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Military disability payments are well deserved. There is a massive glut at the moment because Burn Pit veterans are retiring, and the burn pits caused all kinds of issues, for me as well. And we have no idea what it WILL do to us when we are older. Cont…

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Its our generations agent orange, or gulf war syndrome. And there will be a cost, because instead of incinerators, the military just burned everything in an open pit. And we pay a price. So our benefits are not “generous.” They’re in a way, earned through damage.

Except for heart problems related to my time in Vietnam it took till my 70s before burning of sh*t and the poisons we were exposed to caught up with me. I thought I was lucky because during the day when the burning was being done I was out in the field walking thru heavily defoliated wood lines.

Your concerns about you later years are very valid. Please do whatever you can to keep yourself in the best possible health and pray that the new administration does not end the the current entitlements for many who gave so much only to learn years later that they really gave much more.

I teach high school (in your district btw 👋🏼) and military recruiting used to be a thing in the 90s and since 9/11 dwindled to almost nothing now. Why? Why no recruiting efforts anymore?? money?

We don’t see Veterans buying yachts or, that’s right, Presidents. They are trying to make ends meet and get the healthcare they deserve for the toxic exposures they were subjected to in service.

I have friends that served and died from agent orange. It was a slow death. I'm sure it isn't any different than the burn-pit sickness. You deserve the benefits. I just wonder what will happen when the FG gets to be POTUS? I'm pretty sure I know, but hope he proves me wrong. (Not meant to be funny).

Gulf War *Illness* please. It stopped being a syndrome when researchers started figuring out what toxic exposures caused it and identified a myriad of downstream effects on the body, none of them good.

I will never forget when I was in Iraq, a soldier was burning waste, and got caught on fire. He was using a can of fluid, when he squeezed it into the fire, the fire climbed right up that stream, and set him on fire. I can still hear his screaming, and I can't get that picture out of my head.

Of course they are earned and well deserved. This is a clear example of Republicans attempting to condition us with their planned erosion of veterans' benefits in order to subsidize billionaires through tax cuts. It's fucking obscene. The banality of evil.

We have to document extensively service connection. Are their some that abuse it, maybe pretending to have PTSD but don’t? Ya. But they are the exception not the rule, and they have to look in the mirror. Don’t make everyone wear a diaper because a few crapped their pants./

My dad had to fight almost 20 years to get 100% for Agent Orange illnesses after 2 tours in country. They first acknowledged 50%, then 75. His letter saying his problems were directly related to AO and he was 100% disabled came about 14 mos after he died of metastatic liver cancer. Shameful.

I work at a VA Medical Center in a non-healthcare role. I love my job because I love our vets because of what they chose to do for our country. They're Americans. They signed up for and served us. None I've met are faking anything. They deserve everything we as a wealthy nation can do for them

Father was WWII POW. Issues related to his time serving finally were acknowledged by VA in the late 1980's and he was able to get the treatment he needed (and deserved) and lived another 30 happy years to age 96. Those men and women who have served honorably since WWII deserve nothing less.

Husband is a PT at a VA for 25 yrs. The burn pits only scratch the surface. What about the huge # of compression injuries? There are a lot of soldiers up to 2 inches shorter than before the Gulf, causes serious mobility issues. He has had his job threatened for highlighting the problem.

My son-in-law has severe PTSD & is undergoing extensive therapy for nightmares, anxiety, visions, and mood changes. He also has back pain and chronic sinus trouble from burn pit exposure. Disability pay can never replace his health that he sacrificed for his country! My daughter (wife) also suffers.

My son in law has service connected glioblastoma (brain cancer). In the last 18 months; 3 brain surgeries, radiation, multiple rounds of chemo, 2 trials and he feels this is his last Christmas w/ his wife and small kids. It's beyond cruel to threaten his disability, healthcare and survivor benefits.

Here is the kicker. Even with multiple favorable evaluations and medical research backing up a service connected event, many veterans have to fight for YEARS. It’s a battle of attrition, and they hope you will give up and go away. It’s a broken system and it needs help. We need more compassion.

The entire disability system needs to be restructured from the bottom up. Because you're right, one or two abuses to the system doesn't justify the dehumanizing process one has to go through just to get denied anyway. I can't even walk most days, but they still say my disease doesn't even exist.

Long list of family that served, many without any claims just because it wasn’t in their nature to do anything but suffer in silence. If you did serve and voted for the bone spur spankmonkey, congrats, you played yourself.

Same problem in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re still having Vets fighting against the Ministry Of Defence because of disabilities caused by Nuclear Testing in the 60’s. Our Govt won’t recognise GWS and I fought for 5yrs for my disability pension purely because they could refuse. Vets deserve better.

