|
POW Presumptive Disabilities
If you were
interred or detained in a hostile country for 30 days or more,
and have any of the following conditions which manifest, you may be able to
receive monthly compensation for these disabilities, even if there is no record
of them in your Service Medical Records.
Nutritional Disabilities
Long term effect of the malnutrition you survived as a POW. While you may
not be suffering from malnutrition now, it is possible for you to have residual
disabilities from malnutrition during captivity. These include:
-
Beriberi & Associated Heart Disease
- inflammatory or degenerative changes of the nerves, digestive
system, and heart caused from a lack of thiamin (Vitamin B1 found in whole
grain bread, pork, potatoes, beans, eggs, fish, liver, and lean meat)
-
Pellagra- disease marked by dermatitis, stomach disorders, intestinal
disorders, and nerve symptoms associated with a lack of niacin (Vitamin B3 found
in beans, whole grain breads, eggs, fish, liver, lean meat, nuts, poultry, peas,
salmon and tuna).
Other Nutritional Deficiencies
Neuro-Psychiatric Disabilities
A disability in this category is a normal, human consequence of
POW captivity. Some of these disabilities can show up many years following
captivity, and can produce mild to severe symptoms. If you have a
disability in this category, it does not mean that you are flawed; it means that
you are human. Irritability, anxiety, restlessness, sleep disorders, and
unsociability are only a few of the symptoms in this disability group, which
includes:
-
Psychosis
-
Any Anxiety State
-
Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD)
-
Dysthymic Disorder or Depressive Neurosis
-
Panic
Disorder
-
Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder
Gastrointestinal Disabilities
|
Chronic
Dysentery - frequent, watery stools with
rectal/abdominal
pain, fever and dehydration.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- symptoms can include pain and constipation, chronic diarrhea, or
both.
Peptic Ulcer
Disease - ulcerations of the digestive tract.
Helminthiasis
- Infectious residuals from any type of parasitic worms.
Frostbite Residuals
- The actual freezing of tissue. The extremities farthest
from the heart are usually affected, with primarily the nose, ears, hands and
feet being involved. This usually produces long-term side effects such as
numbness, discoloration, excessive swelling, pain, and possibly arthritis in the
affected area.
Post Traumatic Osteoarthritis
- This disability looks and is treated like degenerative
arthritis (arthritis associated with age) except it is caused by severe trauma
to specific joints.
Peripheral Neuropathy
- A neurological disorder characterized by numbness and tingling
of the extremities. Can be caused by nutritional deficiency, and will be
evaluated by the VA as a separate disability for each extremity.
Ischemic
Heart Disease - Can your heart disability be related to
service? Because of our liberalized guidelines, maybe
so. Also called Coronary Artery Disease, this disability is
characterized by the narrowing of arteries which supply vital
oxygen to the heart. Often treated by angioplasty or
coronary artery bypass surgery, this is a
disability which is
commonly found in the aging population. However, this
disability can be presumed to be related to service if we have
evidence that the POW suffered edema, or swelling of the lower
extremities during captivity. Often the only evidence that
can be produced at this time is a statement from a fellow captive,
which if often accepted.
|
More Information
|
If
you are a Veteran, or know of one, who suffers from any of these
conditions,
you should immediately contact:
|
Jeanne Thick, Director
Department of Veteran Services
1101 Beach St.
Flint, MI 48502
(810) 257-3068
Hours: Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am - 11:45 am
and 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Top of Page
|
