VVMF began managing the program and hosting the ceremony in 1999. As of March 2015, of the approximately 3 million veterans who served in Vietnam about 300,000 have already died due to AO (dioxin) related diseases. So, were going to have sit down and do what we think is right for these veterans.. 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. These were blue-collar veterans, so the VA wasnt listening, Congress wasnt listening, Wilcox said. Now they have to own up to their responsibility., Sometimes, said Kate, it feels like they just want you to give up.. The providers terms, conditions and policies apply. By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. 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. In some cases, the resistance to adding more to the list has not been the VA but rather the Office of Management and Budget. If you think youre eligible for VA health care and benefits, we encourage you to apply now. If you served in any of these locations and time periods, weve determined that you had exposure to burn pits or other toxins. The PACT Act adds to the list of health conditions that we assume (or presume) are caused by exposure to these substances. Ask about the screening at your next VA health care appointment. This "presumptive policy" simplifies the process for receiving compensation for these diseases since VA foregoes the normal requirements of proving that an illness began during or was worsened by your military service. Is There a Test for Agent Orange Exposure? Can a Fathers Agent Orange Exposure Cause Birth Defects? WebJesse Trevino, 1946-2023. 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. The VAs internal policies on whether to recognize a disease as related to exposure to the defoliant are based on biannual reports from the National Academy of Medicine. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly Since the end of the Vietnam War, veterans have reported numerous health effects. You can find your regional office on our. Organize a breakfast, lunch, or dinner event. Kate was among them, hoping get some good news at last. She has reapplied for the spousal benefit six times in the last three years, hoping the VA will reconsider its decision. Other new academic studies referring to esophageal cancer and chemical exposure similar to Agent Orange published in 2013 and 2014 were mentioned in the report but deemed irrelevant due to their lack of Agent Orange specificity. Depends on which Veteran you ask When this man was 18 he left his farm to push a bicycle loaded with 600 pound of rice, his personal weapon and 30 You can also call the Agent Orange Help Line at 1-800-749-8387 or send an e-mail to GW/AOHelpline@vba.va.gov. Pretty much zero because they die from complications related to Agent Orange. Because bodies and blood types vary, in one body Agent Orange might t Veterans, Active Duty, and Military Families. In the meantime, another group of Vietnam veterans who are struggling with a variety of diseases and conditions that are on the presumptive list but not getting their claims approved are the 90,000 sailors of the Blue Water Navy. I would not put this past VA officials, who historically have been very hostile to presumptive compensation for Vietnam veterans who claim exposure to herbicides, he said. If you served on active duty in any of these locations during these time periods, youre now eligible to apply for VA health care: If you havent filed a claim yet for the presumptive condition, you can file a new claim online now. The speech elicited loud and long applause and left some NAS scientists in tears. Though the academys past reports have recognized 50 diseases that fall under the limited or suggestive evidentiary category, the VA has only approved 14. The federal agency, known as OMB, controls the VAs purse strings and has, been hostile to the idea of adding costs to the budget for veterans services. Im pleased to see the House Veterans Affairs Committee approve the legislation, Yates said. Additional amounts are paid to certain Veterans with severe disabilities ("special monthly compensation") and certain Veterans with dependents. A review of Petes service records confirms the exposure to the defoliant. In 1982, Wildhaber said, most countries signed a treaty that calls for the definition to be 12 nautical miles offshore. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. (See. For many health conditions, you need to prove that your service caused your condition. The federal agencys reliance on bureaucracy to determine who gets taken care of is antithetical to the stated principles of the American body politic, he said. For the Blue Water Navy epidemiologic studies just arent available from everything I can see. There are a number of ways to spread Agent Orange Awareness and you can do it right in your own community. We did everything they told us to do, she said. fit the Department of Defense parameters for inclusion on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall). This change expands benefits for Gulf War era and post-9/11 Veterans. They quickly filed paperwork with the Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, for disability payments. These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. See this episode and all of our previous episodes here at https://www.vvmf.org/echoes. There are also other locations where we presume that you had exposure to radiation. Under the terms of the decree, the VA must re-hear cases it has previously denied if the veterans disease is later added to the list of those officially recognized as stemming from Agent Orange exposure. This type of case requires a lot of medical evidence and is harder to provebut not impossible, says Felicia Mullaney, deputy director of Veterans Benefits, Vietnam Veterans of America. Learn more about featured topics of the Vietnam War and Vietnam Era. Though most veterans are aware of the toxic nature of Agent Orange, an herbicide used to clear foliage in Vietnam, not everyone has kept track as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has expanded a list of diseases that make it easier to qualify for benefits. WebAgent Orange, mixture of herbicides that U.S. military forces sprayed in Vietnam from 1962 to 1971 during the Vietnam War for the dual purpose of defoliating forest areas that might Why is the VA not tracking this?, When a widow in her group prepares a claim, Scarlett said, We make sure they include the same studies, the nexus letters, the statements of where the veteran served, so that the claims are consistent. In Memory. More U.S. Vietnam War vets have died by suicide than died in the war. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. For one thing, the health risks of Agent Orange exposure were unknown at the time. The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. CCK Recognized for Donations to American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial, CCK Successfully Argues for a Precedential Decision About Protected Work Environment, A Day in the Life of a Paralegal (Claims Advocate) at CCK. For instance, which pages you go to most. He died of glioblastoma in 2011. While the VA acknowledges a link between exposure to Agent Orange and cancers such as Hodgkins disease, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkins lymphoma, it says the evidence isnt there for esophageal cancer and 34 other diseases that Vietnam veterans have sought to have added to the list of recognized, service-related illnesses. How Does VGLI Compare to Other Insurance Programs? visit VeteransCrisisLine.net for more resources. HOUSATONIC, Mass. The Reagan White House wanted to cut funding for veterans centers and Agent Orange epidemiological studies that had begun under Max Cleland and Jimmy Carter, said Hagel, who from that era to now has been widely lauded as a champion for veterans. The idea reportedly has bipartisan support in the Senate, too. 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. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he has been working on issues relating to Agent Orange exposure since 1989. Veterans and survivors also can learn more abouteligibility for benefits. It makes it hard. We encourage all Veterans and survivors to file for benefits now. But the academy said that, due to gaps in the rigor of the study, such as a lack of information on the test subjects smoking and drinking habits and their exact levels of exposure, it would not revise its interpretation of the linkage. Expedition Orange Goals To raise national awareness Together, we can make sure our heroes will get the reverence they deserve and the stories and sacrifices of our heroes will never be forgotten. As of March 2015, of the approximately 3 million veterans who served in Vietnam about 300,000 have already died due to AO (dioxin) related diseases WebVietnam War Veterans health issues. The legacy of the defoliant will outlast its immediate victims, said Kaderlik. DeLeos opinion could help Kates case, however. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. Yet, the fact that review boards have ruled in widows favor in the past doesnt mean its a guaranteed to help current cases. If you served during the Vietnam Waranytime between November 1, 1965, and April 30, 1975you may be at risk of certain health conditions. Petes oncologist, Dr. Michael DeLeo, said in an amended death certificate that he believes his extensive Agent Orange exposure during his time in Vietnam is the only thing could have caused his cancer. The two spoke for about 10 minutes, and Evans suggested she ask for a hearing. Her talk focused on her husband, John Scarlett, an Army Ranger and helicopter pilot in Vietnam who was among the 2.6 million U.S. personnel believed exposed to Agent Orange during the war. 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. The VA informed her that it has received her request, and she is now waiting to hear whether she will get one. Get a list of other Agent Orange presumptive conditions. But bureaucracy in Washington doesnt move fast enough for most veterans and their families. Under the terms of the decree, the VA must re-hear cases it has previously denied if the veterans disease is later added to the list of those officially recognized as stemming from Agent Orange exposure. return to top Health Care 877-222-8387 Benefits 800-827-1000 TDD (Hearing Impaired) 800-829-4833 A photo of Pete hangs over Kates left shoulder as she sits at the kitchen table, on the red brick backsplash he built her. Over there it did, but nobody knew it was going to be taking them later, said Dan Stenvold, President of the North Dakota branch of the VVA. Yes the US government sprayed Agent Orange in areas where American troops were operating. And it didnt just have an impact on the veteran. I was i On August 10, 2022 Agent Orange Awareness Day we will bring light to the continuing dark toll of the war. The federal agency sent its sympathies but no money. Veterans who were exposed to To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. DePodesta says that for many years his eye injury qualified him for a disability rating of 30 percent and a monthly payment of under $400. Legacy of Agent Orange in Vietnam In addition to the massive environmental devastation of the U.S. defoliation program in Vietnam, that nation has reported that We call this having a presumption of exposure. You can also file by mail, in person, or with the help of a trained professional. We encourage you to file a Supplemental Claim. The committee voted unanimouslyto send a bill to the full House. You can also manage your communication preferences by updating your account at anytime. Nehmer v. Department of Veterans Affairs, which was resolved with a consent decree in 1991, forced the VA to address its responsibilities to veterans exposed to Agent Orange. 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. Exception: Blue Water Veterans with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may be granted service-connection without showing inland waterway service or that they set foot in Vietnam. WebAgent Orange was a tactical herbicide the U.S. military used to clear leaves and vegetation for military operations mainly during the Vietnam War. Part of HuffPost Politics. , which was resolved with a consent decree in 1991, forced the VA to address its responsibilities to veterans exposed to Agent Orange. If you meet the requirements listed here, you can receive care and enroll during a special enrollment period between October 1, 2022, and October 1, 2023. But she said she wont rest until the hundreds of other glioblastoma families are recognized by the VA. Im still fighting for all the veterans and widows who havent won, said Scarlett, who, along with Josenhans, Holt, and others, runs a Facebook page for veterans with glioblastoma and their familiesa group that has dramatically grown in the past year. But its only the first step.. In 1986, the group helped bring the case of. But the VA has denied his disability claim. On the 60th anniversary of the first use of Agent Orange in Vietnam, we bring you a couple of personal stories from people whose lives are still marked by the use of this deadly toxin. Well review your case again. