If these conditions are presumptively associated with exposure to Agent Orange, why does the VA take forever to settle claims? Those conditions are bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism. I wont hold my breath (mainly because I cant hold it too long) that the government will ever compensate me or any of my brothers and sisters in my lifetime. Had thyroid cancer and had it removed in 2018. We were kicked to the curb. My husband served three tours in Vietnam and died a horrible death seven years ago of four of the diseases named. Parkinsons Disease, Diabetes and Ischemic Coronary Heart Disease are presumptive conditions of Agent Orange exposure. My husband is a Vietnam vet and has Scleroderma. March 3 (UPI) -- The legal team representing former President Donald Trump has formally requested a six-month delay in the fraud civil case filed against him by New York Attorney General Letitia James. If you set foot on a land mass (in Vietnam), youre entitled to a presumption that you have been exposed to herbicides, Rhode Island attorney Robert Chisholm said in an interview. I am a Vietnam Veteran who, has lived with critical neuropathy after several EMGs. Best advicedo the paperwork, get your service records, go the the VA and get an advocate. Any others here? I still dont understand why skin cancers are not recognized of all things that were exposed SKIN. This is not a judgement call. These men and women, and their families, have had to wait too damn long for this acknowledgement!!! U-Tapao Air Base, Thailand, 1972The National Archives, Health Care My daughter lived for a month & 7 days. I also filed a claim for bladder cancer in 2010 and was denied. I have no idea if there is any support for children of Vietnam vets, but I hope there is. In the following link you will be able to find a representative by searching State or County listings. Call: 988 (Press 1), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington DC 20420. Veterans Agent Orange Exposure Equity Act, IRS begins making final stimulus payments from American Rescue Plan, GAO: VA suicide prevention teams need evaluation amid caseload growth, burnout, Woman's DDT exposure may affect granddaughter's health, study says. Major 321 MW solar farm in Texas moves close to a final investment decision. Why do our veterans have to prove so much when agent orange was such a poison. When I got home I worked at NASA Moffitt Field and then got a job as a Pipefitter for Local 38 and worked first on an Oiler USNS TALUGA in Oakland Docks, and at the Naval Dry docks at San Francisco Triple -A 3rd street on DD, FF, Destroyers, and the USN supply ship Mars . I did go to the VA . My father was in Vietnam this same period he died 25 years ago from Pancreatic Cancer. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. I try to kick it by running and staying healthy but to no avail. HMC, FMF, USMC, USS America [CVA66]. He died three years ago from penile cancer, a horrific disease. My late husband was with the 14th combat engineers assigned to the 1st Cav. Interestingly, my husband was approved after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. I had such a bad case of PTSD starting in 1969, I spent 6 weeks in a Navy mental ward at Millington NAS. Charles, I too in my later years came down with Parkinson. A two-year investigation (2018- 2019) by DoD found no use, storage or transport of Agent Orange or other tactical herbicides in Guam, Okinawa, Panama, or a number of other countries where there had been speculation of use. MJ. Veterans began making claims due to health problems related to Agent Orange exposure as early as 1977, but they were often rejected unless patients could prove their health problems began a year after discharge. Any Veteran who is contaminated on the Job regardless of timeframe deserves help. Keep fighting my brothers an sisters. We have a wonderful VA home in Sulphur Oklahoma. Is anyone else aware of this. Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs mandates that veterans who served in southeast Asian countries other than Vietnam during the war provide evidence of exposure to the herbicide in order to qualify for benefits. Good luck! He mentioned this orange agent lawsuit to me years ago when I was still in early teens. I live in New York. The U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs, known as the VA, has added atypical Parkinsonism to the list of conditions presumptively associated with Agent Orange exposure during military service. A VSO will get you Many other conditions that affect my health from this condition. Was on duty there when Hurricane Camille hit Gulfport, MS and was deployed down there for rescue and recovery. My electronics van had inch thick dust in it and all kinds of Vietnam paraphernalia hidden away on it. A few months later, they removed my thyroid. Semper Fi . Sudden come down with Hypothyroidism -Hashimotos version With leaky gut! Several bills in Congress purport to take aim at the problem. The local dentist shop told me the VA isnt approving off campus work now. Parkinsons? How many Vietnam Veterans suffer from skin cancer? But somebody reviewed my application almost immediately (a good thing and to be commended) and determined that the request could proceed. Does anyone know if Agent Orange