensation, pension, education and training, health care, home loans, insurance, Veteran Readiness and Employment, and burial.
Does VA pay for chemotherapy?
If you are service-connected for an active cancer, VA should automatically assign a 100 percent disability rating. This rating continues for as long as your cancer is active, and then for another six months following the successful completion of a treatment program, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery.
How much disability do you get for cancer?
You Could Be Entitled to $3,148 Per Month! Get a Free Disability Evaluation. Qualifying for disability benefits with cancer depends on the kind of cancer and the treatment. Certain cancers will qualify for benefits automatically while others can qualify if certain criteria are met.
What is the VA 55 year rule?
THE 55 YEARS OLD RULE - Applies to veterans over the age of 55. Specifically, it states that if you are 55 years old, then federal guidelines dictate that you should be exempt from reexamination, except in rare circumstances or by regulation.
Is cancer in remission considered a disability?
The Court held that under the 2009 amendments to the ADA, cancer in remission is considered a “disability” and employees in remission should be protected.
Can you claim disability for cancer?
In general, any cancer that is Stage IV or terminal will automatically qualify a person to receive disability benefits. A very serious cancer diagnosis qualifies for the Compassionate Allowance program, which expedites the claim for disability benefits to start receiving money quickly.
Do veterans get free healthcare for life?
You can get free VA health care for any illness or injury that we determine is related to your military service (called “service connected”). We also provide certain other services for free.
Will the VA pay for outside treatment?
VA can pay for emergency medical care outside the United States if the emergency is related to your service-connected condition.
Can you make too much money to get VA benefits?
If your health care eligibility is based on financial need, your family net worth (over $80,000) can prevent you from qualifying for VA health care. For more information, click here.
Prostate Cancer
The VA has partnered with PCF to provide educational information to Veterans with prostate cancer.
Participating Sites
NPOP provides VA facilities with genetic testing of specimens so Veterans can receive targeted treatment with the least side effects.
PHASER
A genetic testing program which helps match medicines and dose to help ease treatment times and side effects. Results are stored in Veterans charts.
Prostate Cancer
The VA has partnered with PCF to provide educational information to Veterans with prostate cancer.
Participating Sites
NPOP provides VA facilities with genetic testing of specimens so Veterans can receive targeted treatment with the least side effects.
What are the different types of cancer?
In all forms of cancer, cells in the body grow and multiply abnormally, eventually taking over and destroying normal tissue.#N#The main types of cancer are leukemias and lymphomas, involving the blood and related tissues; carcinomas, which occur in the skin, glands, and certain organs; and sarcomas, which involve muscles and connective tissue.#N#VA researchers have long been interested in the causes of cancers, in finding new treatments for different forms of cancer, and in evaluating existing treatments. In 1930, the year the Veterans Administration (the predecessor to today's Department of Veterans Affairs) was established, the Hines, Illinois, VA hospital created a cancer treatment center, in which surgeons, radiologists, and specialists worked together to provide the latest treatments for cancer patients. Learn more.
Can you reduce lung cancer risk from smoking?
But they cannot reduce the risk of developing lung cancer for people who smoke. Patients seem to be confused about the actual benefits and limitations of lung cancer screenings, according to a study by the VA Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care in Seattle.
What is cancer?
"Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body.
Prevention and screening
Getting recommended preventive services, such as screening tests and immunizations, is an important part of staying healthy. The preventive services that are recommended for you depends on your age, sex, health status and family history.
Cancer care treatment
If you’re diagnosed with cancer, our team will work with you to develop a specialized treatment plan. Our treatments include:
Resources for Veterans and families
We offer a number of services to support you and the Veteran you care for. Ask a caregiver support coordinator to help you find what you need, whether it's in-home help, someone to listen or anything in between. Ask your provider to place a VA Caregiver Consult.
What is the VA hotline for cancer patients?
The VA also maintains a caregiver hotline, at 855-260-3274, and website with more: www.caregiver.va.gov. Get Support. Oncology social workers are licensed professionals who counsel people affected by cancer. They can provide emotional support and help people access practical assistance.
How to contact VA health benefits?
Call 877-222-VETS (8387) or visit www.va.gov/healthbenefits for more information. Hospitals and clinics may offer charity care and sliding scale programs (fees based on income). Some hospitals are required to see patients who are uninsured.
How to contact DAV for transportation?
Locate the nearest VA Medical Center at www.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp. Fisher House Foundation. 888-294-8560.
Can veterans get health insurance if they are uninsured?
Uninsured Veterans With Cancer. Being diagnosed with cancer and not having health insurance can be stressful and emotionally difficult. Veterans Affairs (VA) health care benefits may be available to veterans who served in active military service and were released under any condition other than dishonorable.
Can veterans get free hearing aids?
Veterans who meet specific VA criteria have access to vision and hearing exams and free eyeglasses and hearing aids. Veterans with service-connected disabilities, former POWs, Purple Heart recipients, and certain housebound veterans are among those who can qualify.
How long does it take for a VA to evaluate a veteran's cancer?
Six months after cancer treatment ends , VA will schedule the veteran for a Compensation & Pension (C&P) examination to evaluate the current status of their condition. If the C&P examination shows that their cancer is no longer active, but in remission, VA will then evaluate the cancer based on its residuals, if any.
How long does cancer stay on VA disability?
This rating continues for as long as their cancer is active, and then for another six months following the successful completion of a treatment program (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery). Six months after cancer treatment ends, VA will schedule the veteran for a Compensation & Pension (C&P) examination to evaluate the current status of their condition. If the C&P examination shows that their cancer is no longer active, but in remission, VA will then evaluate the cancer based on its residuals, if any. For example, erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence are common residual symptoms of prostate cancer. If prostate cancer is no longer active, VA will likely reduce the disability rating for that condition and assign new ratings based on the severity of the veteran’s erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence if present.
What are occupational hazards for veterans?
Exposure to occupational hazards has less to do with where veterans served and more to do with what they were doing during service. If veterans are dealing with a certain type of cancer, it could be really helpful for them to look at their MOS and reflect on what they were exposed to while doing the tasks associated with the job. For example, perhaps a veteran was around different industrial solvents as they were often used in cleaning and degreasing, paint stripping, etc. Industrial solvents can be very dangerous because they contain chemicals, such as benzene, that are known to cause cancer. Therefore, if veterans used any dangerous chemicals during their daily routines, there is a chance that such exposure could have contributed to their development of cancer later on in life. Veterans should apply for service connection for cancer due to occupational hazards on a direct basis.
What is the VA disability rating?
When the VA approves you for disability benefits, it assigns you a disability rating. This rating is between 0 and 100 percent. The severity of your condition, as judged by the VA, determines your disability rating.
How much is VA disability in 2020?
As of December 1st, 2020 the VA disability rate benefit amounts are as follows: 0 percent disability rating: $0.00 per month.
How long does it take for a VA to evaluate a cancer diagnosis?
Six months after your cancer treatment ends , the VA requires you to undergo another examination to evaluate the current status of your diagnosis. It then assigns you a new rating based on the results of the exam.
Can veterans apply for service connection?
In many cases veterans will apply for service connection on a direct basis, meaning they must prove the following: (1) a current diagnosis of cancer; (2) an in-service event, injury, or illness; and (3) a medical nexus linking the cancer diagnosis to the in-service occurrence. However, veterans may also be eligible for service connection ...
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- As Veterans are diagnosed, VA physicians will take a specimen of their tumor and send it to qualified laboratories for targeted genomic sequencing, a process that determines the DNA sequence of genes that are considered important in lung cancer. Detecting flat growthsA 2008 s…
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