My son is 100% disabled after 18 yrs in the Army. He was injured in Iraq when the war began and will never be the same again. He was also exposed to chemicals there and his lungs are shot. He's like an 80 yr old man~ They touch the VA or his disability they're in for it

I am liking you more and more and more. I’m glad you’re who you are. All of who you are and I’m glad that we are a we and not a them or other. Respect great respect for you.

I agree. My husband is a Vietnam Veteran who receives a small disability benefit. It is a arduous process. A friend encouraged him throughout the 18 mo. process of paperwork & medical tests. The VA approved a service related disability for his hearing loss, but not for his cancer. 1)

Our friend encouraged him to hire an attorney to continue a claim for his cancer, but my husband decided not to do so. My husband is similar to many veterans. They do not casually apply disability claims unlike mega-wealthy ind. & business lobbying for tax cuts to boost their investors wealth.

It’s repulsive how many people claim to “support our troops”, “thank them for their service”, but if they are hurt or damaged by that service, immediately assume that the military is filled w/ grifters & losers who whine and deserve no support for their “imaginary” illnesses. It turns my stomach.

Mine, too. If they only could comprehend what they go through their attitude would change. Only 1% of our population serves. Even with the draft they simply miss the sheer destruction of health and wellness.

George Washington once said: “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.”

Current state of the Army is it can't even feed its soldiers on installations here in the United States. Where are the benefits to service at this point? Where is the pride? I was active when Trump was President the first time and it was embarrassing having to explain to other countries military.

I mean, I certainly would not recommend military service to anyone at this point. Fascist Commander in Chief, White Supremacist SecDef, gutting VA healthcare benefits, deployment orders to the middle east are picking up. Colleges under attack so GI Bill does what?

Those who give their service to their country require no justification for any and all benefits received. Period. Btw Adam, it’s “there” not “their” - just a minor quibble ❤️

My dad suffered great health effects due to agent orange exposure. He had to jump through extensive hoops to get the money he had earned from serving his country. He has passed away, but I am terrified for the people who have to deal with this system under another Trump administration.

One of the saddest days I ever had as a district caseworker was helping a Vietnam vet exposed to Agent Orange get VA benefits in the early 2000s. By the time I called his wife to tell her of the eventual award, she said he just died. I still cry about him to this day.

Our veterans deserve much better from the government that sent them to war. Meanwhile, draft-dodger trump, who called our war dead ‘suckers & losers,’ has been elected to the presidency

My husband is in the Agent Orange group. It took him years to submit the paperwork for disabilities, because there is very detailed documentation/verification and multiple appointments with different doctors reverifying all the information needed. It's not that easy to "fake" your way through.

Funny you mention crapping of pants… gastrointestinal unpleasantness is one of my husband’s burn pit issues (but not one that has been approved for disability, unlike the cardiac issues and breathing problems). Service-related disability is hard earned and deserved.

Having 3 post 9/11 Vet sons, this is a medical issues for all of them. The other concern is TBIs are not fully known or accepted. I can see the changes in my sons bc of TBIs that are untreated

Democracy isn’t perfect but you don’t throw the good out because of the occasional bad. Sometimes you have to grit your teeth because people abuse decency. Worthy veterans can never be abandoned.

REPUBLICANS have always used the few exceptions to justify cruelty. They did it to justify Dodd. THAT INCLUDES YOU & LIZ. Now they’re attacking your healthcare, different, Right? What if we say…you should have taken precautions, you shouldn’t have been near the pits. Your health, our choice, Right?

like SNAP. Overwhelmingly good programs that, as always, have some (very few) bad actors. You can tell it's a good program when the abusers are cherry picked. Because the actual macro-level statistics tell a different story - the truth.

I served in the Marine Corps Reserve & Active Duty Air Force. Desert Storm/Desert Shield. I’ve had several Comp & Pen exams where they tried to deny me. I needed nexus letters, military medical records & multiple MRI’s to prove my cases. Sometimes I wish I had gone to college & not served. Hassle.

I think there is more undiagnosed PTSD than those who fake it. As kids, my bro and I knew not to jump on dad’s lap if he was napping in his recliner while sitting upright, it legit scared/startled him, but flat in bed snoring he just bear hugged. He served 3 tours in Vietnam and was never diagnosed.

My father is a disabled vet and 2 time purple heart recipient. He told me he's scared because he survives on VA disability comp and social security. He shouldn't have to be scared. It's tragic. This country turned on him when he came home from 'Nam and it's repeating. Simply atrocious

Agree. Some like my father, died bc of glioblastoma (brain cancer) due to exposure from open pits. I hope every single vet gets every dollar & every ounce of support needed so they can grow old & enjoy their grandkids…unlike my dad. 💔 Miss him every damn day. #burnpits #pactact

You should get in contact with the IAFF(International Association of Firefighters) they have extensive experience in getting coverage for cancers due to exposure to inhalation and skin contact with burning carcinogens.

