From an article in the NY Times

Report Sees Agent Orange Link to More Illnesses

By JANIE LORBER
Published: July 24, 2009
An expert panel reported on Friday that two more diseases may be linked to exposure to Agent Orange, a defoliant used by the American military during the Vietnam War.

People exposed to the chemical appear, at least tentatively, to be more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease and ischemic heart disease, according to the report. The report was written by a 14-member committee charged by the Institute of Medicine with determining whether certain medical conditions were caused by exposure to herbicides used to clear stretches of jungle.

The results, though not conclusive, are an important first step for veterans groups working to get the government to help pay for treatment of illnesses they believe have roots on the battlefield. Some other conditions linked to Agent Orange already qualify.

Claud Tillman, a 61-year-old veteran from Knoxville, Tenn., who lost his job repairing guns after he received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, said those benefits could help dig him out of tens of thousands of dollars in debt.

Mr. Tillman has not worked since March 2007 and now lives on loans from relatives, including his son. “It sure has messed my life up,” said Mr. Tillman, who said he was sure he became ill after exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam. “I don’t know how to explain it. It won’t be long till I’m living under a bridge. I am confident that that’s where it came from, but there’s no way to prove it.”

Since 1994 the Institute of Medicine committee has found 17 conditions associated with exposure to the chemical, 13 of which qualify veterans for service-connected disability benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In its latest report, the committee found “limited or suggestive evidence” linking the herbicide to Parkinson’s and ischemic heart disease. In the past, that has been enough evidence of a link to prompt benefits for some conditions but not for others.

The group Vietnam Veterans of America plans to write a letter to the secretary of veterans affairs, Eric K. Shinseki, asking for extended benefits, said Bernard Edelman, the organization’s deputy director for policy and government affairs.

The report notes that its conclusions about ischemic heart disease, a condition that restricts blood flow to the heart, causing irregular heartbeats and deterioration of the heart muscle, are still tentative because it is difficult to separate confounding risk factors like age, weight and the effects of smoking.

The link between Parkinson’s disease and Agent Orange is also uncertain because, while new studies have strengthened the connection between the condition and certain chemicals, there is still no data on veterans and the condition.

S/F GARY ALLS
HMM-263 '66-'67

Entire Veterans and AO report

You can view the entire study online here, http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12662&page=R1

I have yet to be able to find a paper copy. A few libraries have copies of the 2006 version and make available via inter-library loan for a fee.

other exsposure

what about the people who wern't in nam or korea that came into contact with AO ?as a former NBC warfare NCO i can tell you that residual contamination can and does occur from various pieces of equiptment helos,jeeps, waterbuffolos,gse,etc. and i know all that stuff wasn't cleaned properly !!!:eek:

Agent Orange

AO was practiced @ where we did our first SERE school (AFB) in Panama City FL before it went over yonder...but not until 1971 or so...I've some friends (former Marines and Navy) that have been coming down with what I call ST Vitus(sp) dance (shaking and quivering of extremities), which could be the same as you have mentioned. I tried to bring it up to the VA, but they didn't want to hear it. I even showed them the document to prove the exposure to it...but then again...it took the VA 20 years or so to acknowledge my hearing loss.

If us vets are experiencing these things, what do you think the VN is experiencing?

agent orange

Thomas, the condition you refer to is a genetic Condition. It is called Huntingtons. You can only get it by genetics. If your mother, or Father had it, then you will have a 50% chance of getting it. If not, then you will be free of it the rest of your life, as well as your children, and theres. THAT IS A FACT. It is in my Family, and My Mother, and 1 Aunt did not get it. I have 2 cousins of Parents that it affected, and they have not gotten it, and their Children have not gotten it. There has been 6 cousins come down with it so far. 4 have died. One is not far from it now. I do not believe AO can cause a gene to defect and cause Huntingtons. NO way. If you have the gene, you will get it, and if you do not have the gene, you will not get it. My Mother lived until she was 70 plus without getting it,(she did die of Cancer), and her Sister lived until she was 92 without getting it even though 4 of their Brothers and Sisters came down with it. There is no cure. The meds quit working after a short while. My Heart goes out to your Marine, and Navy Brothers. Be with them as much as you can, and try to comfort them as well. They still have their minds, but nothing else. Semper Fi. READY-APP.

