You served your country. These were blue-collar veterans, so the VA wasnt listening, Congress wasnt listening, Wilcox said. File for VA disability compensation online, Learn more about how to file a disability compensation claim. On August 10, 2022 Agent Orange Awareness Day we will bring light to the continuing dark toll of the war. We're all going to die from it, eventually, or a lot of us will," said Stenvold. The medical opinions of doctors who arent familiar with the science of service connection may be well-intentioned, Cross said. The VA has no idea how many people are actually being diagnosed.. Diseases and conditions that are common among Vietnam veterans but are still not on the presumptive-diseases list include bladder cancer, high blood pressure, and glioblastoma. to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Why would the U.S. military use a chemical as toxic and deadly as Agent Orange? We left Washington feeling very optimistic,said Scarlett,who was accompanied by two other widows of Vietnam veterans who died of glioblastoma, Kathy Josenhans and Laurel Holt, who also gave short but substantive speeches. We have had to fight the fight for justice for what happened because of our exposure for a long time now, said Kaderlik. Before they would even have a chance of receiving disability or survivor benefits, veterans and their family members must prove that the glioblastoma was at least as likely as not to be caused by Agent Orange exposure. That exposure came from such things as ingestion of polluted water, cleaning off planes covered in Agent Orange, the onboard storage of Agent Orange, and missions to Vietnam that did not make it into personnel records.. We have had to fight the fight for justice for what happened because of our exposure for a long time now.. WebIt is unknown how many veterans have and are currently suffering from the effects of Agent Orange, as it was not tracked by the US Government for decades. I would like to try to find a way where we can resolve that issue for them, rather than make them continue to wait, Shulkin said. What her husband would have wanted is for the VA to take care of those who served. According to Stenvold, one tablespoon of Agent Orange in the drinking water of Los Angeles would kill the entire city. 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 problem, veterans advocates say, is that veterans dont necessarily make the connection between a disease they have had for years and the expanded Agent Orange list. "Agent Orange" refers to a blend of tactical herbicides the U.S. military sprayed in the jungles of Vietnam and around the Korean demilitarized zone to remove trees and dense tropical foliage that provided enemy cover. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. The VA suggests that veterans can get help from thislist of government-accredited Veterans and Military Service Organizations. Cabby was Petes dog, an aging black lab that happily barks and gamely bounds to the door whenever visitors drop by. 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. These cookies are essential so that you can move around the website and use its features. This deadly toxin has impacted the lives of thousands of veterans and their families but is largely unknown to most Americans. The federal agency, known as OMB, controls the VAs purse strings and has in the past been hostile to the idea of adding costs to the budget for veterans services. Our daughters that can't have children, there's a lot of them. He was a pioneer in the fight for Agent Orange awareness: A top deputy at what was then called the Veterans Administration, Hagel resigned in 1982 after a bitter disagreement with his boss, Robert Nimmo, a World War II veteran who wanted to cut funding for Agent Orange studies and psychiatric counseling at veterans centers. 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. You must provide your name, e-mail address, telephone and/or fax number, and VA file number/Social Security Number. Chuck Hagel, a Vietnam vet with two Purple Hearts who went on to be a U.S. senator and secretary of defense, said the current fight over Agent Orange benefits is all too familiar. 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. "Its an everyday question kind of, you know, what's passed on, what's not passed on," said Busby. Vietnam reports that some 400,000 people have suffered death or permanent injury from exposure to Agent Orange. In some cases, the resistance to adding more to the list has not been the VA but rather the Office of Management and Budget. 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. The number of Vietnam veterans affected by the chemical Agent Orange is astonishing. Enrollment is free. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? Were extending and expanding VA health care eligibility based on the PACT Act. Stichmanat NVLSP estimates that tens of thousands of survivors are unaware they are eligible for benefits because their spouses had diseases that the VA linked to Agent Orange only after their death. APPLICATION 202. By Haley FosterValley News Live 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. FSGLI: Family Servicemembers Group Life Insurance, Schedule of Payments for Traumatic Losses, S-DVI: Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance, Beneficiary Financial Counseling and Online Will, Lesbian Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Veterans, U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships that operated in Vietnam, diseases VA presumes are associated with exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides, Claims Adjudication Procedures Manual/Live Manual, Link to subscribe to receive email notice of changes to the Live Manual, In Vietnam anytime between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975, including brief, In or near the Korean demilitarized zone anytime between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971, Veterans who served on or near the perimeters of, Veterans who served where herbicides were, Veterans associated with Department of Defense (DoD), A medical diagnosis of a disease which VA recognizes as being associated with Agent Orange (listed above), service in Vietnam or at or near the Korean demilitarized zone during the dates shown above, or. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] More U.S. Vietnam War vets have died by suicide than died in the war. VA currently presumes that some diseases resulted from exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange. 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. "You know we killed the jungle with back packs, sprayed so we had a good perimeter," said Stenvold. Your dependents and survivors also may be eligible for benefits. By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. But bureaucracy in Washington doesnt move fast enough for most veterans and their families. The Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) define Agent Orange as a highly toxic herbicide used by the U.S. military to kill vegetation during the Vietnam War. Yes. WebHow many Vietnam veterans had Agent Orange? But there are also many other health conditions that we presume are caused by exposure to toxic (or hazardous)materials. Pete met his future wife, then Kate Kane, after returning home to Berkshire County in rural western Massachusetts. Well review your case again. 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. www.aarp.org/volunteer. In fact, he was 21. related to AARP volunteering. Curt Cashour, press secretary of the VA, told The Daily Beast the agency relies on medical evidence from internationally recognized scientific authorities, as well as its own independent review of the latest science, to make its determination on Agent Orange-related claims from veterans and their families. There are a number of ways to spread Agent Orange Awareness and you can do it right in your own community. A review of Petes service records confirms the exposure to the defoliant. 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. If youre a Veteran or survivor, you can file claims now to apply for PACT Act-related benefits. Now they have to own up to their responsibility., Sometimes, said Kate, it feels like they just want you to give up.. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? Weve added these 5 new locations to the list of presumptive locations: If you served on active duty in any of these locations, well automatically assume (or presume) that you had exposure to Agent Orange. 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. 988 (Press 1). EIN: 52-1149668, Copyright 2023 The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display, Place your shirt order (online only) through our vendor Custom Ink between now and when the sale ends on, Shirts are produced and shipped after the order window ends on. Yes. Even if the National Academy of Medicines forthcoming report does find definitive evidence of a link between Agent Orange and esophageal cancer, thats no guarantee the disease will be added to the list of approved service-related illnesses. 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. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Funds (VVMF) In Memory program honors those who returned home from Vietnam and later died. Pete was honorably discharged on March 19, 1971. 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 Kate believes the fight is worth continuing. The speech elicited loud and long applause and left some NAS scientists in tears. Its a long time coming. . Who is reviewing these claims?. He died of throat cancer, caused by Agent Orange. Organize a candle event at a local memorial site, park, or wherever you can gather. There shouldnt be a category for you to get help, said Kaderlik. This page will help answer your questions about what the PACT Act means for you or your loved ones. Many U.S. veterans of the war suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. 3. 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. Your donation to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund will help expand our mission to honor, educate and heal. Agent Orange killed many Vietnamese , American veterans and will kill me. I leave my condition to others to decide how Agent Orange affected me men I have spina bifida, it gets worse as I get older. But VVAs Kaderlik argues that even having a list is too restrictive. 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. visit VeteransCrisisLine.net for more resources. He also received a large lump sum payment compensating him retroactively to his first diagnosis with ischemic heart disease. you viewed to avoid repetition. DePodesta, a retired mortgage banker who works occasionally as a substitute teacher and serves as a prison chaplain, says the monthly benefits together with the retroactive payment made a pretty big change in my lifestyle. 