My father served in Korea and suffered a lifetime of mental distress caused by untreated PTSD, which in turn caused health issues. He finally recieveced disability in his 60s. Which meant he could grow old and die with dignity because all his healthcare needs were met. Grateful for the VA.

The problem w/any organization that provides health insurance is that when you’re chronically ill you quickly realize that it is in the best interest of the insurer that you either die or are restored to full health in short order. Very few are restored to good health w/o repercussions for future.

Where were you in using welfare fraud as a reason to gut welfare? If the GOPs answer to that one person who may be abusing welfare is gutting welfare, why shouldn't that answer be used to address veterans benefits fraud? I don't think either program should be gutted because some fraud.

I'm a disabled vet. Do whatever it takes to protect us. I'm not going to answer the bell, but I'm depending on you and a few others in Congress to keep the lion at bay. You know that jerk is coming for you. Do whatever it takes, Adam. The rules have been suspended.

Adam, this makes me so sad. People in the military aren’t “suckers and losers”. General Mattis and his family deserve respect. I can only imagine the embarrassment and anger he must have felt. I would have choked Trump out right there. I admire his restraint. #TrumpIsAFacist

This is exactly right, but then should we also apply the same thought process to “illegal” immigrants and welfare recipients? Most are just trying to get on their feet, yet many republicans assume they are just milking the system. Freeloaders are a necessary consequence of adequate social safety.

If you’ve been injured while on active duty/reserve duty/ duty in service to this country, you have earned whatever the benefit that comes with it. The ones who have never served, never understand. They need to quite shit talking our service members!

Sadly all systems are abused by a few selfish individuals to the cost of those most deserving. We have an obligation to compensate all those that gave so much for the safety and freedoms of us all. I struggle to believe the mag(g)ats are so willing to throw it all away. Thank you for your service.💙

As a milspouse I'm biased, but even from a fiscal responsibility perspective - only 1% of the population volunteers to serve. It's ridiculous they're coming after veteran benefits - all in the name of tax cuts for the corporations.

My sperm donor 'father' likes to pretend he's a veteran. Wears the hats and lies through his teeth about what he did. 😡 The worst part is the whole town thinks he's jeebus. Happy to call him out - David Allen Vogelbacher

To this point, are there others who are deserving who don’t have the wherewithal to navigate the bureaucracy/ don’t know to ask, were refused due to technicalities? Also yes. Just accessing benefits requires work.

My outrage at the disconnect between bragging about the best military in the world and actually caring about the individuals who comprise said best military in the world is beyond measure. Small compensation, but my sincere gratitude.

It is incredibly hard to abuse too. The military does deny some requests. They denied my dad for several things (it can be difficult to apply, there is help with applying but folks gotta go get it at the county VA).

As a disabled Army veteran, the amount of "fuck you"s I have for Republicans these days is unreal. They only care about helping their rich friends and lobbying groups. They could care less about veterans. They can all just fuck off.

See. That’s the thing about all govt social programs like welfare, snap, earned benefits, VA benefits, etc. Yes a few people find ways to defraud them but it’s a small risk and very small percentage compared to the massive benefit to millions of people. And it’s always an investment in the long run.

Because these programs help people reach better heights and health thereby contributing to society in a better way than they could without it. We should expand them and fund them. Most times the money goes unspent. And if we hired people to root out the fraud in real ways, shoot our debt would be 📉

OIF/OEF Combat vet with 100% T&P on my first filing. I know too many vets who refuse to file because they feel others were hurt more. I know fewer that played tricks to inflate their filing, like the ED claim. Even fewer have 100% T&P.

I don't know? Have a nephew eight years in he made captain, he injured knee some hearing loss one ear. Engineer functions normally makes 150k as project engineer supervisor. Gets four thousand a month in disability. Seems a bit excessive to me.🤔

When did GOP come to think so little of their constituents? Why? To the specific issue of Afghan & Iraq veterans, I think there is a great argument for greatest generation of soldiers for all volunteer forces who joined up even though they knew the gov’t lied about the reason for war.

What is really sad is I know a bunch of disabled veterans that voted for Trump. But because of our relationships being in a clinical setting - I could not talk about politics. Even though I cringed every time I heard one talk about him. 😢

Many service personal have witnessed traumatic events and don't get PTSD. The seeds of PTSD can begin in childhood complex or single traumatic event. Service can exacerbate a condition and service personnel may have symptoms 10-20+ years later after sig event, divorce, death of a loved one, job loss

Got a 100% service connected, wheelchair bound spouse in the VA tonight, worried sick about losing pension, healthcare and home. Joe made big strides for homeless vets. Orangina is going to create homeless vets.

It is extremely time-consuming and resource-intensive to ensure that every cut of meat is 100% fat-free. Practical alternatives include cutting off some of the meat to ensure all the fat is gone or leaving some of the fat to ensure no meat is wasted. Hope the analogy is apparent to all.