The Orange ?

I have to get my thoughts up and running ,But I do have a lot to share with so many of you on this thread. For one thing I have 4 out of 6 Children
that have different health problems.( 2) I didn't smoke or use Drugs as the many VA and alike try to push some blame on My Health. (3) Va also try to say it was Genetics but we had no history for them(different Health Problems).
Anyways I will sit down and come up with some input on this very important
subject matter. OH yes! Guess what Company I live down the road from? 1
of the companies that made AO up for us in Vietnam. Guess !:mad:

St Vitus dance: re: AR exposure

But were any of your relatives exposed to Agent Orange?
This crap was going on...a very long time...before the Nam shtuff...@ Eglin AFB, FL...where so many aviation kids did their first SERE training...
There are so many USA and POW (WWII) headstones @ Ft McClennan, AL all victims of US chemical warfare exposure testing...

Huntingtons vs. Agent Orange

Thomas. Not a one of my relatives were exposed to AO, but Me. I was heavely exposed, for sure, and I am 60 without any symptoms at all, less than 3 months until I'm 61. It is safe to say, I DO NOT have the gene for Huntingtons. It will hit between the ages of late 30's to early 50's, if you have the gene. But, you must have the gene before you, or anyone can be affected by it. One had a motorcycle accident in England in WW2, and he had the gene for Huntingtons which could have advanced the condition a bit.(Agent Orange didn't exist in WW2). BUT, if a person does NOT have the gene for Huntingtons they will not get it even if they drink 10 gallons of Agent Orange. NO Way. AO may advance it in a person with the gene, but if you do not have the gene there is NO WAY Agent Orange can create a Huntingtons gene in your body, and you come down with it no matter what anyone may say, or think. AO Does Not make Huntington genes. There are a lot of people with (the Dance), as you call it, and have the Huntingtons gene with Chickasas Indian Blood in them its not funny. I am Lost Cherokee of Arkansas. Chickasas is in our Family too. It originated in the area of Alabama, Gerorgia, and surrounding States. Why do I know?, My GrandMother had the gene, and she came from Georgia, part Chickasas. I know well about Huntingtons, as stated before, I have had to see 8 of my Family die from it, and there are another 5, or 6 that have the condition, and their Children will possibally have it TOO. Myself, and 3 other cousins, and their Children WILL NOT get it, as we do not have the gene. It would have killed us by now, if we had it. I THANK GOD every Day, I don't. It is NOT a good thing to see, I assure you. If I knew I had the gene, or I had the condition, I certainly would take a gun, and blow my Brains out. To say there are so many USA, and POW(WW11) headstones @ Ft. McClennan, AL, all victims of US chemical warfare exposure testing, is yet to be determined. They would have to be dis-interned, and their bones analyzed for chemicals before we can say that. Testing would be available today. We can assume they were, but until testing is done, We can not say that unless it is on their Death Certificate. I doubt very many would state that either.

chemical warfare test subject deaths

No, their deaths would be listed as training accidents ! like they did for covert operators that died in the field or recon pilots that died over places they weren't supposed to be ! sf

3 new confiremed "presumptive" conditions

GARY ALLS;23615 wrote: Report Sees Agent Orange Link to More Illnesses

By JANIE LORBER
Published: July 24, 2009
An expert panel reported on Friday that two more diseases may be linked to exposure to Agent Orange, a defoliant used by the American military during the Vietnam War.

People exposed to the chemical appear, at least tentatively, to be more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease and ischemic heart disease, according to the report. The report was written by a 14-member committee charged by the Institute of Medicine with determining whether certain medical conditions were caused by exposure to herbicides used to clear stretches of jungle.

