WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, held an oversight hearing today on the existing VA process for presuming service-connection for veterans’ disabilities.  Looking beyond the recent expansion of Agent Orange-related presumptions, witnesses and committee members discussed potential improvements to the process to be used in connection with possible exposures to future generations. 

“By granting ‘presumptions,’ VA creates a blanket assumption of service-connection for a group of veterans, bypassing the standard process for disability claims.  The process Congress set in place for Agent Orange presumptions serves as a precedent for Gulf War Illness.  We have a responsibility to set up an appropriate process for potential toxic exposures from Iraq, Afghanistan, and on military bases where there may be environmental hazards.  It is critical that the process for establishing presumptive disabilities is sound, science-based, and transparent,” said Akaka.

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The Committee’s witnesses included Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and former-Secretary Anthony Principi, as well as medical and scientific experts. 

More information about the hearing including statements, testimony and the webcast is available here: veterans.senate.gov

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September 23, 2010