Australia had a Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. ‘… we have the deepest respect for every Australian who wears our nation’s uniform and serves selflessly to keep us safe. Now we will work tirelessly to improve the system and keep them safe too.’ PM Anthony Albanese.

No I don't doubt a lot of veterans have PTSD but my issue is, is it bad enough to be a disability. The VA are being floods with these veterans. They need to have restrictions on who qualifies for disability payments.

Various rating levels and payments are determined in increments of 10, from 0% to 100%. Some may have a 10% or 20% rating, while others have 100%. Most, at 70% to 100%, are unable to work. But.... Many Veterans can work at the lower levels. Don't doubt; try to understand the system instead.

That's typically the right's (sorry to paint with a broad brush) tactic - find the exception, and then paint it as if it's everyone. e.g. "Welfare Queens" It's truly unfortunate.

I’m a criminal defense attorney (and a prosecutor for 20 years). The courts are finally recognizing that veterans’ addictions are a symptom, not the underlying cause. Veterans’ courts are becoming more and more common. We treat them with respect and don’t kick them while they’re down.

I’m 100% service connected for PTSD, Depression, and anxiety. I don’t know how anyone can “fake” PTSD and get awarded benefits. I had to go through three different C&P Exams. The process has gotten better, but still very difficult. I don’t know haw anyone can pretend and get past the exams.

While you're at it, could you look into increasing widows' benefits, too? My mom doesn't even get half of what my dad got as a 100% SCD veteran. Right before he died, they were about to increase his benefits due to re-classification from paraplegic to quadriplegic because his MS was so bad.

The same can be said for welfare recipients. Yet, they are all demonized for the few who know how to "work" the system. The name "Welfare Queens" was started by Republicans. The Democratic way is to help each other. In all ways.

This can be said of the objections to most government programs - welfare? No because welfare queens are taking advantage. It’s a tactic to point out the imperfections in the system which are inevitable, to avoid doing real good for people. Help veterans, accept a few jerks to help the masses.

Fellow burn pitter & retiree: glad you admitted there is a touch of human fraud in some instances. Wished I had a cameraman following one turd. I’m unconvinced that in some cases simple aging justifies disability: routine hysterectomy, but not vasectomy, reduced vision, etc. Keep up the great work.

I completely agree. My husband gets disability benefits, not for PTSD, but for other physical things. His NAVY job ruined his body with back, knee, and wrist problems. He was an electrician.

I am certainly in favor of supporting disabled veterans, but I am generally in favor of our country supporting all truly disabled people in our country. Are you also in favor of supporting all truly disabled people in America with proper healthcare and an ability to survive properly?

But you haven’t suffered the pain and trauma CONald Trump went through in the venereal disease wars of the seventies. Walk a mile in his shoes while hobbled by painful bone spurs He deserves a Presidential Medal of Freedom for sure. His orange majesties service trumps your service every time

Thank you for your service, Adam. Healthcare coverage for our vets is earned and shouldn't be a second thought. Our USMC family knows this firsthand, and we expect that you - and all of our vets - will receive continued coverage. If not, there's gonna be a rumble.

There are many of us that forgo a disability rating because we are ok, I guess. I have a good life, great career and a disability payment is for someone who truly needs it.

Adam, as a retired vet I appreciate this post and everything you've done to stand up for what's right. No one joins the military so they can get a check from the VA. Proving a disability requires documentation, doctor exams, and reviews. Vets that get disability benefits have earned it.

America has failed our veterans so badly and as a citizen I am deeply ashamed and so very sorry 😢 I want Thank each and every Veteran for your service . You are my pride in America. The only pride I have left in this country 🫡🫡🥰💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

More than “in a way” earned, the documentation required to support claims of service connection is extensive. I absolutely earned my 100%P&T. When this crowd repeals ACA and VHA, they’ll give us a voucher for private insurance, and our documentation will prove “pre-existing conditions” not covered.

Gulf War Syndrome and Burn pits are intertwined. We signed the dotted line for the guarantee we would be compensated for our bodily depreciation. Nobody is the same as before they answered their nation’s call.

Nah dude. They are earned. Full stop. No additional qualifiers needed. This shouldn’t even be controversial. These folks served their country, did what was asked, and I expect the government to live up to their side of the contract.

I agree with you. Besides a few large pits, there were at least 5-8 barrels of continuous fire burning near my work and sleep area. I had to smell them walking to chow, work and everywhere else. Soldiers threw everything in there. It was toxic for sure

There was no Gulf War Syndrome. A letter from the VA told me. Words to the effect. There is no Gulf War Syndrome, but tell us what you think you have. Not the exact words but close. I first took oath on Dec 1970, retired 2004. Vets are America's Whores . Use us until not needed.