The results, though not conclusive, are an important first step for veterans groups working to get the government to help pay for treatment of illnesses they believe have roots on the battlefield. Some other conditions linked to Agent Orange already qualify.

Claud Tillman, a 61-year-old veteran from Knoxville, Tenn., who lost his job repairing guns after he received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, said those benefits could help dig him out of tens of thousands of dollars in debt.

Mr. Tillman has not worked since March 2007 and now lives on loans from relatives, including his son. “It sure has messed my life up,” said Mr. Tillman, who said he was sure he became ill after exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam. “I don’t know how to explain it. It won’t be long till I’m living under a bridge. I am confident that that’s where it came from, but there’s no way to prove it.”

Since 1994 the Institute of Medicine committee has found 17 conditions associated with exposure to the chemical, 13 of which qualify veterans for service-connected disability benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In its latest report, the committee found “limited or suggestive evidence” linking the herbicide to Parkinson’s and ischemic heart disease. In the past, that has been enough evidence of a link to prompt benefits for some conditions but not for others.

The group Vietnam Veterans of America plans to write a letter to the secretary of veterans affairs, Eric K. Shinseki, asking for extended benefits, said Bernard Edelman, the organization’s deputy director for policy and government affairs.

The report notes that its conclusions about ischemic heart disease, a condition that restricts blood flow to the heart, causing irregular heartbeats and deterioration of the heart muscle, are still tentative because it is difficult to separate confounding risk factors like age, weight and the effects of smoking.

The link between Parkinson’s disease and Agent Orange is also uncertain because, while new studies have strengthened the connection between the condition and certain chemicals, there is still no data on veterans and the condition.

S/F GARY ALLS
HMM-263 '66-'67

Parkinson’s disease, ischemic heart disease, and Hairy Cell Cancer as of three weeks ago are Presumptive conditions for Disability.......My DAV at the VA here in Louisville filed my claim this morning.......

BartClu;24855 wrote: Parkinson’s disease, ischemic heart disease, and Hairy Cell Cancer as of three weeks ago are Presumptive conditions for Disability.......My DAV at the VA here in Louisville filed my claim this morning.......

There are now12 conditions recognized as AO service-connected.
Among the newer are lung cancer and respiratory illnesses.
A year ago VA doctors told me the loss of my breath is COPD. I fought for another opinion which showed calcified tumors in linings of both bronchial tubes.
My lungs are fine.
Today, I'm on oxygen 24/7. 4 years ago I was a certified baseball umpire, I could run all day. Today I can barely make it up my steps.
So, heads up, I got to VN the summer of 1965, logically one of the first in-country who would show symptoms of AO illnesses.

Bests of good luck on your claim.
I am now 100% service-connected,
but I'd rather be able to breathe again.

Semper Fi, brothers

Time is on their side!

Pat I have been told I had COPD since early 80's. Also have been in the fight over MS and thats been since 1984,and my MRI's just last year(Nov 08)
show more and this may be part of what is going on with my eyes. Just had a talk with eye Doctor and show Her the MRI reports She kind of shook her head. The AO may be some of my air passage problem too for I also have 7-8 Stents in my heart so its seems that something just kick my butt. Strange thing is they (VA) try to say it was my smoking and Drinking! Funny I didn't do either and so then they said DRUGs HA HA Wasn't in to them either. So with me they just put me off,any way they can. You know that to me it doesn't matter if it was AO or not ,We have these different things going on NOW so WHAT can we do about them :confused:. Most of my Kids have things with their health too.:( Later and God Bless and Keep you .