was used during the Korean War? Exposed to AO many times. kapm. All from Agent Orange. We flew into areas that had been sprayed with agent orange. VA says Prove it. Thats why I ask, is there anybody left? These, mostly men, werent thanked for their service, werent cheered as they arrived home. They owe it to you. Ill ask for the unit your husband was in and during what time period. He passed in April of 2019 due to complications from his surgery. Also, the investigation found less use in Thailand and the DMZ then previously reported. That something was diesel fuel and sht. Does anybody know about it ? He has to apply and use a catheter twice a day, something he expects to do for the rest of his life. The smell was bad and if you inhaled the spaying compound one would have a hard time breathing. You wrote an exact copy of what happened to me!! I only get the run around when I call. Technician, I was in Nam 67+68 Ive had Hypothyroidism for a long time what do I do? I feel like Charlie Brown kicking his football and our government is Lucy and like Lucy our government will pull the rug out from all of us. VA and the Department of Defense (DoD) have partnered together to investigate where and when Agent Orange and other tactical herbicides were present, and to update thelist of locations online as new information becomes available. This is a list of the first names of men from the 14th Combat Engineers who died in 1968. File a claim at va.gov. Later I would receive bills for the co-pay and my insurance at work was charged $1,800.00! I hadnt heard about the Ft. McClellen exposure. 877-222-8387, TDD (Hearing Impaired) I served in Vietnam 1970-71. I returned to the VA about a year ago after many of my friends urged me to do so. Never told the area had been coated with AO. While they (VA) do provide the medical and scientific data to support whether the condition can be service connected or the presumptive(s) in this case, its CONGRESS that are the ultimate culprits who implement and dictate whats in the CFR and Public Law. Aside thought it would go away as it did some times at night after battle .talk to me V A . I have had cancer and other illness but still got denied 3 days before Christmas. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military used Agent Orange and a variety of other "tactical herbicides" to kill vegetation and defoliate trees. I have one of the birth defects listed other than spinabifida.Is there no hope for compensation for the children of Male Vietnam Vets? (PROGRESSIVE Supranucler PALSY). That has been appealed with the help of the Dept of Veterans Affairs. He was in Vietnam in 69 as well. What if your parent submitted a claim for a type of cancer that was only from exposure to agent orange, but passed away shortly after submitting the claim and received a letter stating that the claim was being looked into; does that have any validity to it? He had filed an Agent Orange claim several times. Also, the investigation found less use in Thailand and the DMZ then previously reported. I have Prostate Cancer. I am 70. This article is a joke! After a complete resection of my esophagus & upper stomach & removal of the Vegas Nerves in my stomach with follow up radiation therapy, I lost over 70 lbs., which I have never been able to regain. Paula Im with you, daughter died 18 months neuoblastoma, brother 44 brain cancer, sister breast cancer and ovarian cancer, i have had lung cancer, leiomysarcoma, soft cell sarcoma, pre colon cancer, I recieved the MUTATED TP53 gene, i dont care what any say the agent orange is a direct reflection of so much death and pain in my family. They did test but couldnt come up with anything. During this rather dismal 14 month period I often wondered why so much red tape when the facts were undeniably evident (at least to me!) Attention A T users. I need to be working but I cannot! Please help us! Im 71 documented Agent Orange but no claim with VA. Im having more and more medical issues, Have filed with a VSO and was denied. Most counties have at least one. i get the burn pits for these folks 100% 2/9th Marines were station at Pohang Korea training with the ROK Marines August 1975 for 30 days we had burn pits also we stood guard no more than 20 away with black smoke in the air debris burning and going on your utilities plastics/human waste/metal/unspent rds u guarded for hrs our hooches were only 100 away and u got the smoke as u slept also why are these not considered burn pits is it to let the older Marines die off so u go with the younger Marines first and these younger Marines sure deserve all they get but like agent orange with the 3 new aliments all these years later let the folks die first then include us why is the va not including all of us big black billows of smoke u sniff in when u stood guard/slept but for some odd ass reason we are not included peace. I was soon denied because I was on the wrong colored water. It is most likely from agent orange. Camp Lejune , 6 months of 71. Who do we contact to start the claim process or to see if we are eligible? the va dont care about vets !!! The VA has gradually expanded coverage for Agent Orange-related illnesses in the decades since. Thailand Military Bases and Agent Orange Exposure VA presumes (assumes) exposure to Agent Orange for Veterans