Received A Letter From Dept of Vet Affairs

[GunnyG]

Last Saturday, I received a letter from the Dept of Veterans Affairs stating they were conducting a special review of my father's file as part of the Nehmer vs. US Dept of VA lawsuit for retroactive benefits. My father was a US Army Vietnam vet who died in 1999 of lung cancer. From research I've done, I discovered lung cancer is a presumptive disease caused by the exposure to Agent Orange. The letter goes on to say that my sister and I may be entitled to his benefits retroactive to the date he filed his claim, or the date the disease became disabling, or the date a dependent filed for survivor benefits.

I have no idea whether my father filed a claim, nor if his second wife filed for survivor benefits. He was pretty messed up medically after Vietnam. Sought care at VAMC Kansas City for years before he eventually passed. My parents divorced when I was four years old. My father later re-married, but his second wife recently passed away. I rarely kept in contact with her after my father passed, and have no idea where any of his belongings are.

Just wondering had any other C5 members faced similar situation, and if so, what was the process like? Also, any legal field C5ers available to offer direction would be greatly appreciated.