Thank you, Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Harris, for joining us today.
I'd like to start off by saying that I know we've been talking about cancer quite a bit. I think it should be on record that cancer is not the only condition that has been linked with hazardous toxic materials, and that there are neurological disorders that should be recognized. We should be remembering that, because there are others who are suffering.
I'm going to piggyback on some of the questions and comments.
One of the comments you made, Mr. Harris, was in your opening testimony and in one of your answers. Veterans apply and they say they have a condition; we know the process. Then, you said, it comes to you. You sift through it and go through it with your professionals, and then you come back with either “approved” or “denied”.
A veteran who's denied knows they've been exposed to something. How do they prove it? When they know they've been exposed, how do they come back to you and say, “I know. I've been through this. I know I've been exposed to this.” How do they convince you to change your mind to approve them for their benefits?