who served on any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976. Ive got my fingers crossed. I looked up, followed and had much respect for older folks, especially veterans and the advice they have given me. They (the VA) dont give you a definition of what the perimeter is, Harmon said. Will his claim be reviewed now in light of the new findings? But we filed a claim for our daughter for the Agent Orange. What really irritates me is that those of us that served after Vietnam had to clean the old warehoused equipment from Vietnam. How can I get information sent to me for adding the disability due to Hypothyroidism? That is all they are waiting for ? He use to say they would spray agent orange below the hills he was on to control the jungle below them. A Maryland Democrat, David Trone, a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, has introduced the latter piece of legislation. When will his cases be reopened and his wife notified? Youll quickly see youre not alone! Have you filed everything yourself. What about soldiers who served in Vietnam AND South Korea both of which resorted in exposure to Agent Orange? Thats our job., Its still essentially a case-by-case basis, Chisholm said. Maybe Ill still be alive! But we did. He ONLY got 100% disability compensation from time of diagnosis. Today I live with one lung because of my exposure to AGENT ORANGE. He died of pancreatic cancer in 2010. My husband has prostate cancer and VA wouldnt approve disability for that either. That presumption has been expanded to blue-water Navy veterans. I too am having issues obtaining benefits for my husband who served in Vietnam. Why isnt high blood pressure approved as a presumptive under Agent Orange? USMC, 67-71. Will every case be reopened? Both of my brothers were born before my father was deployed and have no serious medical issues and are about as healthy as you can be. I dont know dates ir anything and sadly my mother passed a few months back and I have no other family to ask. Contact a VSO at VA.GOV. One Veteran is same as the next, if they were contaminated and prove it, they should get help. Im giving this one last try. And on it goes now they are concerned again? April 15 (UPI) -- A bipartisan bill introduced Thursday would allow Vietnam veterans who served in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia during the Vietnam War to qualify for disability benefits related to Agent Orange exposure. Over the course of a year, we recently lost 100,000 sons, daughters, moms, and dads to drug overdoses. I have had nightmares about the smell of shlt. Just my venting and 2 cents worth, nothing more,nothing will change. VA do the right thing. Now my question is, how do I file another appeal, and add these issues to my claim? I have no family history of Diabetes, Polycythemia Vera or Carcinoid Cancer, so I think the VA is wrong. I was exposed to agent orange while serving in Korea on the DMZ. Ten have them Submit another claim for you. Our desalinators were unable to filter A/O from salt water. What about veterans who served on Johnston Island/Atoll? I have had what they call jungle rot on my feet and hands that comes and goes. The Veterans Agent Orange Exposure Equity Act, introduced by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn., and Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Penn., would allow veterans who served in some other countries during the conflict to access benefits without providing additional evidence. My husband is 100% disabled due to Agent Orange exposure from Vietnam tour. So much for all those people and ads saying welcome home. They call me to cancel an appt. I got nothing for that. My son served in the Army in Desert Storm, so he has his own issues on top of being the son of a Nam vet. Thanks for helping the lady above. 10% for coronary artery disease and bypass surgery? Try getting your money back on any of this. I had heart surgery in 1998 to remove the pericardial sac from my heart. Why bother filing again? Biden awards Medal of Honor to Vietnam Col. Paris D. Davis after 60-year delay. This is a real thing.it is not just a problem with females that served and were exposed. Hes a highly qualified Toxicologist who helps Veterans with claims for exposure to chemicals. So, hes a pulmonary patient at that time, but only AFTER he is diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung cancer that was also in his liver and other areas did he get 100% disability rating. In one case, at Gulfport, Mississippi, new information received from a Veteran led to changes for that site on the list. Sinusitis is already covered. Some Veterans pay all at once while others pay over a lifetime. What about the other 4 years he was stuck to the damn oxygen? You submit a claim, Harmon said. I am a VSO and I always get comments that the VA is That is partly correct. You can file online or thru the mail (https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/). I served in Thailand at the end of the war as a crew chief on F-4s. It seems that most veterans who submit paperwork will get denied the first time regardless of their condition or supporting evidence. I now suffer from diabetes and heart disease. Refiled again Feb 3rd 2021 and been waiting every since. Skinner said the denial was frustrating. Sorry, but I dont have the time or ability to bear the burden of responsibility when it comes to proving this issue. 