News Bites

Great News for Vietnam Veterans with Parkinson’s and Heart Disease Resident

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has established a service-connection for Vietnam Veterans with three specific illnesses: B cell leukemia, such as hairy cell leukemia; Parkinson’s disease; and ischemic heart disease. Relying on an independent study by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), an estimated 2.6 million military personnel who served in Vietnam between January 1965 and April 1970 were potentially exposed to herbicides referred to as “Agent Orange”.

The U.S. military sprayed millions of gallons of Agent Orange and other herbicides to remove leaves from trees that provided cover for enemy forces. This herbicide, however, has left a legacy of pain, suffering, and disability. Thanks to this service-connection, Veterans who served in Vietnam during the war and have a “presumed” illness do not have to prove an association between their illnesses and their military services. This “presumption” simplifies and speeds up the application process for benefits.

Including this decision, there are now 15 presumed illnesses recognized by the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Click here for additional information about Agent Orange and VA services/programs for Veterans exposed to this chemical.

Life Care Planning Lecture

Each of us wants to plan for our future but to do so, we must anticipate our future needs including long-term care and any costs associated with it. But money saved during a lifetime of hard work can be spent quickly when dealing with medical, nursing home, assisted living or home health care expenses.

Please join us at 6:00 PM on October 20, 2009, at Claire Bridge of Eden Prairie, 7513 Mitchell Rd, Eden Prairie, Minnesota for a lecture on Life Care Planning by Joyce M. Konczyk, LSW, Life Care Coordinator with Maser & Amundson, P.A. Joyce will talk about how M&A can help your clients develop a Life Care Plan and how M&A partners with them to implement this plan to insure that they maintain control over their financial and physical health as they continue down the path of Life.

Objectives for this presentation are:

• Discuss benefits of effective planning and care coordination

• Understand protection of legal rights and choices

• Learn roles of elder law attorneys and care coordinators

Maser & Amundson, P.A. is experienced in helping families overwhelmed or confused by all the decisions they must make about how to pay for long-term health care. They are dedicated to assisting clients in making these important decisions and increasing their income to help defray their long-term care expenses.

One (1) CEU for Social Workers.

Dinner will be provided. To RSVP or request further information, please call Marlene Hinrichsen at

651-398-9611 or email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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