It is most likely from agent orange. You sound very much like my 51 yr old son. that rating. If one of them matches the first name you have I can keep going. https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/conditions/index.asp. 1968-70, then back on Okinawa 1970-72. Im his daughter I was born in 1964 and I have Parkinsons and dystonia and other nurogical problems, and a brain DBS implant, all because of Dystonia, these diseases do not run in either side of my familys. I would love to see the number of cases where the applicant has died before their case has been resolved. Being exposed just doesnt stop with the military member. Good luck to you. Im not sure if VA has put me into the exposed group. Good luck and God bless you all. Their use in Vietnam and Thailand took a heavy toll. The representative we now have is efficient and helpful. My husband was in Korea 1973-1974 he was in the 37thArtillery 6th Battalion Camp Essayons.Will any new VA expand benefits help him? New Conditions Added to Agent Orange Presumptive List January 15, 2021 Updated: January 30, 2023 Three new conditions were recently added to the list of presumptive conditions for which the Department of Veterans Affairs grants service connection to Vietnam War veterans affected by exposure to the chemical herbicide Agent Orange. My father died from cancer from Agent Orange colon cancer the VA denied it . GOONIE BIRDS got better treatment! Several bills in Congress purport to take aim at the problem. Mary get a lawyer you have a lot of money coming, a lot will have to what his death certificate It took 5 years before I got anything from the VA. I am now 67, unable to work and already living in an old age living facility. He use to say they would spray agent orange below the hills he was on to control the jungle below them. Id be better off living overseas in a country with universal healthcare, which we did for four years but were penalized 10% for each year that we lived abroadnearly $800/month forever from Social Secure/Medicareor even just using my Medicare than being forced to rely on approval from the VA for Community Care: far superior to anything the VA has to offer. I would love to find others that new him. This is important to a number of Airmen as it seems to affect us later in life with lung, sinus and cough issues. If your location and time frame is on the list and you were previously denied disability based on herbicide exposure compensation, you can file a supplemental claim. Google Okinawa and Agent Orange. I am proud to have served, but I am not pleased at the way the VA treats me and many other veterans. Migrant woman dies after U.S. Coast Guard stops vessel carrying 54. Together we are working trying to get all our ducks in a row to file a widows pension claim on the newly approved Parkinsonism agent orange approved disease. My siblings and I have more then one of the affects from my fathers exsposure. I have been thru 2 bladder cancer surgeries and have other medical issues. Updated . Spent a year on that Island as many other Vets. I try to kick it by running and staying healthy but to no avail. Reapply. He passed in April of 2019 due to complications from his surgery. Now that is just one person. Operation restore democracy in Haiti 1994. He has a number of health issues. Young. (Even though he had rectal cancer and now has a colostomy.) Politicians carry responsibility also. I tried to respond to you twice, but they wont accept my posts for some reason. How can I get information sent to me for adding the disability due to Hypothyroidism? I too am having issues obtaining benefits for my husband who served in Vietnam. File a claim for DIC at va.gov or find a good VA advocate to help you. Agent Orange while serving in Thailand during the Vietnam Era. She could very well be eligible for benefits. There was a lot of Agent Orange used in the area. Sent in all the medical records most of which were already on his profile. Thank goodness Ol Uncle Sugar is on the case! 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? Also this was 72 till76. 4th MAW. My husband passed 10 years ago from bladder cancer as well. My countys VA reps paycheck comes out of our tax moneynot all counties are willing to pay for us to have a good representative. Im a child of a deceased Vietnam vet. Version Date: 8/11/22 . But the prospects for those bills is uncertain at this point. I was in Vietnam during the year 1970. Is someone here have the truth? and last updated 2021-02-08 21:35:02-05. . Army. This article is a joke! I was born 10 months after my father returned and I am plagued with these issues. WASHINGTON - U.S. Im 72 and my time is limited and its been a long hard road, but Ive raised my posterity. (They were glad to see me go). Im diabetic, have had two heart attacks, bladder cancer, and numerous other afflictions. I assume you served in Vietnam, You need to have them check you for Parkinsons disease. They will also send you to outside doctors, to prove your claim, do not miss the My husband found a good advocate 150 miles from where we lived and got all his benefits. I have had stage four prostate cancer which I have survived. Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (if it presents within one year of exposure to a degree of 10 percent disabling) VA needs to be alert to symptoms and catch it sooner, with testing. AGENT ORANGE EXPOSURE . I trusted the authorities in charge completely. Sorry this award came to late, We are the care takers of what they destroyed fur what, their greed. Nevermind that he was likely suffering from the metastatic cancer for the previous few years.undiagnosed. 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. Pass this info to everyone who was exposed to chemicals from Vietnam. Im 43 now and one of my two sisters from a different mother has health problems as well. My husband served in Vietnam in 1967-1968 and was diagnosed with AML leukemia in September 2020 and died in February 2021. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. My dad served proudly and for only to receive nothing in return from the VA. No burial benefits, no flag, just nothing!!!!! Cant find any records of Decontamination of Aircraft but i was in close contact, Launching, Recovering & Securing these helos after either IN COUNTRY or SHORE RESCUES. Christopher Cross. My lawyers quit the case. Can anyone confirm this or direct me where to find the truth? US kept all the Nerve gas and Orange on the Island until 1995. I am asking for help and advisement. The process seems so slanted as if to prevent the possibility that higher-ranking people bear the burden of responsibility. Aside thought it would go away as it did some times at night after battle .talk to me V A . I had heart surgery in 1998 to remove the pericardial sac from my heart. I am a bladder cancer survivor (early detection). My name is Beverly Smith and my husband Rodney died 28 months ago with Lung cancer. Thats where my father was and how I know he died! 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. Hes fought for this PARKINSONS knowing full well it came from what he was exposed to in Vietnam. exposed to agent orange. On Thursday, Pennsylvania Reps. Matt Cartwright (D) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R) introduced new legislation to expand the presumption of exposure to Agent Orange for disability benefits to. If you have filed a claim with the VBA since your diagnosis in 2010, the VA SHOULD be contacting you. kapm. I have had numerous health issues my entire life and was conceived within two weeks of him coming home from Vietnam. Vietnam War era Veterans and their survivors who previously filed and were denied benefits for one of these three new presumptive conditions will have their cases automatically reviewed without the need to refile a claim. I have hyperthyroidism from agent orange. Smfh!! File a claim at va.gov. Does the theater include Guam and other stockpile locations in the South Pacific? And still didnt know what all that noise was,,I thought I had to live with it from 9/67 to 5/68, we had 2 helicopter Squadrons home Based on our ship. I have an idea of how to get started. Lesion removed from Biden's chest was common form of skin cancer, doctor says. My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 bladder cancer 3 years ago. You will find a very good article that explains qualifications. When I filed my clame and had the physical in Detroit Never told the area had been coated with AO. He didnt receive a dime from the military, because when they finally approved him he died 2 days later. What about soldiers that were made to take the PB pill to inoculate us from nerve agents during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. We never thought, or were told to ask our First Sargent Can you tell me what chemicals we are using here, and how will they possibly affect my health 25 years from now? We were all asked to step up, and never thought that a real enemy might be the Department of Defense, or perhaps some other EM doing what he had been told to do. So besides having survived Vietnam, there was Aniston. 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. Needle in a haystack. We filed an Agent Orange claim in 1977 for our daughter was born with many birth defects that are on the birth defects that were caused from the Agent Orange. 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. I filed a week later for survivor benefits. When did you serve in Korea? He was assigned to the 14th Engr Combat Battalion attached to the 1st Cav airmobile division. I served both in the field and in Saigon. Bien Phouc. I dont know where to start- and going by all these posts of ppl like myself- its looks pretty bleak for outcomes. There is more to that in his records and he died from cancer. . The Va clinic says, I dont know what your talking about. Gave me shock treatments and sent me on my way. Sen. 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. Neither were they included in new Middle East veteran benefits until less than a year ago. The investigation did confirm use or tests in additional sites and dates in other locations. When will we be covered? USMC 67-71. Having any of these conditions is not fun and thanking us for our service doesnt help much. Apply 5 times. Exactly my question? I check my status every week, still no decision. Now that I am retired I have been diagnosed with asthma, sinusitis and rhinitis. Tom had wished for years that he could find his friend. Good luck and God bless you. My husband now has a 240% disability rating with T&P and we got the final ratings through the American Legion. Ten have them Submit another claim for you. I am a Vietnam Veteran who, has lived with critical neuropathy after several EMGs. as a fully developed claim if you can do that, they process those first. Our vets are used and God sees this. We were stationed at McLellan in 69. The residue that was on them ? Our son was conceived when we lived there. Google agent orange diseases and symptoms breakdown. The veteran representative we now have in our county told me that the more that happens, the greater the numbers to have it considered for approval. Then the following week I get a letter saying I missed my appt. 6 (a) IN GENERAL.Section 1116 of title 38, United 7 States Code, is amended 8 (1) by striking '', during active military, naval, He was rated 100%. He had only 2 children, my brother and I. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? VA announced today two major decisions related to presumptive conditions associated with Agent Orange and particulate matter exposures during military service in Southwest Asia. He loved the Army. I believe the airmen who were stationed in Anderson AFB in Guam were also exposed to Agent Orange. My daughter had to have her thyroids removed when she was a young teenager. 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. We roamed around downtown Anniston quite a bit. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. So good luck to all who are still fighting the fight. We didnt know what killed all the vegetation in many areas on Searching and Destroy missions? They should be able to assist you with getting your claim submitted. Have you filed everything yourself. Vietnam 66,67 and 68. Why doesnt the VA recognize those of us who served in Thailand. I will however continue to fight until I take my last breath! By 2014, the front and both sides of his brain completely shrank and was unable to comprehend judgment and needed full-time care. It seems that most veterans who submit paperwork will get denied the first time regardless of their condition or supporting evidence. Turner hassupported similar legislationin the past. Every vet who was there deserves aid. I have had experiences with the VA similar to yours. Is there any advantage to further filings?? Developed diabetes. 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. In the following link you will be able to find a representative by searching State or County listings. Is this true? The calculation requires three digits but the field size only shows two digits! "Many of those who have been exposed are living with cancers, heart disease or Parkinson's disease. I lost my fater 4 years ago to the toxic water at camp Lejeune. While we were trying to eat in a overhead tarp, the smoke from the burn pits went right through where we were eating!! They (the VA) dont give you a definition of what the perimeter is, Harmon said. Do I have any recourse in this matter. 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 have been dealing with them since 2004 with no result. VA doctors told my husband to apply for disability for Agent Orange which was supposed to be automatic if you served in certain areas, including Thailand, where it was sprayed around base perimeters, where everyone walked. I am so glad they have finally recognized bladder cancer as a result of agent orange. They caved and gave me assistance for my heart/circulatory issues, along with a hearing loss (grenade damaged) and tinnitus. I only get the run around when I call. I was around agent orange. Poway, Calif. attorney Amanda Mineer recalled working on one case in which she and her team had to introduce into evidence a photo of a sailor taking a photographic selfie of himself on a ship as that ship crossed the equator, with barrels of Agent Orange nearby, visible in the photo. 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. I had no idea the Government was actually compensating servicemen exposed to such danger. Trones bill would force these to be adjudicated this quicker, presuming that they were exposed to harmful herbicides. Ive spent the last 40+ years unable to do any physical work because I cannot bend over or do anything physically stressful. The term agent orange has to be removed from any claim and replaced with herbicide which is a denial by our VA that the chemical was used to defoliate the perimeters of all the air basis in Thailand. Get buddy letter . I have no family history of Diabetes, Polycythemia Vera or Carcinoid Cancer, so I think the VA is wrong. Lets be real, this was 60 years ago, Trone said. I remember that I often awakened in my BOQ (the Idaho) to almost choking smells of burning garbage. How do I find out about agent orange being used in Korea up by the DMZ during 1973 and 1974. was wondering what you have to do die to get something done. has never reviewed my case as of June 2021. No one ever told me and zi was too busy trying to survive and raise two kids with a bad case of PTSD and other conditions that affected them! Now it should be noted that when the chemical was sprayed one could not help but be exposed to it as the only way to the barracks was by military bus and if one wanted to eat one had to walk to the Mess Hall. 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. 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. Sounds like the guys are finally getting what they deserve. After many years of dealing with the VA in Iowa City, I got him in to Danville, Illinois VA. He has to apply and use a catheter twice a day, something he expects to do for the rest of his life. Ive had issues with my hands shaking for a long time. To receive updates on my teams efforts, sign up for the newsletter now. 