rapidfire
ASKBUD
A Navy friend of mine recently died from mesothelioma. Many sailors were exposed to asbestos for years. What are the chances of mesothelioma being deemed a service-connected disease? Me-
sothelioma currently is not pre-
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MOAA Essay Contest
eginning May 1, MOAA is accepting entries for its third annual Military Professional Essay Con- test. Essays may address any topics relevant to
MOAA’s mission of preserving a strong national defense. Examples of acceptable topics include immigration, health care, servicemember entitlements, and NATO expansion. This contest is open to current, former, and retired
servicemembers; military family members; and students, staff, and faculty members of professional military educa- tion institutions. Writers must be at least 18 years old, and submissions must be the writer’s own. Multiple entries are permitted. All entries must be received by July 31. A prize of $1,000 will be awarded for first place, $500
for second place, and $250 for third place. All entrants will be eligible for a drawing to win a handheld GPS system. Submit essays as Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF files
and e-mail them to
profseries@moaa.org, with the subject line “MOAA essay contest.” Essays should be no more than 750 words, double-spaced, with a minimum of a 12-point font. The word limit excludes a title page. Entries exceed- ing the word limit will not be considered.
Miscellany: Zucchini
ZUCCHINI: Children will love watching zucchini grow in a home garden. This healthy vegetable can be a versatile part of any meal, from soup to dessert. Try some zucchini recipes from Rear Adm.
Joyce Johnson, USPHS-Ret., D.O., at
www.moaa.org/wellness. Click on Nutrition Facts. *GOLF CLASSIC: The seventh annual MOAA/Jeff Peck Memorial Golf Classic is May 26 at Westfields Golf Club in Clifton, Va. In its first six years, this event has raised more than $450,000 for The Scholarship Fund of MOAA, which provides grants and loans to children of servicemembers for undergraduate education. MOAA appreciates the generosity of its cor- porate sponsors, especially this year’s presenting sponsor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance. *BUILDING DISCOUNTS: Both The Home Depot and Lowe’s are continuing their 10-percent discount programs for servicemembers and their immediate families. Lowe’s also is offering the same discount for veterans on the Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Veterans Day weekends. Visit
www.homedepot.com and
www.lowes.com for more information.
PHOTOS: ABOVE, SHUTTERSTOCK; RIGHT, STEVE BARRETT
MAY 2 0 1 0 MI L I T A R Y O F F I C E R 2 3
sumed to be service-connected. MOAA continues to advocate strongly for expanding the circle of diseases presumed caused by hazardous expo- sure, including mesothelioma. Until the 1970s, asbestos was widely used, so
some servicemembers were exposed to it. Some vet- erans later developed lung diseases. If you are having breathing or other difficulties,
you should see your doctor. If you are diagnosed with a disease that could be related to asbestos exposure, inform your doctor you might have been exposed to asbestos. If that exposure happened while in service, you may file a disability compensa- tion claim with the VA. The VA’s Web site contains extensive information on servicemember exposures at
www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/index.asp. MOAA members are advised to be wary of adver-
tisements pertaining to filing lawsuits and disability claims that promise easy, high-dollar settlements or entities that ask for up-front fees.
— Capt. Bud Schneeweis, USCG-Ret., is director of MOAA’s Benefits Information and Financial Education Department.
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