He saw active duty the entire tour. They call me to cancel an appt. I am a Vietnam combat Veteran, 1968, III Corps. 1975 -77. Thank you for complying with what had to be forced on you, Mr. Secretary, after thousands of my brothers had to die. Sections and chapters in the description below! Neither were they included in new Middle East veteran benefits until less than a year ago. After 2 and years of much pain and suffering he died December 21 2020. Now that is just one person. It is beyond horrible. My Dad served aboard the USS Rutherford B. Hayes in the Philippines and Southeast Asia in WWII. 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. They (the VA) dont give you a definition of what the perimeter is, Harmon said. It seems we are not getting any help from the very people whose jobs it is to help us. My daughter lived for a month & 7 days. Shameful how they treat these vets!! These include: every single day,a never ending nightmare. 100 percent service connected. I have hyperthyroidism from agent orange. If youre alive and sick file for my family who cant. He died three years ago from penile cancer, a horrific disease. have them find out what the procedure is? If you already filed, find a VA advocate that is passionate about their job and will fight to get you the benefits you are entitled to. My disability claim was denied. However, hes also had renal cell carcinoma, benefits reduced, and has now been diagnosed with cold agglutinin/MGUS. Our son was conceived on that base. I served as an infantryman during the same period. My father served in the Korean War with the 25th Infantry Division. It is shameful how they have forgotten us if they can lie their way out of doing anything for us. In the same time frame as my Prostate claim submission I was diagnosed and had subsequent surgery for Bladder Cancer. My claim for benefits for Agent Orange related Prostate cancer was approved in 2017. Can anyone in the VA administration help me understand why COPD and other respiratory diseases are not covered for exposure to agent orange ? Never wait to be notified. I called Palo Alto pain clinic for back treatment. When I tried to claim hearing loss from jet noise, I was told I was 1 decibel from being deaf in both ears but DENIED. Pass this info to everyone who was exposed to chemicals from Vietnam. Prostate Cancer The investigation did confirm use or tests in additional sites and dates in other locations. Liars!!! I understand that there are backlogs and staffing limits. My lawyers quit the case. 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 applied for Agent Orange disability, but the VA denied my claim. Guess it only matters how you became exposed. It is not a hereditary cancer. My husband was a Vietnam vet. But, the side affects still exist and the damage is done and on going. Its AO, and also particulate matter exposure in SWA.]. It took 5 years before I got anything from the VA. kapm. We would appreciate any help with the claim as it would cost 4,000 a month which we could not afford but one month. My husband was a patient at the Temple VA for decades. They can never repay me for my loses or my daughters! March 3 (UPI) -- At a White House meeting on Friday, President Joe Biden thanked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for Germany's "profound" help in countering Russian aggression in Ukraine. These vets didnt decide to go to war with Vietnam they didnt decide anything except to answer the call of duty to their country. Ive got my fingers crossed. God bless you!!! Just get knowledgeable advice, from the VA or an accredited veterans service organization such s the DAV. I know he was in Khe Sahn and went on to the DMZ by the time he got out of Nam. We have suffered as well. I remember making small cooking fire for my Campbells Cream of Chicken soup (a Red Cross package, where my Halazone treated water turned it blue), breathing the smoke. Aside thought it would go away as it did some times at night after battle .talk to me V A . VA will not make them wait any longer. I served from 1968-68 with the first Marines . your claim. 1968-70, then back on Okinawa 1970-72. I refuse to die just to piss them off! My countys VA reps paycheck comes out of our tax moneynot all counties are willing to pay for us to have a good representative. His name was Mark (silver)Thorne. Souds like EVERYTHING is denied so why do anything!!!!!??????????? A locked padlock More graditude from government dead than alive. so even severe asthma and many other issues, where do we go . They owe it to you. Would like to see something about the Ft. McClellan toxic exposure..Ive got hypothyroidism, high blood pressure, nepherotic syndrome, migraines. 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. My husband, who is a Viet Nam vet, passed away 10 years ago from bladder cancer. Never seems to end. At least Korean and Vietnam combat veterans should be 100%, eliminate the bureaucracy. This page list resources for Vietnam veterans exposed to agent organce, including certain Blue Water Navy veterans. So after leaving the marines, I didnt claim exposure during my first year out. The VA hasnt even approved private therapy to assist me with my exceedingly difficult situation. Chloracne (if it presents within one year of exposure to a degree of 10 percent disabling) Unfortunately we didnt learn anything with the AO exposure. My husband, who is a Vietnam vet, has scleroderma. Together WE can connect veterans with their benefits by sharing this information. I was told that unless I had diabetes, cancer there was nothing they could do. Check in with the VFW or American Legion and they can guide you thru the process. Drink eat and shower in agent orange in the Tonkin Gulf. I am a combat vet and 100% rated and served 38 years, but priorities are better at Medi Cal. I feel there should be some consideration into this matter due to the suffering of many veterans. He passed away In 1994 from Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The V.A. When will there be support for the children? Had thyroid cancer and had it removed in 2018. It will make it much easier if you know a state he has lived in. These men and women, and their families, have had to wait too damn long for this acknowledgement!!! I trusted the authorities in charge completely. Their use in Vietnam and Thailand took a heavy toll. 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. Never hear much about this treatment and the affect it had. I do not have diabetes either. I WAS AT THE ABERDEEN PROVING GROUNDS AS A TEST VETERAN AND WAS PROMISED MEDICAL CARE IF ANY THING WENT WRONG. Could go on forever, but I should stop here. Three tours in Vietnam, all on the DMZ, two brown water, one blue water. We all suffered mentally and physically and are still suffering. I did go to the VA . VA is establishing a holistic approach to determining toxic exposure presumption going forward. 