EXACTLY! I was in great shape at the age of 18 when I joined the USAF. After 21 years of serving - I was medically discharged; they basically broke me. War isn’t cheap! I understand about 5-10% might have gotten in and are abusing it. The remaining earned it one way or another.

It’s awful how the military ignored the side effects & how many died before admitting there were issues w soldiers doing the burning & stationed near the burn pits. The fact the DOGE douches think vets don’t deserve these benefits is craven beyond belief.

I’m Desert Storm (Gulf War.) Two tours in Iraq ‘06-07 then again ‘08-‘09. Eastern Afghanistan ‘10-‘11. Four tours of smoke, fuel, bombs, fire, depleted uranium, chemicals. I don’t feel good. Headache, breathing troubles, aches and pain. I know what you mean.

Let’s layer in the fact that active duty generally are not well paid compared to their civilian counterparts, either. There are exceptions and it’s better for officers and folks with longer careers. But it’s not like these folks have a a hidden stash to pay all these post-military medical expenses.

Its total bullshit that private companies, like the Gary Sinese Foundation or Nine Line have to be set up to take care of our Veterans because our government did not. I get pissed every time i see a Nine Line sticker on the back of a truck because I’m reminded how our politicians failed us.

My dad was a Navy fighter pilot who was nearly killed in a crash, which left him with lifelong disabilities. My son is a Purple Heart combat veteran who's near retirement. I too am a vet with disabilities. They can GTFO with the sniveling about generous benefits. Thanks for your support.

There's a lot of interest within my Division (NIH). We would love to get your support for some of the research that it will take to really determine what sort of effects we might see from burn pits. This is my personal account but will send my work info via DM if you're open to a conversation.

I'm the wife of a Navy Vet, and several of my friends and family were in the military. Veterans deserve so much more than they get, considering they sign the dotted line to serve the US and can pay a very high price for doing so; mentally and physically. Thank you for your service.

Not only are they not generous, they are not even close to what is owed for the damage(often permanent) done to servicemen while serving their enlistment. Thank you for making this thread. This isn't talked about enough.

In my view, anyone who serves honorably in the military deserves peace of mind knowing that both they & their families will be take care of if they are injured or killed. It is a debt of gratitude the country owes them. Period. We certainly shouldn’t cut benefits to give tax cuts to rich asshats.

For 15 yrs I worked in Ch 31 for veterans at VA. I know what you say is true. I not only gave rehab counseling but MH counseling. I was appalled at how so many veterans had been treated by the system before they got to me. I called it cookie-cutter service. I loved my veterans! 😘

I think it’s crazy trying to take away benefits from veterans. The benefits are the only reason to join, IMO. People in service are putting at risk their physical and mental health in order to protect our nation from those who would harm us, they deserve everything they have earned.

You mean to tell me the government that lied about WMD's, killed nearly a million innocents, cost the US thousands of lost lives, may have also lied to its veterans about the dangers of burn pits, again risking the lives of its citizens. Hmmmmm.

Want to save money on Veterans benefits? Create few benefits by not launching stupid/pointless/illegal wars. That'll help. Oh, BTW, it would also help to not make people generals who think burning tons of plastic, medical waste, random chemical-laden trash RIGHT NEXT TO US is an ok idea.

My husband and I love science. At my middle-age, I now understand the need for masks. We also are in construction and I'm allergic to dust. The idea they didn't think breathing melting plastic was cancerous... oh that's right. Years went on and no leader had a brain and they were too tough.

I'm not a scientist or a particularly young person anymore, but even at an early age, I was taught breathing on fumes from burning plastic was bad. Yet we did it at scale anyway? Even with the benefit of knowledge of something like Agent Orange?

Today's soldiers have the advantage of better record keeping. My husband was in Vietnam and no electronic records were made. Then there was a fire at the location where paper records were stored - in believe somewhere in Missouri.

As an Israeli disabled vet, I often meet people failing to see the moral difference between veteran pensions and medical treatment; and welfare payments. One is a deserved payment for service and recruitment bonus. The other is state charity. May be desired, but not the same.

I'm saying it's not directly earned. Not making a statement on other forms of deserving, and the ways in which this deserving is handled by society. e.g. I've several times volunteered in helping former Ultraorthodox jews fleeing the cult. They deserved my help, I believe, for their brave choice.

Thank you for the comparison to Agent Orange. Very salient. Our country’s treatment of veterans is similar to children - rah rah rah when they’re in the war or in the womb, but not supported once they are discharged or born. We need to change both.

Military service is supposed to be about selflessness at a National level. Issue is that governments tend to provide a benefit for that. And we were one of the best ones. Example: GI Joe Bill. What built the economy Trump wants to go back to was a progressive repayment to all the active Wii vets.

Meant WW2. They all came up with the down payment value of a house, with jobs and with the veteran health service and education if need be. Now weave stripped most of that and now want to privatize to best pals of politicians the veteran service.

