Agent Orange

The law expands health care benefits for veterans who may have developed illnesses after toxic exposure during their service. The VA can start processing most claims on Jan. 1.

Veterans suffering from certain medical conditions became eligible for "presumptive" VA disability benefits last year. But the claims they're filing have added to the agency's huge backlog.

"Levites," a cadre of lobbyists, legislators and aides who credit veteran lobbyist Robert M. Levy for their entrance into the cutthroat world of Florida…