More Agent Orange Info

The following was on the military.com site Dec 31, 2009:

Costly Agent Orange-Heart Disease Link Looms
Tom Philpott | December 31, 2009
The cost of war -- on veterans’ health and taxpayer wallets -- will loom a little larger in the new year when the Department of Veterans Affairs issues a final rule to claim adjudicators to presume three more diseases of Vietnam veterans, including heart disease, were caused by exposure to Agent Orange.
The rule, expected to be published soon, will make almost any veteran who set foot in Vietnam, and is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, B cell leukemia or ischemic heart disease (known also as coronary artery disease), eligible for disability compensation and VA medical care. The exception would be if credible evidence surfaces of a non-service cause for the ailment.
Katie Roberts, VA press secretary, said no estimates will be available on numbers of veterans impacted or the potential cost to VA until after the rule change takes effect sometime in 2010. But the National Association for Uniformed Services was told by a VA official that up to 185,000 veterans could become eligible for benefits and the projected cost to VA might reach $50 billion, said Win Reither, a retired colonel on NAUS’ executive board.
NAUS also advised members that VA, to avoid aggravating its claims backlog, intends to “accept letters from family physicians supporting claims for Agent Orange-related conditions.” It said thousands of widows whose husbands died of Agent Orange disabilities also will be eligible for retroactive benefits and VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.
“This is huge,” said Ronald Abrams, co-director of the National Veterans Legal Services Program. NVLSP has represented veterans in Agent Orange lawsuits for the last 25 years. The non-profit law group publishes the “Veterans Benefits Manual,” a 1900-page guide for veterans’ advocates to navigate the maze for VA claims, appeals and key court decisions.
Abrams said he can’t guess at how many more thousands of veterans previously denied disability claims, or how many thousands more who haven’t filed claims yet, will be eligible for benefits. But numbers, particularly of those with heart disease, will be very large, he suggested.
All of the veterans “who have been trying to link their heart condition to a service-connected condition won’t have to do it now if they’re Vietnam vets,” Abrams said. For VA, it will mean “a significant amount of money -- and many, many, many people helped.”
The excitement over expansion of benefits for Vietnam veterans, and worry by some within the Obama administration over cost, flows from an announcement last October by VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. He said three categories would be added to the list of diseases the VA presumes were caused by Agent Orange. Veterans with the presumptive Agent Orange ailments can get disability compensation if they can show they made even a brief visit to Vietnam from 1962 to 1975. With a presumptive illness, claim applicants don’t have to prove, as other claimants do, a direct association between their medical condition and military service.
Shinseki said he based his decision on work of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies. VA contracts with IOM to gather veterans’ health data and investigate links between diseases and toxic herbicide used in Vietnam to destroy vegetation and expose enemy positions.
In a speech last July, Shinseki, former Army chief of staff and a wounded veteran of Vietnam, expressed frustration that “40 years after Agent Orange was last used in Vietnam, this secretary is still adjudicating claims for presumption of service-connected disabilities tied to its toxic effects.” VA and the Defense Department should had conducted conclusive studies earlier on presumptive disabilities from Agent Orange, he suggested.
“The scientific method and the failure to advocate for the veteran got in the way of our processes,” Shinseki bluntly concluded.
In last October’s announcement he said VA “must do better reviews of illnesses that may be connected to service, and we will. Veterans who endure health problems deserve timely decisions based on solid evidence.”
When a disease is added to VA’s list of ailments tied to Agent Orange, veterans with the disease can become eligible for retroactive disability payments, back to the date original claims were rejected, if after 1985.
Joe Violante, legislative director for Disabled American Veterans, praised Shinseki’s decision. But he said VA faces a “logistical nightmare” in trying to find veterans turned down on earlier on claims. A VA official told Violante, he said, that cost of the search could be part of that nightmare.
Chairman of government affairs for Vietnam Veterans of America until last October was John Miterko. He said he wasn’t surprised that Shinseki added ailments to the Agent Orange presumptive list including heart disease.
“If you look at the Vietnam veteran population, the diseases we’ve contracted and the mortality rate, the only group dying faster rate are the World War II veterans,” Miterko said. “We’re picking up diseases by our ‘60s that we shouldn’t be getting until our late ‘70s, early ‘80s. So his adding other diseases, heart disease in particular, isn’t a surprise.”
Both Shinseki and his predecessor, James Peake, former Army surgeon general, had long military careers and served in Vietnam. “That’s a hell of a bonus for us,” Miterko said. Both of them have shown “much more empathy, much more understanding. They would have seen many of their own peer group suffering from the effects of exposure to Agent Orange.”
Miterko doesn’t believe anyone can estimate how many veterans will benefit from the new presumptive diseases. VA will continue to process claims individually, he said, and likely won’t be accepting Agent Orange as the cause of heart disease for someone “who has smoked for 40 years and is mobidly obese. Common sense is going to have to prevail as well.”
To comment, send e-mail to milupdate@aol.com or write to Military Update, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA, 20120-1111