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. The VA to me at this point in time is absolutely useless! I called Palo Alto pain clinic for back treatment. To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps. The children of Vietnam are still affected by it. Thats why I ask, is there anybody left? These, mostly men, werent thanked for their service, werent cheered as they arrived home. Jun 2, 2021 / 06:29 PM EDT. Almost every county has the va dont care about vets !!! Id be contacting your advocate asap and get your claim going! When will there be an admission that agent orange was stored, transported and frequently sprayed on bases in Okinawa? Where is the bottleneck and why is it there? Good luck. He served during Vietnam war. Unlike veterans who served in Vietnam and certain areas of Korea, veterans who served in Thailand are not entitled by law to a presumption of exposure to tactical herbicides, the spokeswoman said. Everyone that was on the bases would have been in the spray zone for the herbicides, Flodder said. They can never repay me for my loses or my daughters! Neither is free, but I dont know how much they are. Refiled again Feb 3rd 2021 and been waiting every since. All of my skin peeled off but no body was interested in my problems. What do I have to do. The Virus can no longer be used as an alibi. Loaded agent orange, asked what was in the drums, they said they could not tell me. WHY ?? And I wanted to try to talk to him, Ellen Spinks. If I were a civilian in Aniston I could sue and at least get my medical bills paid forbut I was just serving my country so I guess I dont deserve to be treated like a human being. https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/locations/tests-storage/index.asp. What about the thousands who served in Thailand and were exposed to agent orange, have the same medical issues as those who served in Vietnam, but are continually denied any benefits. I served in Viet Nam Nov 70 -Nov 71, at Anloc VN and was diagnosed in 2010 with hypothyroidism. My dad was poisoned by AO during the war doing decon of planes from Vietnam. Sounds as tho EVERYTHING is denied!! Plus, he also served in Desert Storm and has his own set of problems from that :-( Good luck EVER getting the government to admit anything close to causative exposure. Go see a VA service representative. Because the government claims it was never there I have had no success in being compensated. Hes lived 3 decades with this and its a long suffering disease. What about all of us who were stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama ? God bless you!!! Will his claim be reviewed now in light of the new findings? Came home on a Bipap and directions to use an oxygen concentrator and had to have tanks exchanged every month, I believe. Good luck!! Who do we contact to start the claim process or to see if we are eligible? Hes a highly qualified Toxicologist who helps Veterans with claims for exposure to chemicals. Treasury sanctions three Russians for imprisonment of opposition leader. It is not a hereditary cancer. This was the only work I ever did under such conditions and now I pay a very high price, no future. I had a much smaller exposure than your father and I have lots of Autoimmune diseases as does at least one of my children. If you would like my help just let me know. I have had no status updates since Congressman Doug Lamalfa of California made an inquiry. That has been appealed with the help of the Dept of Veterans Affairs. It is beyond horrible. Sadly the VA denies ALL such claims. My daughter lived for a month & 7 days. Doctor told me heart ( VA has me on meds, surgery in 2002) not in AO conditions. Get more resources at VeteransCrisisLine.net. Has it been found that it infected mechanics that worked on helicopters and airplanes that were used with agent orange? 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. Every time I went to the local VA clinic for my 6 month wellness check there was supposed to be now charge for this. July 2019, President Donald J. Trump issued a directive that those of us who served in the Tonkin Gulf are now considered Blue Water Navy. Thank you for complying with what had to be forced on you, Mr. Secretary, after thousands of my brothers had to die. Big news from Iceland Feb. 2021 in the amount of lead in the base, NASKEF, drinking water in the late 90s. Can I file a claim now. Thailand veterans harmed by Agent Orange hope Congress will hear them - Congressman David Trone November 01, 2021 Thailand veterans harmed by Agent Orange hope Congress will hear them Credit: Dayton Daily News, Thomas Gnau Vietnam War-era veterans who served in Thailand say they're still fighting. I was a platoon leader in Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry Division in 1969 and Ive been able to locate and contact more than 50 men from my unit. Some men are so sick they might not be capable of having the clarity of mind to fight for their rights. Planes and Choppers spraying directly over us wile sweeping the area No portable water. My father recently passed but was %100 sec connected whatever that means. Woo hoo! The work was nasty, many chemicals, oils, fiberglass, the duct work in the avionics bay located in the nose was trashed. What if your father has already died?