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Cancer

Same-Day Justice: Air Force Veteran's Cancer Rating Error Resolved

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Steve Visco, a retired Air Force colonel, was given a shocking diagnosis of advanced cancer by his oncologist in 2023. However, his claim for disability through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) had been approved but rated at 0%, leading him to suspect a mistake. With the help of DAV benefits advocate Amanda Almaraz, Visco's case was resolved within hours, correcting a crucial error that had denied him a 100% disability rating. The error, which had gone unnoticed by a compensation and pension examiner, was rectified after Almaraz contacted her counterparts at the VA, demonstrating the power of collaboration between DAV and VA in securing earned benefits for veterans.

Key Takeaways:

  • Steve Visco, a retired Air Force colonel, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a PACT Act presumptive condition, after finding a lump on his neck in 2019. His cancer was initially considered an uncurable chronic disease, but he has been actively receiving treatment since then.
  • Visco deployed to Saudi Arabia during the lead-up to the Gulf War and returned several times, exposing him to burn pits, which have been linked to varied diseases and cancers, including lymphoma.
  • The VA must, by law, conclude that Visco's cancer stemmed from his service due to his exposure to burn pits.
  • Visco's 100% rating should have been granted for non-Hodgkin lymphomas when there is an active disease in treatment or with an indolent phase. However, the compensation and pension examiner neglected to check a box next to the word "indolent," resulting in an error.
  • DAV benefits advocate Amanda Almaraz helped resolve Visco's case by contacting her counterparts at the VA and rectifying the inaccuracy, which led to the correction of Visa's 100% rating within hours.
  • Burn pits were used for waste disposal in many countries, including Saudi Arabia, during military operations, causing concern about their long-term effects on service members and veterans.
  • The PACT Act, championed by DAV, was the largest expansion of veterans benefits for toxic exposures, unlocking VA disability and health care for veterans who served in qualifying countries.

Statistics:

  • 20%: The amount of weight Visco had lost by the summer of 2023, significantly impacting his health.
  • 2024: The year Visco filed for disability through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • 100%: The rating Visco should have been granted for non-Hodgkin lymphomas with an active disease in treatment or an indolent phase.
  • 2019: The year Visco was first diagnosed with lymphoma after finding a lump on his neck.
  • 27 years: The length of Visco's service in the Air Force.
  • 60 miles: The distance between Visco's location in Saudi Arabia and the capital city of Riyadh.
  • 2023: The year Visco was given a shocking diagnosis of advanced cancer by his oncologist.

Sources:

  • Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
  • The American Cancer Society
  • Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • PACT Act

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