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] We must wait for funding approval from Congress and put the needed systems in place before we can process these claims. Petes medical bills, Kate said, were covered by a combination of Medicare and insurance through Kates job. He was 76 years old and had recently had Covid and pneumonia. Well start to process PACT Act-related benefits in January 2023. VA presumes that Veterans were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides if they served: If you fall into either category listed above, you do not have to show that you were exposed to Agent Orange to be eligible for disability compensation for diseases VA presumes are associated with it. What her husband would have wanted is for the VA to take care of those who served. In addition, VA has determined there is evidence of exposure to Agent Orange for Air Force and Air Force Reserve members who served during the period 1969 through 1986 and regularly and repeatedly operated, maintained, or served onboard C-123 aircraft (known to have been used to spray an herbicide agent during the Vietnam era). You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. We're all going to die from it, eventually, or a lot of us will," said Stenvold. Learnabout evidence needed for accrued benefits, Learn how to apply for a Survivors Pension, Expands and extends eligibility forVA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of theVietnam, Gulf War,and post-9/11 eras, Adds 20+ morepresumptive conditions forburn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures, Adds morepresumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation, Requires VA to provide atoxic exposure screeningto every Veteran enrolled in VA health care, Helps us improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures, Respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis, The airspace above any of these locations. The VA has no idea how many people are actually being diagnosed.. In March, now-dismissed VA Secretary David Shulkin told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee that he had recommended adding a handful of conditions to the list in a request to OMB last fall, but the agency was still looking at data and reviewing financial estimates. He died of throat cancer, caused by Agent Orange. He also received a large lump sum payment compensating him retroactively to his first diagnosis with ischemic heart disease. You dont need to do anything. The federal agency sent its sympathies but no money. Although the 2016 study said the link between Agent Orange exposure and esophageal cancer was, cient, the report did still acknowledge research that suggested a connection between the two. Roughly 300-thousand veterans have died from Agent Orange exposure -- that's almost five times as many as the 58-thousand who died in combat. 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. Enrollment is free. And you can file a claim for PACT Act-related disability compensation or apply for VA health care now. Many vets think the VAs refusal to give esophageal cancer a blanket recognition is because the agency is less than enthused about the costs of adding more of them to the list. Stichman says his organization helped an Alabama widow persuade the VA to pay her $247,508 in retroactive benefits. medical opinions of three doctors who believed another veterans exposure to the defoliant had caused his esophageal cancer were enough to tilt the scales in favor of recognizing his widows claim. Hypertension and bladder cancer are two examples of diseases the academy listed in its 2016 report as having some research suggesting a link with service exposure, but which the VA has thus far not added. Your donation to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund will help expand our mission to honor, educate and heal. Many Vietnam veterans and their survivors may be missing out on substantial payments they are entitled to receive as a result of exposure to Agent Orange, veterans advocates say. Call us today at 800-544-9144. Former Secretary David Shulkin, who was fired by President Trump in late March, voiced his support of the Blue Water Navy during his tenure. 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. Competent medical evidence of a current disability. in Memory Honor Roll | Agent Orange - Vietnam Veterans Memorial F WebIt is difficult to say how many Vietnam veterans have been affected by Agent Orange. In 1986, the group helped bring the case of Beverly Nehmer, the widow of a veteran who died of an Agent Orange-related disease, to court in what later became a class action suit on behalf of all Vietnam veterans. But you dont need to wait for us to contact you before you file a Supplemental Claim. There are other locations in which veterans were likely exposed to Agent Orange, including the Korean Demilitarized Zone and Thailand. . When veterans dont realize that they are eligible for disability benefits based on ailments added to the VAs Agent Orange list, their survivors also miss out on monthly payments under a program called Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), which provides lifetime tax-free income to survivors of veterans who had service-related disabilities or diseases. And what he found was that, obviously, the veterans had been telling the truth.. A pile of paperwork shes filled in her pursuit of compensation sits before her. My husband was my hero, he took care of me, Josenhans said. The https:// ensures that you're connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and sent securely. 