What Are the Retroactive Benefits for CLL?

The Department of Veterans Affairs has long established the ongoing examinations concerning the types of diseases contracted from certain herbicides used during wars. The illnesses have included Parkinson's disease, hairy cell leukemia, chronic B cell leukemias and Ischemic heart disease. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia has also been associated with Vietnam veterans and, after intense study and consideration, people with such a disease have since become eligible for retroactive payments.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is one of the four major types of leukemia. The disease has a slow progression rate that develops an excessive number of white blood cells. People with worsening CLL will show symptoms of weight loss, fatigue, shortness of breath and frequent infections. Treatment of CLL depends upon the time of diagnosis and the disease's progression. Chance of recovery is based on the patient's age, current health and which phase of the disease the patient is in.

Medical Findings

• From studies conducted by the Institute of Medicine Committee, exposure to herbicides similar to Agent Orange or components of it have a heightened risk of having CLL. Out of the 3.1 million Vietnam veterans who served in Southeast Asia, 560 new cases have been reported per year. CLL is more likely to occur in persons the age of 50. Hairy cell leukemia, a chronic B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, has been classified as a rare form of CLL.

Retroactive Benefits

• The IOM committee has concluded there is sufficient evidence that CLL is associated with Agent Orange and veterans must be paid benefits. Retroactive benefits occur from the date prior to when the Department of Veterans Affairs received the claim and will be paid to the veteran or to the surviving spouse, parents or child if the veteran is deceased. Veterans Benefits Administration benefit costs will amount to $3.4 billion. 86,069 Vietnam beneficiaries will be eligible to receive retroactive payments for CLL and any new presumptive conditions. Each individual's benefits will be based upon a percentage that factors the severity of injury the veteran received between 10 percent to 100 percent, whether the veteran is married, deceased and if the individual has any children. Other benefits the veteran might be receiving could supersede the amount of retroactive benefits the individual could get.