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. Free online workshop! To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. not. It makes it hard. Stichman says his organization helped an Alabama widow persuade the VA to pay her $247,508 in retroactive benefits. Joe Moore, a former VA attorney and founding partner of Bergmann & Moore, which has successfully handled disability appeals for hundreds of veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and other toxins during their service, said the House decision on the Blue Water Navy is a positive sign. WebAs 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. The full name of the law isThe Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. VVMF began managing the program and hosting the ceremony in 1999. We encourage all Veterans and survivors to file for benefits now. Untold numbers were wounded. The PACT Act is perhaps the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history. Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Born with Certain Defects monetary compensation, healthcare and vocational training for children born with certain defects who are the children of female veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam. DeLeos opinion could help Kates case, however. DeLeos opinion could help Kates case, however. These cookies collect information about how you use our website. Apply for VA health care, find out how to access services, and manage your health and benefits online. 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. If you think you may be eligible for VA health care or benefits, we encourage you to apply now. The VAs resistance to adding diseases to the list of recognized conditions is part of a longstanding government pattern of dismissing soldiers from the Vietnam War, he added. 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. Once a disease is put on the list, it is easier to get disability compensation for it because the VA presumes the disease is a result of exposure to Agent Orange for veterans who served in Vietnam or its inland waterways between 1962 and 1975. Go to a VA regional office and have a VA employee assist you. Scarlett, a cancer registrar with six grown children, traveled from her home near Sacramento, Calif., to the nations capital to give her impassioned presentation, which balanced memories of her husband with data shed collected about his cancer. 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 cookies are also used to let affiliates know if you came to one of our websites from an affiliate and if your visit resulted in the use or purchase of a product or service from us, including details of the product or service purchased. To get a VA disability rating, your disability must connect to your military service. 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. 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. Ask about the screening at your next VA health care appointment. 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. Were considering all presumptive conditions established by the PACT Act presumptive on the date the bill becomes law. They quickly filed paperwork with the Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, for disability payments. They were married on Oct. 4, 1975 and had two daughters, Meghan and Erin. In April, she did. We will do our best to respond within a reasonable amount of time (usually 3 to 10 workdays). There shouldnt be a category for you to get help.. Did it save lives? When veterans dont think to apply for disability benefits based on conditions added to the VAs Agent Orange list in recent years, they can miss out on sizable payments. Learn more about featured topics of the Vietnam War and Vietnam Era. The National Veterans Legal Services Program has been working on Agent Orange cases since its founding in 1980, said Bart Stichman, the groups executive director. It can only advise the department, which hastaken decades to acknowledge how harmful TCDD, the dioxin in Agent Orange, really is. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. What he found was explosive. 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. 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. 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 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. return to top Health Care 877-222-8387 Benefits 800-827-1000 TDD (Hearing Impaired) 800-829-4833 Survivor benefits can be higher depending on their situation, including whether they need a caregiver to assist them with everyday activities like bathing and dressing. Agent Orange May Be Responsible For More Veteran Deaths Than The Government Is Willing To Recognize Peter Naylor died of esophageal cancer in 2015, Veterans and their survivors are still fighting the VA over their exposure to Americas notorious chemical weaponand the latest lethal conditions theyre confronting. 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. 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. Today, many believe over 400,000 Vietnam veterans are currently suffering from their exposure and tens of thousands have already died. 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. You can find your regional office on our. We may be able to reevaluate your claim. When she gave her speech last fall, Scarlett was still fighting for her survivor benefits. Petes medical bills, Kate said, were covered by a combination of Medicare and insurance through Kates job. It is difficult to say how many Vietnam veterans have been affected by Agent Orange. 