Sarcoma Awareness Month

By Lisa Maciel, NDVS Deputy Director of Benefits 

July is Sarcoma Awareness month. The VA has determined that soft tissue sarcomas are a presumptive condition for Veterans that have been exposed to Agent Orange and other herbicides during their military service. There are some exceptions however, such as osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and mesothelioma.  

Soft tissue sarcomas are cancers found in muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels, and connective tissues (which are tissues that provide structure to other tissues/organs). Typically, early stages have no symptoms, but as the condition progresses a patient may notice a painless lump or swelling, eventually leading to pain or soreness. Anyone with a lump or swelling that doesn’t appear to be going away should schedule an appointment with their medical provider to determine if there is cause for concern, and if needed, treatment can begin early for the best possible outcome.  

If a veteran (meeting the eligibility requirements) has an active/eligible soft tissue sarcoma, the veteran would presumably be rated at 100% up to 6 months after completion of successful treatment. After completion of successful treatment, residual effects will need to be investigated for potential service-connected ratings. If the veteran passed away from one of the conditions, the veterans’ dependent survivors could potentially be eligible for survivor benefits (DIC) if all eligibility requirements have been met. Eligible dependent survivors of a veteran that has passed away from a soft tissue sarcoma, and served in a presumptive location are encouraged to speak with a Veteran Service Officer to see if a DIC claim should be submitted – regardless of how long it has been since the veteran passed away.  

The VA has expanded eligibility for various presumptive conditions and locations thanks to the PACT Act signed into law on August 10, 2022. You can find the eligibility requirements, and presumptive conditions for Agent Orange exposures here: https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/agent-orange/  

Again, we cannot stress the importance of applying for benefits! With the PACT Act expansions that have been added, all Veterans who meet the basic service and discharge requirements and were exposed to toxins while in service are encouraged to enroll in VA health care without first applying for any VA benefits, meaning that all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror or any other combat zone after 9/11 may be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care even if they do not have a claim in progress, or are not currently ill or injured. Veterans can apply online at va.gov, through their local VA Medical Center eligibility office, by calling (800) 222-8387, or by contacting a Veterans Service Officer.  

As always, Nevada Department of Veterans Services is here to help answer any of your questions, and help you apply for your benefits. You can submit a request through our website at: https://veterans.nv.gov/ask-a-vso/