THE
CAPITOL VETERAN........JULY,
2008.......Page 2
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VETERAN BENEFITS The VA has added Al
amyloidosis to the list of presumptive illnesses attributed to herbicide
exposure. Per the VA, Al amyloidosis is a group of disorders caused
by abnormal folding of proteins leading to fibril formation in one or more
body organs, systems or soft tissues. These clumps of protein are
called amyloid deposits and the accumulation of amyloid deposits causes the
progressive malfunction and eventual failure of the affected organ.
Normally, proteins are broken down at about the same rate as they are
produced, but these unusually stable amyloid deposits are deposited more
rapidly than they can be broken down. The accumulation may be
localized in one organ or may be systemic (AL) such that several organs are
affected. Since this is a "presumptive" disease, any Veteran exposed
to Agent Orange filing a claim for this disease should automatically
be considered for compensation. PTSD and EARLY DEATH FROM HEART DISEASE From Science Daily.......In a study published in the July issue o Psychosomatic Medicine, Geisinger Senior Investigator Joseph Boscarino, PhD, MPH examined the prevalence of heart disease, PTSD and other problems in more than 4,000 Vietnam Veterans. The more severe the PTSD diagnosis, the greater the likelihood of death from heart disease, the study showed. PTSD causes the body to release stress hormones, which leads to the inflammation and damage to the arteries and cardiovascular system damage. Stress hormones also tend to reduce the amount of inflammation-reducing cortisol in the body - though researchers aren't sure why. Dr. Boscarino previously found that people with PTSD had dramatically higher rates of chronic health problems such as psoriasis, arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. "The science is conclusively showing that if you suffer psychological trauma, it's going to take a toll on your physical health," Dr. Boscarino said, "Getting counseling today is critical to avoiding a related problem tomorrow." DO YOU HAVE A VA HOME LOAN? Senator Barbara Boxer informs us that the VA has financial counselors in nine regions that can help negotiate with lenders and help you save your home. Call the VA at 1-877-827-3702. |
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES FOR VETERANS AND MORE Finally for our younger Veterans, The Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008, the "HEART Act", was signed into law by President Bush. Actively pushed by Governor Schwarzenegger, the CA Department of Veterans Affairs and several CA legislators, this legislation makes veterans who entered active military duty after December 31, 1976 eligible to apply for Qualified Veterans Mortgage Bonds (QVMB) under the state's longstanding CalVet Home Loan Program. For information on how to apply for a CalVet Loan go to the CDVA website at: www.cdva.ca.gov/CalVetloans/Default.aspx. CA
LEGISLATION PASSED SO FAR ►SB1274 - Patriotic exercise and instruction. - Wyland
- Would require that, when pupils are instructed with regard to the words of
the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America as part
of these patriotic exercises, the instruction ensure that pupils understand
the concepts of "pledge", "allegiance," "republic," and "indivisible."
NEW VET CENTER FOR SACRAMENTO COUNTY MARK YOUR CALENDARS ►July 15, Tuesday - 7:00PM - Gen. Meeting -
Roseville Hall |