I didn’t know you suffered the burn pits too. I am sorry to hear that. This government should take care of every single veteran but sadly it doesn’t.

My basketball teammate son went to Afghanistan, was subjected to burn pits , and died of brain cancer at age 26 . Two young sons and a widow . Terrible 😢 stuff burn pits !

Hegseth says too many veterans list every little injury to get the Disability up! It is wrong they need to suck it up??A wrist that has less motion? 14 years on Fox no problem! Just do not wash the hands and the wrist is good? Wtf??

I dealt with those same burn pits. No incinerator was used due to the wrong funds being used to purchase an incinerator at Balad. Dumbest thing was I walked through the smoke every night back to my tent after who knows how many hours working.

I was homeless and pregnant when I engaged with the VA. I held nothing back, they felt the rage I live with every day. I got my benefits and felt peace for the first time in 2 decades. I WILL PROTECT MY CHILDREN against all enemies foreign or domestic.

I’m trying not to take it all personally to tell the truth. I was pregnant and homeless for the 2016 election. They wouldn’t let me vote because I didn’t have an address. I bought my house right before the 2020 election. Now this. I walked out of hell and I’ll be damned if someone takes it from me.🧚

I’ll put it this way, you get what you vote for. Go to both major n political parties and read there what their agendas are before y’all vote next time and stop listening to the media. Everything you need to know about which party has the best of y’all interest is in their website

My brother came back after being stationed in Djibouti. He came home with 4 different kinds of cancer at 30 yrs old. Perfectly fine when he left. He went through months of treatment with no pay. Until they gave him disability. Now everything he qualified for as active duty they don’t want to …

Check out the impacts of products of combustion on firefighters. In Canada, we have specific regulations accepting certain cancers that are directly related to the work they do amd exposure to toxic and carcinogenic materials entrained there.. Seems applicable to uour soldiers.

Everytime I see an ad trying to get money to help our wounded vets, I just want to cry. We give money freely to the wealthiest among us and won't support those that make it possible for them to even have their wealth and live free.🤬

I need a simple business sized card that shows how each party honors/dishonors veterans. Every time someone says the empty words, “thank you for your service” my husband will hand them a card. The front? “Thank me by Voting Blue”. The back? A chart describing how D’s and R’s treat the military.

If someone with design capabilities wanted to put one together, I would be ecstatic. We live in Arizona which needs a hard shove in the blue direction as this last election showed. I can cobble something together, but have no skill in this area.

I have had one total knee replacement and the other knee will be replaced in the next year, the injuries are completely service related (NOT combat, i want to make that clear, but injuries on the job, in Uniform). Now the GOP wants to tell me "too bad".

Well-deserved and SO hard to obtain. People don’t understand just how difficult a system it is to navigate. Currently, nobody knows where my husband’s military medical records are so that’s been a really fun mystery for the past 10 years. People don’t understand at all.

I work for a VA disability attorney. Many many times I have had to say to a client or potential client that they gave so much and they deserve the benefits. I love my job because I can see how it can help. The money can’t really fix them but I hope it makes everything a little bit easier.

Disability brings a lot of uncompensated costs — extra rides, replacing equipment, paying people to do things you can’t do yourself, trying out new devices, and on and on — so any money you secure definitely helps.

Happy to help! The disabled community refers to hidden expenses as “the disability tax”. Time and energy must also be allotted carefully, and are harder to quantify. People think about power chairs — and they’re SUPER 💰 — but there’s a lot of smaller costs, too. #disability ♿️ 🦯 🐕‍🦺

Republicans have historically voted against EVERY benefit to help Vets, and do nothing except thank them for their service when there's a camera pointed at them!!! How any soldier could ever support the GOP after their wretched track record is beyond me, Adam!!! How do you??? 🤦🏻‍♀️

It took me a while to realize how true this is. We were told Democrats hated us and Republicans loved us, but it turns out they only thanked us for our service in public while blaming the Democrats when they themselves voted against anything for us.

It's ironic, that Repubs have never seen a program that helps the masses like: Social Security Medicare, Medicaid VA Benefits That they're always in favor of cutting, but 1000% for billionaire tax breaks, Deregulation. Keep fighting for our Vets, Adam, they are our treasure!!!

If Captain Bone Spurs and his arse lickers have their way things will be tough for veterans. Funny how those who did nothing want to make sure those who did something get nothing.

I fought for 10 years of Parkinson disease, heart disease and strokes to get my husband disability certified. Until Biden signed the Pact Act they wouldn't acknowledge his exposure to Agent Orange because his duty station was Thailand. We Owe our veterans better.

I left Vietnam in 1970, I was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2004, they didn’t want to cover that until we got the PACT ACT, cancer treatment has caused other health issues but at 74, they awarded me 70%!

