WebAgent Orange was a tactical herbicide the U.S. military used to clear leaves and vegetation for military operations mainly during the Vietnam War. The same applies to veterans who served in or near the Korean demilitarized zone between 1968 and 1971. fit the Department of Defense parameters for inclusion on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall). But she didnt find an easy answer. Military personnel who served offshore in Vietnam known as "blue water" veterans may finally be eligible for disability benefits related to exposure to Agent Orange. Learn more about featured topics of the Vietnam War and Vietnam Era. Is There a Test for Agent Orange Exposure? Kate believes the fight is worth continuing. Veterans Crisis Line: Organize banner/sign hangings around the community. For veterans who qualify for disability payments and survivors who qualify for death payments, the benefits can mean tens of thousands of dollars a year in income. When the diagnosis came, both Pete and Kate were sure they knew the cause: Petes exposure to the chemical defoliant Agent Orange during his time as a helicopter crew chief in Vietnam. These conditions are: That being said, you can also receive service connection for a condition not on the above list by supplying medical evidence that your condition was at least as likely as not caused by your exposure to herbicides. There are still thousands of vets who dont realize their disease is on the list, says Bart Stichman, executive director of the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP), a nonprofit that helps veterans, survivors and active duty personnel pursue service-related benefits. Toxic exposure screenings are available at VA health facilities across the country. A review of Petes service records confirms the exposure to the defoliant. Scarlett said those numbers are misleading because the majority of the hundreds of glioblastoma-related claims submitted to the VA she knows of are not for disability benefitsthey are survivor-benefit claims. In late March, the Pittsfield Veterans Services and the local Vietnam Veterans of America chapter held an open meeting for veterans in western Massachusetts who have questions about Agent Orange exposure and navigating the VA bureaucracy. We will do our best to respond within a reasonable amount of time (usually 3 to 10 workdays). Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. "You know we killed the jungle with back packs, sprayed so we had a good perimeter," said Stenvold. Agent Orange is taking a huge toll on Vietnam Veterans with most deaths somehow related to Agent Orange exposure. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. In these cases, VA requires all of the following: Monthly payment rates are based on the Veteran's combined rating for his or her service-connected disabilities. This change expands benefits for Gulf War era and post-9/11 Veterans. About 40 people showed up to hear the speakers. Agent Orange has been linked to a long list of medical conditions, many of which are severe and can be life-threatening. This storage is often necessary for basic functionality of the web site or the storage may be used for the purposes of marketing, analytics, and personalization of the web site such as storing your preferences. There shouldnt be a category for you to get help, said Kaderlik. It was quite a moment because they couldnt question his integrity, said Wilcox. Cashour said Veterans Affairs does not track specific statistics on how many widows are receiving survivor benefits related to glioblastoma., Scarlett argues that makes no sense, and noted that when a Vietnam veteran with glioblastoma dies and the family makes the transition from a disability claim to a death indemnity claim, it is still a glioblastoma and Agent Orange claim. These veterans dont need to prove that they were exposed to Agent Orange to qualify for benefits related to ailments on the list. Were extending and expanding VA health care eligibility based on the PACT Act. The VAs internal policies on whether to recognize a disease as related to exposure to the defoliant are based on biannual reports from the, evidence for a link between esophageal cancer and Agent Orange. The report. "Its amazing how many Vietnam veterans don't know about it and you know it's really opened the eyes, I gotta thank the North Dakota legislature because two years ago they had enough faith in us to go out and do what we're doing and it's working," said Stenvold. Veterans and survivors also can learn more abouteligibility for benefits. We encourage you to apply, no matter your separation date. The studies authors found that veterans with a higher rate of exposure to Agent Orange were 2.49 times more likely to develop esophageal cancer than those with lower levels of exposure. Competent medical evidence of an actual connection between herbicide exposure and the current disability. ", Getting extra compensation certainly helps. The newly passed 2021 Defense Authorization Act has recognized three more illnesses stemming from exposure to Agent Orange during service. i am dieing from it and most of my