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I
am writing to let you
know that the
regulations pertaining
to service
connection for
herbicide exposure has
been revised. This
change may
qualify certain
Vietnam Era veterans
for disability
compensation.
On
the basis of the March
14, 1996 National
Academy of Science's
Institute
of Medicine's report,
"Veterans and
Agent Orange: Update
1996", which
provides information
concerning the health
effects of exposure to
Agent
Orange and other
herbicides used in
Vietnam during the
Vietnam Era,
Secretary Brown
authorized the
expansion of the
current list of
conditions
that are presumed to
be related to military
service. Now, veterans
who
served in Vietnam may
qualify for
compensation for
prostate cancer and
acute and subacute
peripheral neuropathy
based on exposure to
herbicides. These two
conditions will be
added to the current
list of
conditions that we
presume are the result
of exposure to
herbicides which
includes chloracne or
otheracneform
diseases; Hodgkin's
disease;
multiple myeloma;
non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma; porphyria
cutanea tarda;
cancer of the lung,
bronchus, larynx or
trachea; and soft
tissue-sarcoma.
The
VA has established an
Agent Orange Registry.
You may telephone the
VA for assistance and
additional information
by dialing it's
toll-free
telephone number
1-800-827-1000
R.J.Vogel
Under Secretary for
Benefits
Veterans
Administration
Fellas,
The
800 number may be your
best starting point.
Secondly, the blue
section of your phone
book should have the
number of the nearest
VA
Office. Each state has
a major VA facility in
it's capitol. Most
Agent
Orange officers are
located there. The
American Legion,
Veterans of
Foreign Wars, and
Disabled American
Veterans all have
trained officers to
assist you in this
matter--no fee. They
usually have an office
near your
county government
offices.
When
interviewed, your
DD214 and medal
citations (showing A
Troop as
your unit ) will help
identify you. It will
take some time for the
VA to confirm
A/2/17 Cav as one of
the units that worked
and slept in the
stuff. Don't be
concerned with the
delay. We, as a unit
in the Ashau Valley
and Khe Sanh,
made the list.
Please
print a copy of the
disease list from our
web site, and ask your
doctor to post it on
the fly of your
medical file. He will
be reminded to
watch for signs of
these diseases. Early
detection can save
your life.
Note:
The list of conditions
being monitored may
expand. Please, be
careful to name ANY
AND ALL medical
concerns you have
experienced.
Failing to name
something up front may
compromise helping you
later.
Include concerns of
your children, also.
Our death stats are
used to add
other cancers, etc.
Sadly, most of these
cancers are a death
watch-- no
cure.
For
my part, choracne has
nailed my face and
back. Another concern
of mine has not made
the list--yet. In
1969, chronic fatigue
was
accompanied by weeping
puss from the top of
my rear end throughout
the
groin area. Since
returning, two
surgeries (in private
hospitals) have not
helped. Now days, I
must wash twice daily
to control the stench
and
infection. I have
mentioned this to
impress on you the
importance of being
prepared, BEFORE an
interview with the AO
officer. Know your
medical
history, and have a
list with you on the
day of the interview.
A matter you
wrestle with today,
may make the list
another time.
Note:
You do NOT have to
prove service
connection. Merely
having a
disease listed is
considered Agent
Orange related.
I
hope this is of some
help
Duane
Acord
Service
connection is going to
be granted for
DIABETES as a result
of
herbicide exposure as
soon as the final
regulation is written
and listed in
the Federal Register.
Also,
a couple of years ago,
VA granted service
connection to Children
of
Vietnam veterans who
were born with Spina
Bifida. The monthly
allowance
is set at three
levels, depending upon
the degree of
disability suffered by
the child.
Keith
Harmon
For
further information,
contact Duane Acord or
Keith Harman
Thanks
to Duane and Keith for
this information.
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