Agent Orange left my dad 100% disabled later in life. The benefits he received helped cover around the clock care in the end. All the "thank you for your service" comments won't help pay the bills. This will hurt recruitment and open us up for the draft if trump gets us in a conflict.

The Muskrat his never served our country in any way and is very glib about cutting veteran benefits. I am not military, but we owe our military these benefits. We owe Musk nothing.

And that they think these benefits are “generous” is sickening. Lives are changed forever, physically and psychologically. Benefits don’t come close to making up for that, and frankly, they don’t pay the bills either. They supplement. That’s it.

My buddy was stationed in Kosovo and was exposed to burn pits apparently. He appears perfectly healthy, but as you say, no idea what will happen when he's older. He currently gets close to $50,000 a year from the government tax free as a 30 year old for (I think, the rest of his life). That's wild.

There are people over on Reddit soliciting service members to teach them how to get a 100% rating for hearing damage for a small fee. I think the DOGErs caught wind of that and are running with it.

Caused cancer in my brother-in-law. During COVID, when it was hard to get a transfusion. He had no platelets and ended up with a massive brain bleed that now has left him paralyzed on the right side, wheelchair bound, trouble speaking, etc. His son was six at the time. Destroyed the family. 😥

I saw a pt. in a wheelchair years ago who had been told to blow up a building in Desert Storm that contained biological warfare. It rained down on him +his buddies . He had no immune system and couldn't digest food. He was 40 yrs old. He was the only one still alive.

My father was in Vietnam, so I saw first hand what agent orange did to his body. He died 5 days before his 55th birthday. Essentially, every organ was failing, local VA was incompetent, & I fought with his doctors about his care more times than I should have had to. Vets need more respect than that

Military Service Men & Women deserve ALL of the benefits they're entitled to. They EARNED it. They put their lives on the line for our court and for innocent civilians caught in the crossfires of ear. They way our government continues to try and cheat them out of their benefits really pisses me off!

I went to our yearly homeless (unhoused) vigil last night and listening to the names and 1- or 2-line bio of those we lost this past year, a large percentage of them were veterans. We can and should do better.

1/2 Especially 'medical retirees' which were not able or allowed to serve the full 20 yrs. They have no pension nor retirement. If the medical percentage is higher than VA percentage for compensation then they receive the medical percentage but NO VA compensation. So the body and/or mind ...

2/2 ...are broken. Let's not forget the families that endured and now pick up the shambles. Times far away, comrades lost, all the pain,.... It's the price payed to protect the Constitution of the United States of America, the highest law of the land. Just to be betrayed. Again

We will come out of the woodwork, and you will hear our voices, and they will hear us loudly and clearly. These are exploratory articles to gauge what they think they can get away with. Every veteran's group is aware, active, and working as one voice in opposition. You will hear us

No veteran needs to explain his/her disability status. My brother is a disabled Viet Nam combat veteran who as he gets older needs more and more help. He more than earned his disability payments.

Is this, like, the actual Adam Kinzinger? Fan boy here. I retired last year after 31 years in the army. Still working in the defense industry. Shocked and simultaneously unsurprised by Hegseth’s “absurdly generous” benefits we get. Thank you for your continued service. Please, be President tomorrow

It was like Agent Orange and how they use to deny benefits to Sailors on Boats in the Delta- Until just a few years ago-they pointed out they Desalinated the water in the Delta to drink & bath-where all the Agent Orange washed down from upstream. Giving them even more exposure.

Far too many Veterans deserve more benefits than they're getting. I've known too many Vietnam Veterans who self-medicated because the VA took too long to establish a presumptive connection between being in a combat zone and PTSD.

exactly...we are older and seeing the ongoing affects from my husbands long years of service on various fronts...he has 100% service related disability staus...and he has earned those payments.

I hate to think about the veteran cuts, but I'm happy because the Republicans voted for them. Now, let's see what is going to happen. For some reason, everyone thinks that the Republicans are for them when I found out it's the democrats

My dad got the double whammy of Camp Lejunne during his USMC service then later the burn pits when he worked for the DOD. Fought like hell just to get his medical covered for the cancer that ravaged his body and made him penniless. Lost him two years ago. Miss the hell out of him, ooh rah

My partner’s best friend died of spinal, then brain cancer. Speculated due to the burn pits. He was barely 40 years old. My partner (also a vet) goes to his civilian doc and his VA doc on a 6 month rotating schedule. I tease him that he gets blood work done weekly, but he has to stay diligent 😔.

We know what it's going to do to us. Bro we're all going to die of some form of cancer. We got maybe a couple decades to get our shit in order. I can feel it in my lungs, I can feel it in my sinuses. I can hear the drums...

Republicans make a big show about "loving" the military, but they only love the military industrial complex. They are happy to spend money on the "toys" but not the "boys". They always seem to vote no when it is time to support the men and women of the military and now plan to cut the VA budget.

I can tell you what will happen as you and other veterans age: first your bodies will break down earlier than non-veterans and you'll start feeling old well before your time. Second, you'll see all kinds of cancers pop up. Everything from bone marrow to brain cancer is on the table. It sucks.

Wait a sec, you burned shitters? Or is this something different than what it was like when I deployed to Operation Restore Hope, standing over a barrel of burning human shit soaked in diesel?

These are people who have and continue to put their lives on the line for all Americans, they deserve total support from us for their bravery and hard work to defend us and hold the line.

2 of my war buddies died due to cancer at young age. I’m suffering from extreme allergies, chronic sinusitis & rhinitis as a result; my hoot was just a block a way from Burn Pit at Al Taqqadum in Al Anbar province of Iraq. I made sure I’m enrolled at the Burn Pit registry just in case for my family.

My daughter was an Iraq veteran who had PTSD. She worked for the Veterans Admin until she killed herself 2 years ago. She never got to retire, or find out the long term effects. She only got to find out that after Honorable Service, Veterans are left to suffer.

I'm retired from VA. I was a clinic clerk. I got tired of the 45 supporters turning on Fox News then berating others that didn't share their views. I banned all news from the TV in that clinic. Silence is golden.

I believe is the only allowed network at military facilities like the VA where the VoteVets group has been trying to get Congress to stop the disinformation campaign that is Fox News, from airing at any facility. You know if MSNBC was the only allowed, GOP would freak www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/...

msnbc.comVeterans group asks Pentagon to stop airing Fox News on military basesThere's legitimate reason for U.S. military officials to cease airing the network, which is known to spread anti-democratic propaganda, in its facilities.

My brother is a vet, both Marines and Army, and he works at the VA for many years as a LPN, he voted for Trump! I tried to drop subtle hints along the way for years, but he wouldn’t hear it. He was also in the Gulf war. He was brainwashed for years as a Marine to always vote Republican (IMO)

I know vets who voted for Trump in part because the war in Iraq was based on a lie and noone was ever held accountable andTrump said that loudly in 2016 (listen 12 mins in to Ezra Klein podcast “what is wrong with Trump”).Not all but some vets see him as the nothing to loose outsider truth teller.

FAUX NEWS will do that for all the people with little or no critical thinking skills! And nobody has to wonder why Trump loves the less educated, or that the MAGA Republicans want to eliminate the Dept. of Education!

One would think that their budget would (should) cover all veteran care. It's shameful what the DOD does not do for the people who served. For all their bravado, it's pretty f*ked up how irresponsible they are with our money.

I can tell you as a Radiation Oncology RN I get a lot of patients exposed to burn pits. I am also a prior service Army Medic/LPN. We treat a lot of Vets with cancers as a result of that. It shouldn't be like this. Our Vets deserve better.

This! My husband was one of the last Marines that was in the last stage of Vietnam so many issues he has both physically and mentally 70 next year thank you for what you do.

I have to believe the majority of Americans want to do their duty for veterans injured in the line of duty. Please continue to speak out on how this is not "waste". I encourage you to write in to the economist in a letter to the editor if you have not already. IMO, this was a big miss on their part.

My late husband was a Vietnam Veteran × 3 tours. He should have received benefits. But the VA did nothing. My son's father is an Army Veteran from the Desert Wars, He finally was able to get the benefits he deserved. I'll fight anyone who says different that they shouldn't be taken care of!

So frustrating that DT knows nothing about the military , doesn’t respect them wants to privatize their care. The VA hospitals know the veterans issues. Privatizing and minimizing is not the answer. A lot of physicians at the VA are veterans themselves. They know what to look for.

My grandfathers, all of my uncles and my father served this country. Vietnam left one of my uncles and my dad damaged. We ask soldiers to sacrifice themselves, and we owe veterans a debt, not just of gratitude, but one with full benefits when they return.

I got cancer after foolishly drinking the water at Camp Lejeune. Originally they said all payments would be made by 2035. It's questionable I'll live that long. Now, under Trump, I doubt I'll ever see penny 1. A real thank you for your service.

MAGA is just so damn stupid….. Veterans for Trump is so sad because donOLD will never ever ever have their backs. He has already turned his back on the steelworkers and many others in the MAGA cult who voted for him so don’t be surprised by more betrayals.

Remember the "I don't care do you" insensitivity of Melania Trump? It's actually the MAGA oath! If you aren't among the wealthy elite of America or the blow flys that swarm these POS's, you're nothing, just" little people" per the late wealthy elitist Leona Helmsley who lives on in MAGA attitude!

And I was always pi33ed off at being lied to in 1981 that I'd have free medical for life and am now paying a Tricare premium (cheap), deductible, and copays. But that's nothing compared to the coming broken promises made to our veterans.