The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that they are publishing a proposed change to 38 C.F.R. § 3.310 regarding illnesses secondary service-connected to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The current 38 C.F.R. § 3.310 states “disabilit[ies] which [are] proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury shall be service connected.” This is commonly called secondary service-connected or secondarily service-connected. The proposed regulation would establish service connection for the following five illnesses if the veteran has service-connected TBI: parkinsonism; “unprovoked seizures”; certain types of dementias; depression; and certain types of hormone deficiencies.
I will provide further information on Monday after the proposed regulation is published in the Federal Register. The linked New York Times Article quotes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki, as commenting, “Veterans who endure health problems deserve timely decisions based on solid evidence that ensure they receive benefits earned through their service to the country.”
If you have questions or concerns about your eligibility for veterans benefits, please do not hesitate to contact me for a free consultation at sdirector@FRE-L.com or (732) 382-6070.