Heart Claims

Has anyone been granted disability for heart issues based on AO yet? I applied in Nov, was interviewed 3-4: my brother-in-law was interviewed 1-14 and neither of us has heard a word since..

15 and counting ... Never give up

. . .Under Bush admin, VA-recognized ailments were far fewer. Obama + Shinseki brought progress for Viet vets. Plus Bush & McCain opposed the new GI Bill, authored by Jim Webb and now law.

Veterans' Diseases Associated with Agent Orange Exposure
Veterans may be eligible for disability compensation and health care benefits for diseases that VA has recognized as associated with exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides:

1. Acute and Subacute Peripheral Neuropathy -- A nervous system condition that causes numbness, tingling, and motor weakness. Under VA's rating regulations, it must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure to Agent Orange and resolve within 2 years after the date it began.
2. AL Amyloidosis --A rare disease caused when an abnormal protein, amyloid, enters tissues or organs.
3. B Cell Leukemias -- Cancers which affect B cells, such as hairy cell leukemia.
4. Chloracne (or Similar Acneform Disease) -- A skin condition that occurs soon after dioxin exposure and looks like common forms of acne seen in teenagers. Under VA's rating regulations, chloracne (or other acneform disease similar to chloracne) must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure to Agent Orange.
5. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia -- A disease that progresses slowly with increasing production of excessive numbers of white blood cells.
6. Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2) -- A disease characterized by high blood sugar levels resulting from the body’s inability to respond properly to the hormone insulin.
7. Hodgkin’s Disease -- A malignant lymphoma (cancer) characterized by progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, and by progressive anemia.
8. Ischemic Heart Disease -- A disease characterized by a reduced supply of blood to the heart.
9. Multiple Myeloma -- A cancer of specific bone marrow cells that is characterized by bone marrow tumors in various bones of the body.
10. Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma -- A group of cancers that affect the lymph glands and other lymphatic tissue.
11. Parkinson’s Disease -- A motor system condition with symptoms that include trembling of the limbs and face and impaired balance.
12. Porphyria Cutanea Tarda -- A disorder characterized by liver dysfunction and by thinning and blistering of the skin in sun-exposed areas. Under VA's rating regulations, it must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure to Agent Orange.
13. Prostate Cancer -- Cancer of the prostate; one of the most common cancers among men.
14. Respiratory Cancers -- Cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus.
15. Soft Tissue Sarcoma (other than Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or Mesothelioma) -- A group of different types of cancers in body tissues such as muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels, and connective tissues.

AGENT ORANGE UPDATE:

Presumption of Exposure -- A veteran who, during active military, naval, or air service, served in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962 and ending on May 7, 1975, will be presumed to have been exposed to an herbicide agent during such service, unless there is affirmative evidence that establishes that the veteran was not exposed to any such herbicide agent. See 38 U.S.C.A. § 1116(f) (West 2002); 38 C.F.R. § 3.307(a)(6)(iii) (2008). (Note: the dates of service in Vietnam for the purpose of presumed exposure are not the same as the statutory definition of the “Vietnam Era” in 38 U.S.C.A. § 101(29).)

Length of Exposure -- There is no regulatory requirement as to how long the veteran was in Vietnam; even a few hours of service in country is sufficient to establish the presumption of exposure. The last date on which a veteran will be presumed to have been exposed to an herbicide agent will be the last date on which he or she served in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962 and ending on May 7, 1975. See 38 C.F.R. § 3.307(a)(6)(iii) (2008).

