Workers' Compensation Law Blog | Turley Redmond Rosasco & Rosasco, L.L.P.

Sen. Chuck Schumer Pushing to Expand VA Benefits to More Agent Orange-linked Diseases

Thursday, July 9, 2020

Sen. Chuck Schumer has claimed “broad bipartisan support” for his plan to extend Veterans Affairs disability benefits to more Agent Orange-linked diseases. On Tuesday, July 6th, he stated that he would be including the new coverage as an amendment to the annual defense spending bill that is working its way through Congress. “We’re here to unveil a national plan. We’re about to win this fight,” Schumer said. “The plan … will expand the list of diseases, will provide relief for tens of thousands of veterans” nationwide. Though fourteen illnesses related to the use of toxic herbicides in the Vietnam War […]

Senator Tillis Pleads for Congressional Action To Protect Troops From Toxic Conditions

Thursday, July 2, 2020

North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis spoke last week on the dangers of burn puts at military sites, specifically sites designed for the open-air combustion of waste. In a discussion with the Washington Post, Tillis advocated for further attention and support when it comes to veterans who have been exposed to toxic conditions. In a comparison to Vietnam, Tillis noted that it took decades to get support for those veterans, a problem that he says is unaffordable in the case of the more recent wars. As a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee himself, Tillis argued for the collaboration of […]

Veterans Denied Benefits After Missing VA Exams Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

Monday, June 29, 2020

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck the nation in March, the VA was still instructing veterans to report to mandatory physical exams when in many cases, this would have put them at risk as the coronavirus crisis worsened in cities across the United States. It was not until April 3rd that the VA ordered in-person benefits exams be cancelled due to health risks because of the pandemic. At that time, the VA website stated that “We won’t deny a claim solely for failure to report for an exam at this time,” a claim that was not upheld in the months that […]

New Reports of Gulf War Illnesses Persisting for 25 Years in Female Veterans

Friday, June 12, 2020

It has been approximately 29 years since the Gulf War concluded in February of 1991. The Journal of Women’s Health recently published a study noting the impact this has had on female veterans. According to the study, female combat veterans who were deployed during the conflict have nearly double the risk of reporting more than twenty symptoms when compared to female veterans that were not deployed. Returning troops from the Gulf War displayed a range of symptoms from headaches and fatigue to musculoskeletal pain and skin ailments according to Dr. Steven S Coughlin, interim chief of the Division of Epidemiology […]

COVID–19 Pandemic Causes VA Benefits Backlog to Spike

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

In recent weeks, the VA has been seeing a spike in the backlog for initial claims by veterans amid the pandemic. Up until recently, the backlog had held steady even with the 100% telework posture of the Veterans Benefit Administration. Claims that officially count as backlogged are those that have yet to be addressed for 125 days or longer. After these claims held steady at 70,000, the number has recently crept over 100,000 claims according to data released last week. Prior to the pandemic, the steady state of claims represented a victory for those at the agency. Bill Oxford, national […]

COVID-19 In The Workplace II

Thursday, May 21, 2020

The Covid-19 Virus has presented an extraordinary challenge for the working people of New York. Especially hard hit are those who provide essential services; healthcare workers, transportation workers, retail grocery workers, couriers and emergency service personnel, just to name a few, If you believe that you have contracted the COVID-19 virus at work or as a result of your work activity, you may be entitled to lost wage benefits and full medical care for your illness. There are three important steps you must follow to be considered for these valuable benefits. SEEK MEDICAL CARE IMMEDIATELY at a hospital emergency room, […]

Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry Reaches Participation Milestone, Over 200,000 Members

Thursday, May 14, 2020

In June of 2014, a registry was established by the VA for those affected by toxic exposure. It allows for current and former service members to self-report toxic exposures and health concerns via an online questionnaire. The purpose is to provide a resource that can be used to help discuss health issues with doctors and providers. As of May 5th, more that 204,000 veterans and service members have signed up which is an extraordinary feat according to the VA. VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said that “Concerns about the long-term effects of exposure to burn pits remain a priority. By joining […]

COVID-19 at the Workplace

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

The COVID-19 Pandemic has placed an extraordinary burden on all New Yorkers. Especially hard hit are those who provide essential services; healthcare workers, EMT’s, police officers, firefighters, retail grocery workers, transportation workers and all those who come in contact with the general public. By the very nature of their employment, these workers encounter a high risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus. They should not be subjected to barriers to wage replacement or vital medical services provided by the New York State Workers’ Compensation Law if they become sick and unable to work. At Turley, Redmond, Rosasco and Rosasco, we wholeheartedly support adding new language to the Workers’ Compensation Law which would protect […]

Trump Promises VA Extension of Benefits Deadlines and Postponed Debt Collections

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to shape the day to day life of every American, one group in particular might be feeling the biggest impact, veterans. Veterans are some of the most vulnerable among U.S. citizens because of their age and underlying health conditions argued senators Jerry Moran and Jon Tester as they urged Robert Wilkie, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to extend deadlines for disability benefits and postpone debt collections. Veterans should not be leaving their homes to receive help with complex benefits paperwork argued the Senators during recommendations that all deadlines be delayed by 180 days. Fortunately for […]

Competent Representation for Veterans Benefits Ended Abruptly By the VA

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

For decades, service representatives across the country such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars have been fighting for fair benefits for veterans. The Veterans of Foreign Wars employs over 300 representatives across the country that review benefits decisions for accuracy before the decisions are finalized and passed along to veterans. Last week, Paul Lawrence, the VA undersecretary of benefits, announced that these reviews would no longer happen, effective by the end of April. Understandably, the decision sparked a wave of protest by veterans’ representative groups. Ryan Gallucci, a director at the VFW’s office in Washington, stated that “this is a […]

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Sen. Chuck Schumer Pushing to Expand VA Benefits to More Agent Orange-linked Diseases

Senator Tillis Pleads for Congressional Action To Protect Troops From Toxic Conditions

Veterans Denied Benefits After Missing VA Exams Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

New Reports of Gulf War Illnesses Persisting for 25 Years in Female Veterans

COVID–19 Pandemic Causes VA Benefits Backlog to Spike

COVID-19 In The Workplace II

Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry Reaches Participation Milestone, Over 200,000 Members

COVID-19 at the Workplace

Trump Promises VA Extension of Benefits Deadlines and Postponed Debt Collections

Competent Representation for Veterans Benefits Ended Abruptly By the VA

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