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 I have a bad limp, neuropathy, phantom pain from nerve damage. WebAgent Orange is a chemical herbicide and defoliant, one of the "tactical use" Rainbow Herbicides.It was used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. Several other diseases bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, hypertensionandParkinsons-like symptomshave been under consideration to be added to the list. She sees the research noted in the National Academys last report as an encouraging sign that the science may eventually come down on their side. And what he found was that, obviously, the veterans had been telling the truth.. - Maynard Kaderlik, Vietnam Veterans of America, When the diagnosis came, both Pete and Kate were sure they knew the cause: Petes. These veterans dont need to prove that they were exposed to Agent Orange to qualify for benefits related to ailments on the list. 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). 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. 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. Because disability claims can be complicated, Linda Schwartz at VVA says it's vital for veterans and survivors to use an accredited veteran service officer when filing such claims. The academys 2016 report found that evidence for a link between esophageal cancer and Agent Orange is insufficient.. But the VA has denied his disability claim. So why is every veteran and widow who files a disability or survivor claim forced to re-litigate the issue?. But she didnt find an easy answer. Rab Cross, a doctor with the Central Western Massachusetts Veterans Health Administration, said he could not comment specifically on Naylors case without all the information, but cautioned against making such definitive claims on the causes of a disease. , which was resolved with a consent decree in 1991, forced the VA to address its responsibilities to veterans exposed to Agent Orange. We knew they wanted to help us, Scarlett said. The number of Vietnam veterans affected by the chemical Agent Orange is astonishing. Veterans and survivors also can learn more abouteligibility for benefits. As of this date (11/ 01/ 2020), The American War Library estimates that approximately 610,000 Americans who served on land in Vietnam or in the air over Vietnam between 1954 and 1975 are alive today. But for some conditions, we automatically assume (or presume) that your service caused your condition. Ask to get screened by the toxic exposure screening navigator. But over the years, the VA list of medical conditions associated with Agent Orange has grown to more than a dozen, including some that are much more prevalent. But its only the first step.. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund | 3033 Wilson Blvd, Suite 300 | Arlington VA 22201 | 202.393.0090 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. 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. In 1966 they told me, We will always take care of you, said Kaderlik. Since then he says he's made a vow to raise awareness. At least one of these must be true of your active-duty service: We encourage you to apply during this 1-year period so we can provide you with any care you may need now or in the future. Copyright 2023 Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD. All Rights Reserved. The House vote, and the fact that Scarlett and some other widows are beginning to get their claims approved, give her new hope. Veterans, Active Duty, and Military Families. The federal agency sent its sympathies but no money. Nearly 3 million service members served in Vietnam and most returned home. 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 But you dont need to wait for us to contact you before you reapply. Her husband, Frank Josenhans, spent six years in the waters off of Vietnam as a Navy diver. Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service may be eligible for a variety of VA benefits, including disability compensation for diseases associated with exposure. If someone you know has lost their battle to Agent Orange learn how to honor them in our In Memory Program. We did everything they told us to do, she said. Stenvold did three tours in Vietnam and in 2002 he was diagnosed with diabetes linked to Agent Orange. Petes medical bills, Kate said, were covered by a combination of Medicare and insurance through Kates job. Veterans who are not enrolled and who meet eligibility requirements will have an opportunity to enroll and receive the screening. You may be eligible for these VA benefits as the surviving family member of a Veteran: Exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials, Airborne hazards and open burn pit registry, Environmental health registry evaluation for Veterans, Camp Lejeune water contamination health issues, VA benefits for spouses, dependents, survivors, and family caregivers. If you think youre eligible for VA health care and benefits, we encourage you to apply now. 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. Get a list of other radiation presumptive locations. A photo of Pete hangs over Kates left shoulder as she sits at the kitchen table, on the red brick backsplash he built her. Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. My husband and 69 percent of the veterans in our group were treated for their glioblastoma at a civilian hospital and never seen at a VA facility, she said. From 1962 to 1971, the U.S. Air Force sprayed nearly 19 million gallons of herbicides in Vietnam, of which at least 11 million gallons was Agent Or You served your country. 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. WebHow many Vietnam veterans have died from Agent Orange? 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. Rating, your disability must connect to your Military service will do our best to respond within a reasonable of! Date the bill becomes law so that you can file claims now to apply for VA disability online! 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