800-829-4833, Veterans Crisis Line: To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps. I have been hearing stories of other children coming down with CML of exposed Vietnam Vets. Thank god I covered my head with my Fatigue shirt. Drink eat and shower in agent orange in the Tonkin Gulf. What about those who served pass August 31 1971? Named for the colored stripe painted on its barrels, Agent Orange best known for its widespread use by the U.S. military to clear vegetation during the Vietnam War is notorious for being. My husband had Guillain Barre Syndrome for 3 1/2 yrs & never came home he was in different hospitals the whole 3 1/3 yrs & his liver took the best of him. VA is initiating rulemaking to consider adding respiratory conditions, which may include asthma, sinusitis and rhinitis, to the list of chronic disabilities based on an association with military service in Southwest Asia, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan during the covered periods of conflict. Last his sight basically overnight when the inflammation hit the optic nerve. We would appreciate any help with the claim as it would cost 4,000 a month which we could not afford but one month. GOD sees this. Wasnt Agent Orange used in Vietnam? The herbicides were in the very air, he believes. We have suffered as well. He also suggested contacting political representatives to get them to work with you. Mekong Delta. Screw the VA and screw the United States. Not enough die yet? Never wait to be notified. Tom had wished for years that he could find his friend. So many of these Vietnam era vets have already passed from this BS. Army and was later diagnosed with Diabetes, hearing loss, Parkinsons and other health conditions and according to one doctor at the VA he was exposed to Agent Orange. I filed an appeal to reopen an agent Orange claim for diabetes from serving on a submarine in the Viet Nam waters for four deployments when the presumption for blue water sailors was approved and put into effect in January of 2020. I send my prayers to you during this difficult time. While I am here I am 100 % pt, I am lucky I guess it took only 8 months for my receiving Agent Orange is just a euphemism for many different types of herbicides. PRESUMPTIONS OF SERVICE CONNECTION FOR DIS-2 EASES ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE TO CER- 3 TAIN HERBICIDE AGENTS FOR VETERANS 4 WHO SERVED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE 5 REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM. It is not a hereditary cancer. Every day I was subjected to JP-4, Agent Orange surrounding our perimeter, MOGAS, Diesel and God knows what else. My husband had Lewy Body Dementia for twelve years that we know of and then had Parkinsons the last three years of his life. If you have filed a claim with the VBA since your diagnosis in 2010, the VA SHOULD be contacting you. I had to clean all of this up with no idea that this could be agent orange. They (the VA) will grant it, (or) theyll grant it partially, (or) theyll deny it, which is probably about 80 to 90% of the Thailand veterans, they have been denied. I sat in the chair, demanded him to look and waited for his lazy ass to find it! I remember those days. every single day,a never ending nightmare. I do get benefits for my hearing but still have issues with my shaking . He (McHenry) was a walking encyclopedia of information, Skinner said. It took another 4 years of privately paid care before the VA finally started helping out with SOME of the cost. At age 59 I had my first rare cancer, thyroid and later a 2nd cancer even rarer Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor in my abdomen. We didnt know what killed all the vegetation in many areas on Searching and Destroy missions? Both his parents lived to the age of 96. Contact a VSO officer. Each disease is rated from 5% to 100%, then I still believe I was subjected to Agent Orange. 2. The base I was assigned to refueled C-130s with Agent Orange and it was used to control our foliage. Charles, They should know and be able to assist. Vietnam 69 and 70. But proving it isnt always possible, others say. My husband now has a 240% disability rating with T&P and we got the final ratings through the American Legion. Make an appointment with your nearest VA representative. That is why he called me! He was rated 100%. Its shameful how they have forgotten us. We have been fighting a long battle with no success! Im spending out of pocket about $6,000 to $6,500 a year in medications, he said. I have developed arithmia, high blood pressure, diabetes and asthma. My siblings and I have more then one of the affects from my fathers exsposure. You also have to I assume you served in Vietnam, You need to have them check you for Parkinsons disease. You will now be able to tab or arrow up or down through the submenu options to access/activate the submenu links. Airmobile Division. We were exposed to the chemicals daily, and I was at Camp Lejeune during the water contamination years. Between the Benzine in the JP4 that I breathed, the Asbestos and Oils on the Tuluga, and the God knows what on the other ships it is a no wonder that I have COPD.