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 Agent Orange or other harmful herbicides while their fellow veterans enjoy a presumption that they were exposed. When they say thank you for your service, usually it is meaningless. Please contact me back with what ever information you might have, Thankyou. I called later and was told that the VA had all the information that they needed from me. He developed T1 diabetes and died in 1996. We get no information about others who have, or had, this incurable disease. This condition, nor the degenerative joint disease I am dealing with, is covered as presumptive by the VA for the Camp Lejeune water contamination affected veterans. I do have one subjection: STOP starting wars. VA has had me Synthroid for decades, she again said sorry. The science now confirms the link. I also drank a lot of water and ate healthy foods. Rob Portman is listed as a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 657, which would modify the presumption of a service connection for veterans who were exposed to herbicides while serving in Thailand. If a claim is denied for 20 years and then was the granted at 100%, they saved over $800,000.00. This country was sprayed with agent orange. [Editor: Although VA recommends Veterans work with accredited VSOs, heres a few details that can help. I am the sole survivor (daughter). I have Myesthemia Gravis but keep being denied. If you want to deal with burn pit issues the VA shouldnt limit their investigations to only SW Asia. As I understand it Walter Reed Army Hospital conducted trial (experimental) treatments on him to no avail. My submitted medical paperwork included my Bladder Cancer, but I was told it could not be included with my Prostate Cancer claim because it was on the list for approval, but had not been approved. Who has those, certainly not the individual service person. To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps. Luckily I havent had any problems other than PTSD. The condition affected my right leg, mostly, causing numbness where I had to rely upon a cane in order to walk. He passed away July 2012. My husband died from gastric cancer and according to the appeals board so did many other Viet Nam Vets. I served both in the field and in Saigon. Thank goodness Ol Uncle Sugar is on the case! I want this to be taken seriously! have hearing loss. Each disease is rated from 5% to 100%, then We were in the field living in tents during phase line papa. I thought one of the most iconic scenes in the movie Platoon had in the background mamma sans stirring something in cut in half 55 gallon drums and burning it. Many of Get buddy letter . An official website of theU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Looking for U.S. government information and services? They didnt even recognize Agent Orange exposure back then. Refiled again Feb 3rd 2021 and been waiting every since. Removing that burden helps veterans avoid having to file that additional paperwork. My husband passed March 2021. I am very happy today as this is the best physical gift anyone could give to meBARUCH HABA HASHEM ADONAI, BARUCH BEN YESHUA HAMASHIACH, BARUCH RUACH HAKODESH: KODESH-KODESH-KODESH!!! A grateful nationmy ass. I sent in my biopsy showing prostate cancer and my Bronze Star commendation for service in country. Typically, the VA looks for evidence of duty near base perimeters or fence lines to establish herbicide exposure. I had 2 children die at full term due to birth defects, I believe to be related to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam My oldest son has a rare bone issue untreatable, I believe due to Agent Orange! Now along with other problems related to losing the prostate, I will be worrying about my bladder. I did not receive any cash benefits for coming in contact with agent orange. 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 are effectively ignored by the VA. of the V.A. So besides having survived Vietnam, there was Aniston. If you have questions or information about locations where tactical herbicides were used, tested, or stored, please contact the DoD Armed Forces Pest Management Board by e-mail, fax, or mail: E-mail: osd.pentagon.ousd-atl.mbx.afpmb-tactical-herbicides@mail.milor osd.pentagon.ousd-atl.mbx.afpmb@mail.mil, Address: Armed Forces Pest Management Board U.S. Army Garrison Forest Glen 2460 Linden Lane, Building 172 Silver Spring, MD 20910, Health Care Several bills in Congress purport to take aim at the problem. The best thing for my situation was accomplished by my VSO officer. But we did. He applied twice for benefits and denied. NJ? A little compensation for We didnt know what killed all the vegetation in many areas on Searching and Destroy missions? Good luck. Why do our veterans have to prove so much when agent orange was such a poison. And still didnt know what all that noise was,,I thought I had to live with it Im not convinced the toxic exposure will ever be gone. Contact DAV they will help you get started and shepherd your claim through. This is a real thing.it is not just a problem with females that served and were exposed. Typically, veterans need to prove -- usually through medical exams and service records -- that their injuries and illnesses are directly connected to time spent in the military, Military Times noted. During 2020-2021, VA and DoD updated thelist of locations based on new information to several locations in the U.S. and oversees, including Thailand, Korea, and Alabama. Agent orange was used there in the training areas and the area was not declared clear until 1994. My husband served 68-69 in country. 2. I have other health issues also. 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. Will she possibly be eligible for benefits of the new changes? He had prostate cancer. I also was in nam 2 clicks s of dmz and was found to have bladder cancer in 06 filed a claim in 12 now a new claim this past March I heard they will go back 12 on payment is that true Don. Today I live with one lung because of my exposure to AGENT ORANGE. Recent changes in both blue and brown water sites should apply to your husbands service. Youll quickly see youre not alone! When I put in for it in Topeka Kansas I was told I could not collect until the Navies law suit was completely processed. He had filed an Agent Orange claim several times. He loved the Army. Your best bet is your local VSO. Foc also told me that the PAHC senior executive has left and there are no more nurses to assist the doctors. My husband died in January 2021. VA will be publishing the PACT Act Performance Dashboard every other Friday to measure the implementation of PACT Act and showcase its impact on Veterans and survivors. All we were tuned too was Search and Destroying the enemy! Sometimes VA service officers are not very efficient. Also, Lung cancer has been a recognized Agent Orange presumptive disease for more than 20 years. We roamed around downtown Anniston quite a bit. I filed for agent orange exposure I have been diagnosed by my Doctor with peripheral neuropathy and stinging and tingling in my extremities.