Conn. Vet Leading Legal Effort for Gay Benefits

A Norwich woman is joining forces with Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal to persuade the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to extend benefits to the same-sex spouses of veterans.

Carmen Cardona, a disabled Navy veteran, is the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit pending against the department.

Blumenthal said Thursday he's urged President Barack Obama to immediately direct the Veterans Affairs Secretary to update VA regulations and grant full benefits to all veterans and their spouses. He said such benefits should automatically be extended to couples like Cardona and her wife after the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which struck down portions of the Defense of Marriage Act.

The VA has told Blumenthal it will continue to recognize only opposite-gender couples until it hears otherwise from the president or attorney general.