mortar unit is dead. we spent all 1968 in the bush or in some freeking lz or firebase that was sprayed or we had You were discharged or released between September 11, 2001, and October 1, 2013, You havent enrolled in VA health care before, High blood pressure (also called hypertension), Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailandfrom January 9, 1962, throughJune 30, 1976, Laos from December 1, 1965, throughSeptember 30, 1969, Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from April 16, 1969, through April 30, 1969, Guam or American Samoa or in the territorial waters off of Guam or American Samoa from January 9, 1962, through July 31, 1980, Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from January 1, 1972, through September 30, 1977, Cleanup of the Air ForceB-52 bomber carrying nuclear weapons off the coast of, Response to the fire onboard an Air Force B-52 bomber carrying nuclear weapons near, Open burn pits and otherairborne hazards. Additionally, Agent Orange is an extremely powerful herbicide. But you dont need to wait for us to contact you before you file a Supplemental Claim. Since the Vietnam War ended, thousands of Vietnam veterans have died each year due to Agent Orange exposure, PTSD and other illnesses as a result of their service. Competent medical evidence that the disease began within the deadline (if any). Furthermore, as to case summaries, reports of past results, individual lawyer biographies, news posts and other information pertaining to past and present cases, these descriptions are meant only to provide information to the public about the activities and experience of our law firm. Mike Yates, 68, who served on the USS Bainbridge off the coast of Vietnam from 1971 to 1972, has prostate cancer, which is on the presumptive list. Organize a breakfast, lunch, or dinner event. Expands He was diagnosed just after the new year, in early January 2015. This includes: If eligible, you must prove that you were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during your military service to be eligible for service-connection for disease VA presumes are related to Agent Orange exposure. The Victims of Agent Orange the U.S. Has Never Acknowledged America has never taken responsibility for spraying the herbicide over Laos during the Vietnam War. No The idea reportedly has bipartisan support in the Senate, too. We have updated our Privacy Policy. Shamefully, the deception, fraud and political interference that has characterized government-sponsored studies on the health effects of exposure to Agent Orange and/or dioxin has not escaped studies ostensibly conducted by independent reviewers, Zumwalt wrote, a factor that has only further compounded the erroneous conclusions reached by the government., The government could ignore blue-collar veterans, but an admiral was a different story. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. The Vietnam war ended nearly 50 years ago, but thousands of Vietnam veterans and their families are still fighting illnesses related to Agent Orange exposure. Even when such records do exist, it is extremely hard for the average veteran to track them down, Moore said. Even if you did not serve in Vietnam or the Korean demilitarized zone during the specified time periods, you can still apply for disability compensation if you were exposed to an herbicide while in the military and believe it led to the onset of a disease. Organize a candle event at a local memorial site, park, or wherever you can gather. Though the academys past reports have recognized 50 diseases that fall under the limited or suggestive evidentiary category, the VA has only approved 14. So then why does one get approved and another does not? A veteran of the Vietnam War, he has been working on issues relating to Agent Orange exposure since 1989. The providers terms, conditions and policies apply. If you think youre eligible for VA health care and benefits, we encourage you to apply now. These were blue-collar veterans, so the VA wasnt listening, Congress wasnt listening, Wilcox said. Only years later, when veterans exposed to Agent Orange started getting sick and dying, did doctors and researchers begin to draw a link back to the chemical. The PACT Act adds new presumptive conditions. However, any veteran who served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, is presumed by the VA to have been exposed to Agent Orange. We encourage you to file a Supplemental Claim. There are 430 confirmed Vietnam veterans with glioblastoma now in Scarletts database. Two years ago, the VVA received 50 thousand dollars from the state to do just that. For veterans who qualify for disability They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] They cant do this by themselves, says Schwartz. You will now be able to tab or arrow up or down through the submenu options to access/activate the submenu links. Kathy Josenhans, who spoke along with Scarlett at the National Academies meeting, is both a Blue Water Navy widow and a glioblastoma widow. In the event of a disagreement or discrepancy between the translation and the original English version of