READER FEEDBACK
Post a commentLetters: Help give our veterans a lift in war against ALS
Many readers may recall that Veterans Affairs mistakenly sent a letter to thousands of veterans earlier this year informing them that they had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). A big mistake? Yes, one for which the VA has apologized. But what readers probably don't know is the fact that veterans are approximately twice as likely to die from Lou Gehrig's Disease as the general public.
The VA is providing significant benefits to our heroes who are fighting for their lives against ALS, a disease for which there is no effective treatment and no cure, and which is fatal in just two to five years after diagnosis. Thanks to the VA, these veterans and their families have access to disability compensation, health care, and other vital benefits they have earned and deserve. Survivors of veterans lost in the war against ALS also qualify for benefits.
This Veterans Day, let's make sure all veterans living with ALS know about these benefits - what the VA is doing right, not just what it did wrong. To learn how you can help, visit the ALS Association's Web site at www.alsa.org.
Dana Falcone
Levittown
