Tag Archives: Agent Orange/ ALS/ Lou Gehrigs Disease/ Gulf War Syndrome

New Rule Will Help Veterans Exposed To Agent Orange

Many heartfelt thanks go to General Shinseki, the current head of the Veterans Administration for his efforts to once and for all address the languishing needs of Vietnam era veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange some 40 years ago.

Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam and other support areas will now have fewer obstacles to quality health care and their entitled disability compensation.  It’s about time.  The new rule has amended and expanded the list of health problems the VA will presume to be related to Agent Orange and other herbicide exposures. Two new maladies have been added and one new category.

For Vietnam Veterans, the VA is adding Parkinson’s disease, and ischemic heart disease and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, such as hairy cell leukemia.

Thousands of Vietnam Veterans have died of these illnesses in the past three decades.  See the movie, “Unnatural Causes,” with the late John Ritter for a moving narrative of the real saga of Agent Orange and the governments efforts to deny its existence. This film was made in 1986. A real sleeper.

Veterans who served in Vietnam during the war and who exhibit a “presumed,” illness don’t have to provide evidence of the service connected medical issues. Any veteran who served in Vietnam from January 9,1962 to May 7, 1975, are now presumed to have been exposed to herbicides.

Thanks to the Vietnam Veterans of America in their relentless diligence and battery of tenacious attorney’s, justice is having its day. One of the most beneficial aspects of these decade long efforts is the now fair treatment of Gulf War Syndrome.

The pity is that so many World War ll veterans were not granted the fund of knowledge to deal with asbestos on Navy ships or the health problems for those that attended ABC School; Atomic Biological and Chemical Warfare School. I know one veteran who has been suffering since 1962 from chemical exposure aboard ship in that year.

It was only in September of 2008, that widows of veterans who died of Lou Geherigs Disease; ALS, were granted survivor benefits.  Yet, in a positive light, we may be the only nation on earth that does so.

For information on how to file a claim, go to “www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/AO/claimherbicide.htm”

God speed for these families and deep consolation to the families who preceded us.