NEW ULM — Brown County Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Greg Peterson told Brown County commissioners Tuesday his office had a 50% increase in claims in 2022 and another 13.7% over that in 2023.

“The increased workload is solely driven by toxin-related claims expanding for Vietnam War Era veterans and those who served in the Gulf Wars, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and in dozens of Central Asia countries and the Horn of Africa,” Peterson reported.

“This new normal federal workload consumed 3,206 man-hours, up 3.6%, and is equal to 1.5 FTE (full-time equivalent personnel).

Peterson said 137 (63%) of veterans claims were granted last year, 14 claims were denied, and 65 (30.5%) are outstanding (not granted or denied).

A summary of 2023 federal funds received by clients included $19,546,000 total dollars received, compensation and pensions $9,284,000; GI Bill $616,000, a 37% increase; life insurance $188,000, a 113$ increase; medical $9,458,000 for 779 patients, 35 more than 2022.

Peterson said miscellaneous VSO office tasks included direct deposit and address changes, education applications, replacement medal requests, travel pay, congressional assistance, military retiree pay issues, nursing home and home bound visits and general correspondence.

Sixty-two Brown County veterans died in 2023, compared to 84 in 2022.

Assistant VSO Mike Montalto made 383 federal Veterans Administration requests that resulted in the recapture of $109,042.

Peterson noted U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) information about a Federal Register Notice announced July 26, 2023 plan to initiate a scientific review regarding the possibility of a relationship between acute leukemia, chronic leukemia, multiple myeloma and exposure to particulate matter from airborne hazards and open burn pits in the Southwest Asia theater operations, Somalia, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Uzbekistan.

A scientific review panel was formed Dec. 7, 2023 as part of the presumptive decision process. The VHA Health Outcomes Military Exposures Office (HOME) is conducting literature review of scientific research regarding toxic exposures, acute and chronic leukemia and multiple myeloma.

A military exposures team is conducting analysis of claims data regarding these conditions.

The estimated completion date of the review is the end of fiscal year 2024 with a delivery of a final report to VA leadership by the end of calendar year 2024. At that point, the VA Secretary will decide of the VA will proceed with a formal evaluation of conditions in 2025.