this web site or any notice or disclaimer, the original version will prevail. She has reapplied for the spousal benefit six times in the last three years, hoping the VA will reconsider its decision. More than 400 of those 534 honored this year died because of Agent Orange exposure. The House vote, and the fact that Scarlett and some other widows are beginning to get their claims approved, give her new hope. Fred Wilcox, a former professor of writing at Ithaca College and the author of two books on Agent Orange exposure, said that much of that dismissal was related to class in the years just after the war. You will be asked to register or log in. In 1979, a class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of 2.4 million veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange during their service in Vietnam.. How many died from Agent Orange? Although the 2016 study said the link between Agent Orange exposure and esophageal cancer was inadequate or insufficient, the report did still acknowledge research that suggested a connection between the two. But there are also many other health conditions that we presume are caused by exposure to toxic (or hazardous)materials. By using this information, you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship created by you reading or using the information contained on this website or in this newsletter, article, or blog. Its a long time coming. We get by with Social Security and the compensation and substitute teaching.. We have had to fight the fight for justice for what happened because of our exposure for a long time now.. Stichman says his organization helped an Alabama widow persuade the VA to pay her $247,508 in retroactive benefits. We call this having a presumption of exposure. When she gave her speech last fall, Scarlett was still fighting for her survivor benefits. When we receive a Supplemental Claim, well review the claim again. WebHow many Vietnam veterans have died from Agent Orange? Curtis Evans, a Boston-based claims examiner with the Veterans Benefits Administration, told the crowd that taking the initiative with the VA was essential to reaping benefits if and when policy changed. VVMF began managing the program and hosting the ceremony in 1999. Schumer: Vietnam vets should get health care benefits for Agent Orange-linked conditions. Yes. Today, many believe over 400,000 Vietnam veterans are currently suffering from their exposure and tens of thousands have already died. He died of throat cancer, caused by Agent Orange. related to AARP volunteering. The toll in human terms caused by the war is staggering. Even if veterans suffer from an ailment not on the VA list, they should consider applying for disability benefits if they believe it is the result of Agent Orange exposure. Jesse Trevino, the internationally acclaimed artist who served a combat-heavy tour of duty with the U.S. Army 9 th Infantry Division, died February 13 in San Antonio where he grew up. Did it save lives? The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. Yet, the fact that review boards have ruled in widows favor in the past doesnt mean its a guaranteed to help current cases. Your eligibility depends on your service history and other factors. The medical opinions of doctors who arent familiar with the science of service connection may be well-intentioned, Cross said. If you meet the requirements listed here, you can get free VA health care for any condition related to your service for up to 10 years from the date of your most recent discharge or separation. The plaque on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial site in Washington, D.C. that honors these veterans was dedicated in 2004 and reads:In Memory of the men and women who served in the Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service. Before Peter died, and after Peter died, he was my first thought in the morning and my last thought at night, said Kate, tearing up. 3. VA presumes Lou Gehrig's Disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS) diagnosed in all Veterans who had 90 days or more continuous active military service is related to their service, although ALS is not related to Agent Orange exposure. In 1966 they told me, We will always take care of you, said Kaderlik. So why is every veteran and widow who files a disability or survivor claim forced to re-litigate the issue?. The State of North Dakota provides automatic translation for nd.gov websites, courtesy of Google Translate. Learn how vehicle tech like blind spot warnings and drowsy driving alerts can help make driving safer. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? You can also call us at800-698-2411(TTY: 711). Find out how to file a Supplemental Claim. If you think you may be eligible for VA health care or benefits, we encourage you to apply now. has been working on Agent Orange cases since its founding in 1980, said Bart Stichman, the groups executive director. He was 76 years old and had recently had Covid and pneumonia. But there are also many other health conditions that we presume are caused by to! 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