Schumer Urges Feds to Reverse Decision Denying Buffalo Veteran Compensation He Is Due

Schumer Urges Feds To Reverse Decision Denying Buffalo Veteran Compensation He Is Due

WNY Vet Has Appealed VA Decision To Deny Compensation Request

Schumer: Forcing Veteran To Bear The Burden Of Administrative Mistakes Is Unfair—Case Must Be Reconsidered

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reverse their decision denying a claim by a Buffalo veteran seeking retro-active compensation for a service-related illness. In his second personal letter to the Buffalo VA Regional Office Director, Schumer supported Vietnam Veteran Jeff Sundquist's effort to appeal the VA's decision, asserting that it is unfair for Mr. Sundquist to pay for health care costs because of administrative errors made when the claim was originally filed. In addition to his own letter, Senator Schumer also facilitated getting a letter from Erie County to support the veteran in his appeal efforts.

"The VA's decision in this case was unwise, unfounded, and unfair," Schumer said. "This veteran risked his life for this country and now it is time for his country to stand up for him. He should not have to pay for administrative errors far beyond his control. This wrong can be righted very quickly." The 62-year-old veteran from Depew was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to Agent Orange, the chemical defoliant used during the Vietnam War. Upon discovering his claim was lost, he refilled with Chapter 77 of Vietnam Veterans of America in October of 2005. Veteran should receive an estimated $4,100 in retroactive compensation to cover the time period when the claim was lost. The Department of Veterans Affairs' disability compensation is a monetary benefit paid to veterans who are disabled by injury or disease incurred or aggravated during active military service. Mr. Sundquist filed his original claim with the Erie County office of Veterans Services when he was first diagnosed in February of 2004. After hearing on July 25, 2006 that his claim was denied, Mr. Sundquist has decided to formally appeal this decision.

In his letter to Donna Terrell, the Director of the Buffalo VA Regional Office, Schumer wrote, "I understand that the Veteran's Administration should not have to correct the errors made by other agencies; however, Mr. Sundquist is not requesting a correction of the administrative error. He is merely seeking the compensation due to him as a disabled veteran who made every good faith effort to file his claim in a timely fashion. As I had stated previously, these circumstances that delayed the filing of Mr. Sundquist's claim were beyond his control. To have him bear this burden would seem to contradict the VA's mission to serve veterans in need of assistance from the country they served. I hope you reconsider this case in a way that is consistent with my positive past interactions with your agency. I look forward to a positive outcome on Mr. Sundquists appeal."

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/record.cfm?id=261792&&year=2006&