From: "\"Doc\" Bruce K. Melson" <docmelson@docmelson.com>
X-RCPT-TO: <Will@willpete.com>
Tuesday August
7 4:34 PM ET
WASHINGTON (AP) - Thousands of veterans exposed to
cancer-causing radiation during atomic tests conducted decades ago could find
it easier to get compensation under a new regulation aimed at giving them the
same treatment as civilians.
The Department of Veterans Affairs
(news
-
web sites) is to publish Wednesday in the Federal Register a proposed rule
covering vets who were stricken with cancers of the lungs, colon, bone, ovary,
and brain and central nervous system and who were present at certain atomic
bomb exercises, served at Hiroshima and Nagasaki during post-World War II
occupation in Japan or were prisoners of war in Japan.
So-called 'atomic vets' already
receive compensation for 16 types of cancer, including leukemia, thyroid,
breast, stomach, liver and esophagus.
The new regulation adds the five
new diseases and expands places they may have been exposed to make their
benefits comparable to what civilians have been receiving since last summer,
said Veterans affairs spokesman Jim Benson.
The five illnesses are being added
to veteran affair's so-called presumptive list - meaning if a veteran is found
to have the disease and the veteran served in those locations, it is presumed
the illness is related to service time.
``It's a perfect example of
justice denied way too long,'' said Sen. Paul Wellstone, a Minnesota Democrat
who pushed to extend the benefits.
Officials expect to receive some
92,000 claims from surviving vets and 48,000 from dependents. They have
estimated the cost of the program over 10 years at $769 million.
Last year, Congress made it easier
for more civilian employees to get payments from exposure in Nevada, Utah,
Arizona, Tennessee, Alaska and other sites. The proposed regulation would
extend that to veterans.
Publishing the regulation opens a
60-day comment period after which officials could incorporate comments or
amend the rule. It is then subject to another 90-day comment period before
becoming final.
"When the
way comes to an end, then change - having changed, you pass through."
I. Ching
Bruce "Doc". Melson