While we were trying to eat in a overhead tarp, the smoke from the burn pits went right through where we were eating!! Does anybody know about it ? When did you serve in Korea? Boozman, Tester Fight for Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange During Service in Thailand. He got a double whammy being a Vietnam vets son and then whatever was going on with the poison that was Anniston, good ol Monsanto strikes again :-( And of course, we never knew about that until it was decades too late. Make your claim ASAP if you havent already. Can i get VA assistance? The timeframe addition is discrimination within our own ranks and we dont do that. Please help us! This mysterious delay is not helping. A spokeswoman for the Department of Veterans Affairs declined an interview but offered to answer questions in writing. A Guide to Strengthening Your Thailand Agent Orange Exposure Claim Edward M. Farmer is a U.S. Army veteran and an attorney. You being the spouse rather than the actual veteran, you may or may not get to join. The condition affected my right leg, mostly, causing numbness where I had to rely upon a cane in order to walk. Christopher Cross. As I read story after story. Isnt the esophagus part of the air intake (respiratory) system??????!!!!! Several bills in Congress purport to take aim at the problem. Hang in there Brother. And on it goes now they are concerned again? (They are dumb animals that fight our foreign wars for our interest) SORRY BUT THIS WAS NAVEL INTERN BY FAR NOT A DUMB ANIMAL. Many of our Nations Veterans have waited a long time for these benefits, said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough. Many of the diseases posted by the VA as AO exposure have numerous When will they get enough competent case reviewers to catch up on all Agent Orange Disability claims.?? Roy, go to the nearest Disabled American Veterans office and ask them for assistance. I have hyperthyroidism from agent orange. I dont know if it was specific to Dong Ha. The VA refuses to acknowledge any of my service-connected disabilities. I was diagnosed with PPA. My deceased husband, John Joseph McEnroe, died on April 21, 1977, from an astrocytoma of the right frontal lobes which spread to his spinal column and herniated his brain on his brain stem. Do I need to have my VSO file a claim or does the fact that I had it when I had my Agent Orange exam suffice? I have heard that also, and was attached to the SeaBees Public Works, at NAS Agana, June 1974-November 1975so there is a chance we used the damned stuff to spray and had not a clue. Also, Lung cancer has been a recognized Agent Orange presumptive disease for more than 20 years. What about those who served pass August 31 1971? My husband, who is a Vietnam vet, has scleroderma. Never told the area had been coated with AO. My husband had Lewy Body Dementia for twelve years that we know of and then had Parkinsons the last three years of his life. I was a combat Marine Vietnam 68-69. I periodically return to refile so that my family will have something to pester them with after I pass. Specially the crooked politicians! Sorry this award came to late, We are the care takers of what they destroyed fur what, their greed. Those who had served at one of the military bases in Thailand listed in the below URL and the locations at those bases identified, and experiencing any of the ailments considered possibly caused by Agent Orange (including prostate cancer) may now be eligible for VA treatment and compensation. s truly on the way! My faith in the VA got a big boost by the quick response to my initial application. I have read articles where the VA is talking about neuropathy being caused by Agent Orange if you do not have diabetes. in 2005 he had open heart surgery. Without their help I doubt that it can be done!! I have had cancer and other illness but still got denied 3 days before Christmas. There was a lot of Agent Orange used in the area. Steven, if you have not yet, check out Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance on Facebook. Just checking. This is a list of the first names of men from the 14th Combat Engineers who died in 1968. I only get the run around when I call. My husband served 20 years in the USMC and served in the Vietnam War in 1968. If none of these is a match, please let me know so I wont continue to look for a reply from you. 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. Paula there is strong evidence that Dioxin the active agent in Agent Orange altered DNA and as such children can see their health impacted so do not give up. Skinner said the denial was frustrating. I was in Vietnam for 2 1/2 years flying as a combat support crew chief. My husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer 3 years ago. After many years of dealing with the VA in Iowa City, I got him in to Danville, Illinois VA. This AO affected my circulatory system (heart), lungs (everything hits my lungs first), and other issues starting in my early 30s. (PROGRESSIVE Supranucler PALSY). Thats what we do; we get creative, Mineer said. When will his cases be reopened and his wife notified? But, the side affects still exist and the damage is done and on going. VA will begin implementing provisions of the William M. Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283), adding three conditions to the list of those presumptively associated with exposure to herbicide agents, more commonly known as Agent Orange. Trying to add timeframes is like saying one person can have same contamination but we dont care because it was before a war period. im sure he falls in this category relating to his death. I now suffer from diabetes and heart disease. He passed away July 2012. Otherwise, I would be working myself until I died. Good luck with that! Many people here were exposed to toxins after 9/11. How about the contaminated waters in Fort Dix, of the V.A. My husband Was in Korea in 1973 and 1974. There should be a 1-800-827-1000 number or something similar. Treasury sanctions three Russians for imprisonment of opposition leader. Were they ever exposed to AO? He said he worked in areas close to base fencelines and perimeters, sometimes chaining down jets to run the engines, which would actually kick up dust and dirt everywhere around the aircraft.. What is the problem? The only reason not to add it is the cost. I also came back to Vietnam as Is blue water navy on the USS st. Louis. I want this to be taken seriously! He passed in April of 2019 due to complications from his surgery. In fact my brother in law had to wait on the ship until well after dark, like a sneak thief, I have had numerous health issues my entire life and was conceived within two weeks of him coming home from Vietnam. Was not easy but with their help it can be done. is not going to do anything unless forced tothen they will make a big deal about it,make sure everyone knows,then after a year maybe 2 they will start to reduce benefits, I have recurring bladder cancer, since 2005 it has come back several times, and also several times with precancerous cells that has to be lasered out,went from 100% reduced to 60% because the V.A. My dad served proudly and for only to receive nothing in return from the VA. No burial benefits, no flag, just nothing!!!!! He mentioned this orange agent lawsuit to me years ago when I was still in early teens. Exactly? Seems like mission is to dissuade veterans. He was in Korea 6 mos after the presumptive tome of exposure to agent Orange. Those conditions are bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism. 6 (a) IN GENERAL.Section 1116 of title 38, United 7 States Code, is amended 8 (1) by striking '', during active military, naval, Youre absolutely correct. It will be difficult to locate your husbands friends family, however it may be possible. Lesion removed from Biden's chest was common form of skin cancer, doctor says. For anyone that has questions about a claim, or their eligibility for VA benefits, you should reach out to your local VSO. Hes a highly qualified Toxicologist who helps Veterans with claims for exposure to chemicals. I have Prostate Cancer. He was also exposed to Agent Orange. Im spending out of pocket about $6,000 to $6,500 a year in medications, he said. I have had my thyroid removed due to thyroid cancer and served in Vietnam Nam from 67 to 68. I have no idea. Thank you for your time in reviewing this note. I was told agent orange was used in Guam to clear foliage at the end of the aircraft parking area and runway to make room for fuel bladder systems. your claim. Given the ventilation systems used, any contamination that became airborne was pumped into the ships. 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? We were stationed together. Ancestry.com has a military lookup feature, and there is a website called vetfriends.com. My thyroid quit years ago, 3 hernia operations, and compared to many of us, Im lucky but At 75 years old, I dont know how much I have left. Crickets.. My neurosurgeon has been researching the neuropathy being caused by Agent Orange and he attests that it has only made matters worse with my neuropathy. When I filed my clame and had the physical in Detroit Everyone that was on the bases would have been in the spray zone for the herbicides, Flodder said. I served on a PBR river boat on the mekong in 1971. Veterans who served in Thailand have long contended they face a higher bar in winning Veterans Administration (VA) disability benefits claims, having to clearly demonstrate they were exposed to. Good luck!! My claim with the VA was denied for compensation of the medical bills I had to pay out of pocket. However, VA's adjudication manual (M21-1) does recognize Vietnam-era veterans whose service involved duty on or near the perimeters of military bases in Thailand anytime between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975 may have been exposed to Agent Orange and may qualify for VA benefits. What about the drinking water at Camp Lejeune..v and prostate cancerv, what about soldiers exposed to shlt pits in Afghanistan. Why do our veterans have to prove so much when agent orange was such a poison. Form or find a support group to work together in filing claims. Ive had hypothyroidism for 38 years. Agent Orange was used at my location. I also drank a lot of water and ate healthy foods. When I read that the Blue Water Navy was getting this it upset me so if you were off the coast of Vietnam you can get it. Squeaky wheel gets the grease My dad fueled planes in Vietnam in 1969 and was exposed daily for a year. Wasnt Agent Orange used in Vietnam? My husband also served 67-68 with the Army, from DaNang, all the way up to the DMZ at Camp Evans as an Engineer attached to the 1st Cav. I hear you my brother Vietnam vet recently died two tours Vietnam suffered with brain disease, I see some talking months of waiting, Im talking decades he waited, working yes but suffering, wife and family suffering. Is he bragging about complying with the law? He was diagnosed with Aphasia in 2011 and became 100% disabled by Feb. 2012. Too late. Mary L. Unfortunately you only had one year to continue his claim. McHenry worked for years to correct what he argued was an error in that memo, which held there was no evidence of tactical herbicides having been used at American bases in Thailand. The base I was assigned to refueled C-130s with Agent Orange and it was used to control our foliage. He battled with many service connected medical/neurological issues including Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) until he died in 2017. I would love to find others that new him. Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (if it presents within one year of exposure to a degree of 10 percent disabling) I have not been able to secure ANY Squadron Flight Logs either. Fumes over came and some had to be taken out in to fresh air. If you have a copy of his DD214 and / or know the unit he was in you have a starting point. Used bales of rags to clean it up. Please help me for my husband & that was in Vietnam around the Agent Orange. right people at veterans affairs for you. He (McHenry) was a walking encyclopedia of information, Skinner said. Following the passing of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, there are now three new conditions on the Agent Orange presumptive list. I filed for agent orange exposure I have been diagnosed by my Doctor with peripheral neuropathy and stinging and tingling in my extremities. Interestingly, my husband was approved after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. 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. I am a Blue water Vietnam Veteran that severed three tours off the coast of Vietnam. I still believe I was subjected to Agent Orange. Now , wondering if i am incorrect?? Big news from Iceland Feb. 2021 in the amount of lead in the base, NASKEF, drinking water in the late 90s. I have a Bladder condition for the last 21 years it was not cancer but I was at U-Tapao Thailand from Jan. 1975-March 1976? I served in the Marine Corps from 1972-1979. The VA hasnt even approved private therapy to assist me with my exceedingly difficult situation. I served as an infantryman during the same period. Do it ASAP as Im sure many will be doing the same,, GOOD LUCK!!! Had been notified that i will receive 30% disability for being contaminated with AO and the Rainbow Herbicide agents. 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. visit VeteransCrisisLine.net for more resources. They deserve relief for the pain and hardship this has caused for them and their families.". VA announced today two major decisions related to presumptive conditions associated with Agent Orange and particulate matter exposures during military service in Southwest Asia. Get 4 of 6 problems. I served in Vietnam 66-67 a grunt with the 1st Infantry Division I have intestrial lung disease/pulmonary fibrosis these are not considered related to agent orange exposure which is toxic so Im not eligible for disability and it should be you have to get lung cancer to get benefits. Go to nearest VA facility and get registered with VA Health, find a VSO and he/she will fill out the necessary papers for you. My Father Thomas H. Wilson Sr. (Deceased) died on February 14, 1986, after a gruesome battle with Bone, Lung, and, Stomach cancer. Agent Orange is one of several "tactical herbicides" used by the U.S. military during Operation Ranch Hand, a multi-year chemical warfare operation during the Vietnam War. We have a wonderful VA home in Sulphur Oklahoma. Your best bet is your local VSO. I was proud to restore many F 111 A fighters environmental systems back to peak efficiency. I do get benefits for my hearing but still have issues with my shaking . I served in Vietnam 1970-71. Due to the operations being Politically Incorrect today all information about where we were at and did is still classified today. My three sons and some of the grandchildren are at risk and indeed have some unusual conditions. Recent changes in both blue and brown water sites should apply to your husbands service. Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 What happed to all of us poisoned at Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune NC? Why wont the VA properly recognize my 100% physical disability obviously caused by exposure to Agent Orange for the last 40+ years??!!!! This article is a joke! quadruple bypass Parkinsons like syndrome Mary get a lawyer you have a lot of money coming, a lot will have to what his death certificate I was a Flight Deck director on the USS Kearsarge Aircraft Carrier. As a 30 year retired United States Air Force Disabled Veteran, I have prayed for this day to come. Shannon Brewer, Senior Attorney Updated: August 12, 2013. I had asked my VA rep because a classmate of mine had this particular problem that your family has. I called later and was told that the VA had all the information that they needed from me. The process seems so slanted as if to prevent the possibility that higher-ranking people bear the burden of responsibility. Problem solved!!!! I was stationed at Camp Lejune in Feruary 1959.I had a claim filed.Last year In August I had a traumatic brain injury and nearly died twice.While I was rehabilitating from this injury I received a call from the Veterans Administration about my claim.We got into an argument she told me she was also a Marine she was very nasty. We were stationed at McLellan in 69. Contact DAV they will help you get started and shepherd your claim through. Dad wanted his compensation to go to his daughters . I know he was in Khe Sahn and went on to the DMZ by the time he got out of Nam. The AFHRA memo said that although use of commercial herbicides is documented, the Air Force archivists found no mention of the transportation, payment for or use of any tactical herbicide to control vegetation on Air Force installations in Thailand. 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. Ive got my fingers crossed. Has it been found that it infected mechanics that worked on helicopters and airplanes that were used with agent orange? Does this make me eligible for compensation? Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. If, you do not have PD, you may be able to file for the new Parkinsom. 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. Examined for Agent Orange four years ago. NJ? When he was diagnosed with terminal Stage 4 lung cancer, all of a sudden the VA got charitable and rated him 100%, which did a helluva lot of good for him and for me as a survivor 5 damn months. I was in VN 1968-69 , I have my bladder removed and prostate around 2002 at Palo Alto VA hospital in California ,all by cancer. All of my skin peeled off but no body was interested in my problems. Submit the claim A locked padlock Take heart, they will get to you if you were initially denied. Those of us who served on aircraft carriers operating out of yankee station are denied compensation for agent orange related conditions because we were outside the 12 mile limit.