Well, until the Bush Administration claims "Executive Privilege" again.
For anyone who thinks this is an isolated case involving a questionable service-connected disability, please visit your local VAMC, and ask one of the Vets walking around with bandages on his hands, because the skin won't stop peeling off.
Or visit the Kidney Dialysis wards, where there are at least 10 guys at a time on any given day in there, because of Kidney Failure (and 80,000 diabetes sufferers), all directly related to Agent Orange.
Or don't, but if you have never seen any of the tens of thousands of Vietnam Era Vets who have seen their bodies attacked by this malicious chemical, continually and ever since, then I ask that you find some time to do so. Because it will be YOUR disability they try to deny, the next time around.
My Husband returned from Vietnam in 1970 and brain cancer was determined and he passed in 1972. I always thought it was "AGENT ORANGE". How do they determine that now?
As usual, the VA sucks. They think that we are faking what we have just to get a puny pension. Again, how many of those un-American and un-military butthead quacks that pass for doctors and think that to deny a health situation exists is part of their duty? How many have seen combat? What about our senators and reps? What the hell are they doing about it? With the VA, the patient is declared guilty until proven sick.
I was a borderline diabetic for years and years after Vietnam. In 1999 I finally had to go on oral medication because the diet/exercise not longer worked. In 2004 I found I was eligable for benefits and medical care. I got retro-pay for one year back to 2003. What about the other 4 years??? AND it took 2 1/2 years and two tests following appeal to get hearing aids for my 0% hearing disability from Artillery! Do we really think the VA is going to change soon?? Jim Nicholson is just the tip o f the iceberg!
I do know, my fathers long and lingering death, cause of rheumatoid arthritis, but his death was cause of his diabetes. Diabetes that was later one of the disease/conditions that exposure to Agent Orange. Exposure my father mentioned he was part of the Agent Orange class action suit.
Not sure how he was exposed, but as a SSG/SFC in the 12th SF during the Vietnam period, a time when it was not uncommon for SF troops, even reserves, to be used in Vietnam due to staff shortages in the normal SF units for the region.
So yes, time for some acknowledgment for those how have suffered or died from their exposure while serving their country.
Mike Adams
PS: My sister is prone to diabetes, as well as several of her kids. Not sure if his exposure created or helped along a already existing potential condition, they have markers for diabetes. But watching my father go from being a super soldier to being a dead man, more like a holocaust survivor in looks, is almost criminal if his condition was due to exposure to Agent Orange. This does open up other times US service members have been exposed to other agents, from radiation in Nevada, to other exposures.
I expect the VA will appeal the decision , the VA has its own agenda which is to collect big PAYCHECKS and bonuses not to help the VET! They will fight you as long as they can. Everyone is a lier to them, run along you will be OK. They very well know who was in Combat and who was a REMF.
i WILL PROBABALY BE DEAD BEFORE THOSE SNAKES PAY OUT ONE CENT. I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THEM FOR YEARS OVER DIABETES & OTHER CLAIMS. There theory is to wait you out & maybe you will go away. 6 feet under!!!
I am at the back end of a 10 year long battle with the V.A. for C&P due to Gulf War Syndrome. Between the treatment and C&P exams, this puts me at the V.A. hospitals on a regular basis. 10 years feel like a very long time going through this struggle without the additional hindrance of a physical disability. A little third grade math is needed to deduce where I'm going at this angle...
To put it in a personal perspective, last month I was talking to a man at the Memphis V.A. who had Agent Orange related cancer, was treated by the V.A. and was in remission until recently diagnosed again. He is once again going through an aggressive treatment regimen yet has been repeatedly denied C&P even though being treated for the very same condition the V.A. claims there is not enough evidence to award a rating. That makes absolutely no sense to me yet this is only one story of many that I have encountered over the last 10 years.
I firmly believe that if the ones continually blocking this action to compensate these individuals who went above and beyond to protect the political interest of the social elite would actually take the time out of their highly important and very busy lives to spend a couple of days listening to the ones with the problems (at the hospital and not some dog and pony hearing) instead of relying on the ones who write their opinions about them, then it would be a no brainer.
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Well it is about damn time those Vietnam Veterans get what they deserve I did not serve in Vietnam I wanted too but I was to young I am a Vietnam Era Veteran,and I had a good friend who served in Vietnam and was exposed to agent Orange,he had been battling the VA,from the 80's for disability when he fought in Vietnam during the 60's and he is also a Purple Heart Receipent as well. The thought of the way the Veterans Affairs has done all of us Veterans when we apply for benefits whether its during war time or peace time disgusts me they don't give a damn about us once we return home and they have proven that when Veterans have to fight for decades for benefits they know they are entitled to for being exposed to something they had no say in the matter about. Director Nicholson,a Vietnam Veteran himself and a Bush,crone has been pathetic in defending his fellow Vietnam Veterans and all Veterans when it comes to claims and I am glad to see his sorry self leave the agency,they need to sweep a lot more of those dirt bags out of the agency and I say that with anger because I am still battling with the VA,for benefits they denied me going all the way back to the 80's as well and my BVA,hearing comes up in November,of this year,so congratulations to all you Vietnam Veterans in your victory in getting what you truly deserve and I salute you all.
I had lung cancer last April and had half my lung removed. I battled C&P for 8 months. They claimed it came from smoking. I also have peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis, hepatomegaly, osteoarthritis. I was told by the VA shrink I have PTSD with a GAF score of 50. The C&P finally agreed my cancer came from Agent Orange only after I produced company daylogs showing when, where and how much AO was sprayed on me. They gave me 100% but refuse to write permanent on it. (I guess they think my lung will grow back)They turned down my PTSD claim saying I didn't have a stressor even though I provided daylogs again showing I was in a combat unit and the battles I was in and being dusted off in Viet Nam. I have come to the conclusion that they are waiting for me to die or give up the fight with them. Well, I might die first but I will never give up the battle for what is rightfully due to me. Never give up the fight my brothers--APPEAL,APPEAL, and then APPEAL again!
I love all my brothers in arms & we need to never quit!!!THE NEXT THING THEY WILL OPEN UP THE CAMPS AGAIN LIKE IN WW11 SO WE ALL CAN BE TOGETHER & STOP *****ING!!! tHOSE BASTARDS IN WASHINGTON SHOULD BE TRIED AS WAR CRIMINAL & HUNG.ONLY WE & GOD CARES ABOUT US. S SEMPER fI!!!
They need to fire all those in the VA and replace them. In 2005, I went to the VAMCin Ricnmond,VA and they had me listed as deceased....DOD wa o5/05/03. I got released from active duty in March 03 for OEF. It took me almost 2 years to ge a new VA id card.
I had to show them a copy of a document from their website...2 years medical coverage for all combat veterans. This was passed in 1998, I believe. It was like....where did you get this info from and I told them from the VA website.Duh?
There are some decent VA employees, however those who award the disability ratings, well that's another story. It is absurd that a vet must file and refile claims and get turned down and have to appeal to get what one deserves.
As usual, the VA sucks. They think that we are faking what we have just to get a puny pension. 
SEMPER fI!!! 