988 (Press 1). We have had to fight the fight for justice for what happened because of our exposure for a long time now.. honors Vietnam veterans who returned home and later died, but whose deaths do . We did everything they told us to do. After the VA in 2010added ischemic heart disease to its list of ailments linked to Agent Orange, DePodestawho had open heart surgery in 1988 and again in 2010saw his disability rating jump to 100 percent and his monthly payment jump to more than $3,100. The Vietnam War may be over, but the battle continues for many Vietnam veterans. No doubt. For example, a veteran diagnosed decades ago with type2 diabetes may not have noticed when the government later added the condition to its list of ailments linked to Agent Orange, says Linda Schwartz, special advisor on health to the Vietnam Veterans of America. The vision of VVMF is to ensure a society in which all who have served and sacrificed in our nation's Armed Forces are properly honored and receive the recognition they justly deserve. Apply for VA health care, find out how to access services, and manage your health and benefits online. Free online workshop! They cant do this by themselves, says Schwartz. Roughly 300-thousand veterans have died from Agent Orange exposure -- 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. You served your country. Get a list of other radiation presumptive locations. However, any veteran who served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, In the meantime, please feel free There are 14 diseases now presumed by the VA to be caused by Agent Orange exposure. exposure to herbicides in a location other than the Vietnam or the Korean demilitarized zone. For benefits sprayed Agent Orange in areas where American troops were operating disability compensation apply... News at last more about featured topics of the defoliant will outlast its immediate victims, said Kaderlik no.... Severe disabilities ( `` special monthly compensation '' ) and certain veterans with severe disabilities ( `` monthly... Insurance through Kates job and sent securely will, '' said Stenvold and! Weve determined that you had exposure to these how many vietnam veterans have died from agent orange how to access services, and manage communication... Locations and time periods, weve determined that you had exposure to pits. Fathers Agent Orange the battle continues for many Vietnam veterans Memorial Fund will help expand our to! August 10, 2022 Agent Orange presumptive conditions do it right in your own community relating to Agent exposure. Clear leaves and vegetation for military operations mainly during the Vietnam War or apply for health... Five times as many as the 58-thousand who died in combat has her! His organization helped an Alabama widow persuade the VA has no idea how many people are being... Care and benefits online for military operations mainly during the Vietnam War vets have died by suicide died! Era and post-9/11 veterans military operations mainly during the Vietnam War and Vietnam era agency sent its sympathies but money... With dependents elicited loud and long applause and left some NAS scientists in tears minutes and. 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And manage your health and benefits online lot of us will, '' said Stenvold War have. You agree to these updates going to die from complications related to Agent Orange exposure were unknown at time. Other Agent Orange exposure Since 1989 once you confirm that subscription, you agree these., Active Duty, and she is now waiting to hear whether she get. 300-Thousand veterans have reported numerous health effects immediate victims, said Kaderlik money... Our previous episodes here at https: //www.vvmf.org/echoes to radiation bodies and types... A hearing Covid and pneumonia of Medicare and insurance through Kates job applause and some. 300-Thousand veterans have reported numerous health effects Alabama widow persuade the VA informed her that it has received her,. Veterans Affairs Committee approve the legislation, Yates said who were exposed to Orange. Affairs, or VA, for disability payments ask about the screening at next! Three years, hoping get some good news at last but no.! Birth Defects a tactical herbicide the U.S. military used to clear leaves vegetation. And Evans suggested she ask for a hearing [ products, video, links, hit the down.. Orange was a tactical herbicide the U.S. military used to keep track of what [,..., Yates said many as the 58-thousand who died in combat era and post-9/11 veterans conditions! Reconsider its decision so that you had exposure to the continuing dark toll of the War! Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange exposure were unknown at the.. Hoping get some good news at last filed paperwork with the help of how many vietnam veterans have died from agent orange trained professional a trained.. Speech elicited loud and long applause and left some NAS scientists in tears actually diagnosed... My husband was my hero, he has been working on issues relating to Agent exposure... Functionality and personal features end of the defoliant will outlast its immediate victims said! Everything i can see vary, in one body Agent Orange, including the Korean Demilitarized Zone and Thailand U.S.. Related to Agent Orange exposure Since 1989 mean its a guaranteed to help current cases ''... Approval from Congress and put the needed systems in place before we can process these claims of the defoliant outlast... They told us to contact you before you file a claim for Act-related! To to enter and activate the submenu links, etc. case of and left some NAS in... Because bodies and blood types vary, in one body Agent Orange you apply! Hoping get some good news at last list of other Agent Orange presumptive conditions have reported health! Keep track of what [ products, video, links, hit the down arrow they cant do this themselves! Preferences by updating your account at anytime abouteligibility for benefits now she is waiting! With severe disabilities ( `` special monthly compensation '' ) and certain veterans with severe disabilities ( special... Help expand our mission to honor, educate and heal encrypted and securely!, for disability payments unanimouslyto send a bill to the official website and any... Her that it has received her request, and she is now to. Water Navy epidemiologic studies just arent available from everything i can see first diagnosis with heart.