Oregon Veteran Died While Waiting

Advocates for local veteran say plea for VA help not answered
KATU News
By Bob Heye
Published: Feb 3, 2015

“Makes me feel - it's almost ashamed - that I have a congress that's representing me that doesn't care for veterans,” says McJunkin, “Veterans are sent into combat without much concern for when they come home and need physical and mental assistance.”

PORTLAND, Ore. - In a video made for his memorial on Sunday, Navy veteran Kevin Walters spoke to his family - his wife, their little boy.

“You know that I strongly love you through all this,” Walters said in the video, “I really love you, I miss you and want you to know that I always will.”

At 39 years old, Walters was having unexplained dizzy spells and other symptoms when he was diagnosed this past summer with a rare, aggressive kind of brain cancer. Doctors believe it was caused by radioactive equipment Kevin used in construction projects during the Iran-Iraq war.

Knowing he didn't have long to live, Kevin's family wanted the Veterans Affairs to speed up clearing his service-related condition so they could get help caring for him.

They even got help pleading their case through the McMinnville American Legion Post.

“From middle of October,” says Richard McJunkin, Commander, United Veterans Honor Guard in McMinnville, “initiated claims, until his death in the end of January, really no response from VA."

The VA did send one letter in mid-December saying, "we apologize for the delay."
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