Immediate Release, September 10, 2003<title/> </head> <body bgcolor="#FCFBEB"> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="0" width="100%" height="110"> <tr> <td width="100%" colspan="2" height="31"> <p align="center"><img border="0" src="LogoSmYbkg.JPG" width="95" height="101"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" colspan="2" height="31"> <p align="center"> <font color="#800000" size="5"><b>IMMEDIATE RELEASE </b></font><br> <font color="#000080"><b>September 10, 2003</b></font> </td> </tr> </center> <tr> <td width="100%" colspan="2" height="50"> <br> <b><font color="#800000" size="2"> CONTACT</font><font color="#000080" size="2">: Mary Ellen McCarthy at 202-225-9756 </font><font color="#000080" size="2"> <br> <br> http://veterans.house.gov<br> <br> </font><font color="#800000" size="2">HOUSE VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE</font><font color="#000080" size="2"> <br> <br> </font><font color="#000080" size="2"> Evans Opposes Proposal to Drastically Limit Eligibility for Veterans' Service-connected Compensation Benefits<br> <br> Washington, DC - Rep. Lane Evans of Illinois, the Ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, today reacted strongly to Administration suggestions that dramatic limitations be placed on the ability of veterans to qualify for service-connected compensation benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.<br> <br> According to press reports, the Bush Administration is recommending drastic restrictions which would require veterans to prove that their disabilities were incurred or aggravated during performance of official military duties in order to be compensated. Evans called the suggestion "an insult to the men and women who are putting their lives on the line in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout the world."<br> <br> The recommendations appear to be under consideration by the Administration in response to veterans' demands for repeal of the tax on disabled military retirees. Disabled military retirees are required to give up one dollar of military retirement pay for each dollar of VA compensation they receive.<br> <br> Under current law, servicemembers who are subject to military orders 24 hours a day, seven days a week qualify for service-connected compensation benefits if they have a disability which was incurred during or aggravated by military service. For example, veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam or in other areas qualify for payments if they develop a disease which is scientifically associated with exposure to Agent Orange. It has taken decades for the scientific evidence to progress to the point where these veterans can qualify for compensation.<br> <br> "If veterans were required to prove that their disability is related to their performance of official military duties, all veterans could be expected to undergo the delays and denials experienced by atomic veterans, Vietnam veterans and those suffering from mysterious illnesses associated with service in the Persian Gulf," said Evans. "Veterans are especially angry that these proposals are being made at a time when the young men and women in the military are serving in harm's way, and rightfully so," said Evans.<br> <br> Under current law, veterans have the "benefit of the doubt" when there is evidence that the disability could be due to military service or to some other cause. In baseball parlance, it is said that the benefit of the doubt rule provides that "the tie goes to the runner." Evans noted that under the limitations being suggested, "only a home run would count."<br> <br> Evans said he would oppose any move to restrict the disability criteria in order to pay for the cost of repealing the disabled veterans' tax.<br> <br> "It is absolutely astounding that this Administration would attempt to take benefits away from disabled veterans in order to appear that they are helping other disabled veterans," said Evans. </font><font color="#000080" size="2"> <br> </font></b> </td> </tr> <center> <tr> <td width="50%" height="17"> <p align="center"><font size="2"><a style="color: #800000; font-weight: bold" href="http://www.hcvc.org">TO HCVC HOME PAGE</a></font></td> <td width="50%" height="17"> <p align="center"><font size="2"><a style="color: #800000; font-weight: bold" href="archives/archives.htm">TO ARCHIVES</a></font></td> </tr> </table> </center> </div> </body> </html>