Presumptive Service Connection (herbicide-related diseases)

If a veteran has one of the diseases listed in 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e) (see Appendix A) and his/her exposure to an herbicide is either presumed, based on service in Vietnam, or otherwise proven by the evidence, the disease is presumed to be related to the in-service exposure (the regulation provides the nexus – see Pearlman v. West, 11 Vet. App. 443 (1998)) – provided it was manifested within the appropriate time frame. Hence, service connection should be granted.

http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/diseases.asp#veterans

Latest VA INFO of AO

Department of Veterans Affairs publishes proposed rules on Agent Orange
Exposures

Department of Veterans Affairs
Office of Public Affairs
Media Relations
Washington, DC 20420
(202) 461-7600
www.va.gov
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2010

VA Proposes Change to Aid Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange

Proposed Regulation Change Adds Illnesses to List of Diseases Subject to
Presumptive Service Connection for Herbicide Exposure

WASHINGTON - Well over 100,000 Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam and other areas will have an easier path to qualify for disability pay under a proposed regulation published by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that adds three new illnesses to the list of health problems found to be related to Agent Orange and other herbicide exposures.

"This is an important step forward for Vietnam Veterans suffering from these
three illnesses," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "These
warriors deserve medical care and compensation for health problems they have incurred."

The regulation follows Shinseki's October 2009 decision to add the three
illnesses to the current list of diseases for which service connection for
Vietnam Veterans is presumed. The illnesses are B cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia; Parkinson's disease; and ischemic heart disease.

The Secretary's decision is based on the latest evidence of an association with widely used herbicides such as Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, as determined in an independent study by the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
Even though this is a proposed rule, VA encourages Vietnam Veterans with these three diseases to submit their applications for compensation now so the Agency can begin development of their claims and so they can receive benefits from the date of their applications once the rule becomes final.

Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted over the next 30 days. The final regulation will be published after consideration of all comments received. "We must do better reviews of illnesses that may be connected to service, and we will," Shinseki added. "Veterans who endure health problems deserve timely decisions based on solid evidence."

Over 80,000 of the Veterans will have their past claims reviewed and may be
eligible for retroactive payment, and all who are not currently eligible for
enrollment into the VA healthcare system will become eligible.

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military used more than 19 million gallons of
herbicides for defoliation and crop destruction in the Republic of Vietnam.
Veterans who served in Vietnam anytime during the period beginning January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975, are presumed to have been exposed to
herbicides. Used in Vietnam to defoliate trees and remove concealment for the enemy, Agent Orange and other herbicides left a legacy of suffering and disability that continues to the present.

The new rule will bring the number of illnesses presumed to be associated with herbicide exposure to 14 and significantly expand the current leukemia
definition to include a much broader range of leukemias beyond chronic
lymphocytic leukemia previously recognized by VA. In practical terms, Veterans who served in Vietnam during the war and who have a
"presumed" illness don't have to prove an association between their illnesses
and their military service. This "presumption" simplifies and speeds up the
application process for benefits.

Other illnesses previously recognized under VA's "presumption" rule as being
caused by exposure to herbicides during the Vietnam War are:

AL Amyloidosis,
Acute and Subacute Transient Peripheral Neuropathy,
Chloracne or other Acneform Disease consistent with Chloracne,
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, (now being expanded)
Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2),
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma,
Porphyria Cutanea Tarda,
Prostate Cancer,
Respiratory Cancers (Cancer of the lung, bronchus, larynx, or trachea), and •
Soft Tissue Sarcoma (other than Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma,
or Mesothelioma).

Additional information about Agent Orange and VA's services for Veterans exposed to the chemical are available at www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange.

To view the proposed rule go to:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-6549.htm

You should be able to post comments in favor of the rule changes by going to the the below link.
http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#home

Type VA-2010-VBA-0005-0001 in the keyword box, click on search.
That will take you to a screen that at the far right you can click on SUBMIT A COMMENT. The more positive comments the better. Public comments close on 4/26/2010 at 11:59 PM GOOD LUCK MARINES

Presumptive benefits

You may not (hopefully) have any of these "presumptive" problems now, but we're not getting younger......If you have'nt already you should go to the web site listed and respond to your Senators & Reps that you want this pasted, it could be worth major bucks to you later.
You should be able to post comments in favor of the rule changes by going to the the below link.

http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#home
Type VA-2010-VBA-0005-0001 in the keyword boxssed....

