HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester has announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to begin processing disability benefits claims for veterans suffering from nine rare respiratory cancers as a result of their military service.
Tester is the Chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and says the announcement is a “huge victory for veterans living with conditions related to their military toxic exposures, who have been denied their due care and benefits for far too long.”
Tester added that “while there is still much to be done, I encourage every eligible veteran in need of this assistance to apply as soon as possible.”
The nine conditions are:
- squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx
- squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea
- adenocarcinoma of the trachea
- salivary gland-type tumors of the trachea
- adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung
- large cell carcinoma of the lung
- salivary gland-type tumors of the lung
- sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung
- typical and atypical carcinoid of the lung
To apply for benefits, veterans and survivors may visit VA.gov or call toll-free at 800-827-1000.
