Duty Only Exposure

Department of Veterans Affairs underlines its commitment to the Plain Writing Act of 2010, id est: “clear Government communication that the public can understand and use”, just in case Veterans were thick as a barrack´s bricks. Undoubtedly in accordance with the same principle, Veterans Benefits Administration cites “duty only exposure at the outer perimeter for specific career fields” while playing false cards to deny claims of Thailand based Veterans affected by Agent Orange.

To keep it plain enough for VA and VBA: Agent Orange didn´t discriminate between “on” and “off” duty. You do, and “outer perimeters” are as near-vacuum as outer space. Vietnam Veterans had 44 years to assess how much the “Delay, Deny until they Die” deontology has cost; all the administration has come up with is “there´s no money for compensation –go fetch some funds”.

 The alibi is nonsensical enough to inspire a sarcastic reflection on “duty only exposure” which could actually result in millions of costly claims.

One of the most common “duty only” retirement bonuses is homelessness. It´s a well-known fact: Veterans are twice as likely to become homeless than other societal groups, which by itself is simply discriminatory. To add insult to injury, «mental illness” https://themilitarywallet.com/homeless-veterans-in-america/  is repeatedly quoted as a “contributing factor”. Allegation that Veterans are somehow “predisposed” to mental problems constitutes both a prejudice and defamation. According to Duhaime´s Legal Dictionary, «Libel is committed when defamatory matter is published in permanent form or in a form which is deemed to be permanent”. Does PTSD mantra of main-stream media ring a bell? Why isn´t PTSD of emergency workers, policemen or fire-men standardized?

Only Veterans suffer from exposure to VA, and here- list of duty only perks is fit for an encyclopedia: hazardous waiting lists, toxic- not so civil- servants, bullycratic oversized rodents –you name it. Disabled Veterans get a benefit of fighting VA for benefits they had earned as part of their service, the ones in need of an urgent treatment have a privilege of wasting their precious time; the elderly get taste of VA´s police “excessive force”https://www.disabledveterans.org/2019/06/18/why-are-va-police-body-slamming-elderly-veterans/.

One can´t talk about “duty only” without bringing up betrayal .Yep, the overwhelming feeling you get while ending your service homeless, with a bag of opioids to make you “feel better”. See, there´s nothing more honorable than sacrifice, and nothing more disgusting than ingratitude.

After Korean frostbite, Vietnam´s herbicides, burn pit smoke of Iraq and Afghanistan- there´s always a VA-y out for administration, a big lie instead of accountability. Our history is not only about our fallen heroes and POWs, but also about disgusting “diplomatic” handshakes and disastrous “master plans”. While Vietnam era Veterans are fighting for benefits for Agent Orange-related illnesses, Afghanistan Veterans keep warning that blatantly botched strategy will result in a humiliating defeat in Afghanistan-so desecrating for the memory of our loved ones. SNAFU benefit springs to mind.

Next time you opt for paying no compensation and no heed to our AO affected heroes, citing duty only exposure: think twice. Remember, some 20 million of American Veterans can sue for the above mentioned examples of “duty only” perks, and so much more. Don´t mess with Veterans who went through hell: There´ll be hell to pay.

Joanna Rosamond