AO Presumptions on hold again

Sen. Jim Webb has pushed a amendment through the senate that will delay any awards for the new Agent Orange Presumptions. He and the other 99 senators want to decide what they want to do. This will be a circle jerk with Webb playing pivot man. He is a Vietnam Vet, was he on our side or Luke's side.

http://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=559591&keyword=&phrase=&contain=

Does it really matter?

I filed for Type II diabetes (presumptive condition) and neuropothy (presumptive condition) and was turned down twice. I am now in the appeals process (3-5 years) which may take longer than I have on this earth. I also have an appeal going on my right knee, which was injured in a CH-53 crash in 1972. Got the Triple D going - DENY - DELAY - DIE (hope you). We got used up and spit out. Just the way it is.

Agent Orange Run Around

I filed an update last July 2009. Got seen by a PA, at Dallas Va Med Ctr in Nov 2009. Was at VA Ctr less than 1 Hour. Received my packet back today, with a denial. What is funny I had already been approved at 60 % 5 years ago. This time they said no sign of Agent Orage damage or neuropathy. But did not cancel rating. Also sai did not have bad hearing; but they issued me hearing aids in Nov 2009. Go figure. They don't do blood work up or any testing. Let an old drunk PA look at you for less than 5 minutes. However if you are a currant member and have a scratch or think you have PTSD you go to the heead of the line. And this is the ALL volunteer force. I retired in 1988; and was recalled to active duty for the first gulf war. But I was also a Dept of the Army civilian employee they let me off active duty and used me as a civilian employee so they did not have to worry about active duty benifits. SF

Sorry To Hear

WELL you guys I'm sorry to hear this ,but the same thing has gone on from the early 80,s maybe very late 78-79. Strange as it may sound the fact of PTSD[all came to being from Vietnam era.]........Now its used for anything. This fight is the same and I'll just say this, (1 )Don't give up , because that's just what they want you to do, because if you quit they win. If someone checks OUT what do they care,again they Win No money to pay out . Think I've seen more people work and stay around the VA and then RETIRE... They get that and go on with their life, but WE are still here. More can be said ! yet I just want to encourage each one not to give in or UP. Then You and your family LOSES.....Semper FI Marines and May God bless/COLOR]

Jj

I just got my latest rejection letter tonight. First rejection was for not having evidence of a chronic condition. That information was then provided. The next rejection comes back as not having developed OsteoArthritis from one year of discharge. This latest one weaves the story that this was all caused my motorcycle accident and not the helicopter crash of 38 years ago. Spraining a knee does not turn the inside of your knee black. That is done over a long period of time. Guess it's time to go get a check up from the neck up so I can let loose on someone. Wish me luck!!

Agent Orange

A friend of mine who is an Army veteran ex Special Forces Vietnam; got his rejection letter this morning; His occupation is Commercial Truck Driver (Since 1970). He applied for PTSD. VA said he had no record of psycho activities, so unless he lost his drivers license and or had road rage to forget PTSD.

Go FOR IT

Larry Zok;27123 wrote: I just got my latest rejection letter tonight. First rejection was for not having evidence of a chronic condition. That information was then provided. The next rejection comes back as not having developed OsteoArthritis from one year of discharge. This latest one weaves the story that this was all caused my motorcycle accident and not the helicopter crash of 38 years ago. Spraining a knee does not turn the inside of your knee black. That is done over a long period of time. Guess it's time to go get a check up from the neck up so I can let loose on someone. Wish me luck!!

Larry ! It sounds just about the way they go. All the hurdles they can find and then some. Then they go for the (jumping threw the RING's) just don't give in to them and I'll say a few prayer's in your behalf. Semper FI my friend God Speed .:mad: