Frustrated by rejections by the Pittsburgh Veterans Administration office, Kirkwood contacted U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire.

“He said the VA in Pittsburgh was swamped with more than 60,000 cases. He said he’d get my case transferred to a VA in Togus, Maine,” Kirkwood said. However, 11 days later he received a letter from the VA in Cleveland — rejecting his claim.

“They said I’d had no complaint for more than 60 years, so it was not combat related.”

COMPLIANCE

Kirkwood sent X-rays and letters by non-military acquaintances who knew him in the 1950s and 1960s and knew his health complaints.

He also was examined by a doctor who noted he had had foot surgery in the 1970s and 1980s and a knee replacement in 1988. The doctor also noted the presence of arthritis and diabetes.

“They jumped on that, saying my problems were related to my diabetes. But I had these problems long before I became a diabetic.”

Recently, Kirkwood said, he replaced the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who had represented him at previous hearings. He tried to switch to the American Legion, which had represented Jenkins and Carter.

“But they were not taking new cases,” he said, adding, “I’m 90 years old. How much longer can I wait?”

Kirkwood found Kevin Noel of the Disabled American Veterans in Pittsburgh. Noel presented Kirkwood’s case to the VA.

“Now we have to wait and allow them to make a decision,” said Noel, who added he could not estimate when the VA will respond.

Noel said he believes Kirkwood has a good case and excellent chance for success.

“He’s got some special circumstances, including missing service records, and his age makes it imperative that action be taken quickly,” Noel said.

He noted government figures state World War II veterans are dying at the rate of 1,000 to 1,500 per day.