Its an uphill battle, said Maynard Kaderlik, the Minnesota-based chair of the Vietnam Veterans of Americas Agent Orange and Dioxin Committee. Additionally, Agent Orange is an extremely powerful herbicide. 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 womans husband, a Vietnam veteran, had died of cardiac ischemia in 1983, but the VA had rejected a request for a death pension that she filed in 1985. 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. According to Stenvold, one tablespoon of Agent Orange in the drinking water of Los Angeles would kill the entire city. 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). Twenty-eight years later, the VA says not all the claims in the Zumwalt report held up to scientific scrutiny, but it was an important initial step in examining relationships among military environmental exposure and illness, said VA Public Affairs Officer Randy Noller. They quickly filed paperwork with the Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, for disability payments. If you served in any of these locations and time periods, weve determined that you had exposure to burn pits or other toxins. Pete, a stone mason who lived in Housatonic, Massachusetts, began having difficulty swallowing in the fall of 2014. WebVietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Of the 105,000 claims received by the Payment Program, approximately 52,000 Vietnam Veterans or their survivors received cash payments which averaged 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. The admiral believed these illnesses were the result of his sons exposure to the defoliant during his time as a patrol boat lieutenant in Vietnam from June 1969 to August 1970. The federal agency sent its sympathies but no money. In addition, she argues the VA is making decisions about glioblastoma based on incomplete numbers. Competent medical evidence of an actual connection between herbicide exposure and the current disability. We have updated our Privacy Policy. In Memory. Pete was honorably discharged on March 19, 1971. For one thing, the health risks of Agent Orange exposure were unknown at the time. 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. 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. If a direct link is made to Agent Orange exposure in a particular case, then service connection could still be granted, says Beth Murphy, VA Compensation Service Director. We knew they wanted to help us, Scarlett said. 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. Agent Orange is taking a huge toll on Vietnam Veterans with most deaths somehow related to Agent Orange exposure. exposure to herbicides in a location other than the Vietnam or the Korean demilitarized zone. If you have any of these other conditions, you may be eligible for health care or benefits. To see all the honorees, please visit theIn MemoryHonor Roll. The PACT Act adds new presumptive conditions. But you dont need to wait for us to contact you before you reapply. Pete took up stone masonry, from which he retired in 2012. As Kate listened to the speakers, it became clear to her that shed have to do more than just repeatedly file appeals with the VA. After Evans spoke, she made a beeline for his table outside the auditorium. In 1990, Zumwalt was then-Secretary of the VA Ed Derwinskis special assistant. His cause of death was glioblastoma, a lethal brain cancer that is not on the VAs list of presumptive diseases, but is being diagnosed at an evidently accelerated rate in the past few years among Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange. But there are also many other health conditions that we presume are caused by exposure to toxic (or hazardous)materials. For more information on how to apply and for tips on making sure your claim is ready to be processed by VA, visit our How to Apply page. File a claim for disability compensation for conditions related to your military service, and manage your benefits over time. 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. Were considering all presumptive conditions established by the PACT Act presumptive on the date the bill becomes law. www.aarp.org/volunteer. WebHow many Vietnam veterans had Agent Orange? When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. Zumwalts son, also named Elmo, died of lymphoma and Hodgkins disease in 1988. The employees and the company gave a total of $1,500 dollars to this cause. Two years ago, the VVA received 50 thousand dollars from the state to do just that. 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. In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails Vietnam reports that some 400,000 people have suffered death or permanent injury from exposure to Agent Orange. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, We honor and remember their sacrifice. 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. 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. Well start to process PACT Act-related benefits in January 2023. 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. You can also file by mail, in person, or with the help of a trained professional. She has reapplied for the spousal benefit six times in the last three years, hoping the VA will reconsider its decision. Other medical professionals would hesitate to make such a strong statement. There shouldnt be a category for you to get help, said Kaderlik. WebIt is difficult to say how many Vietnam veterans have been affected by Agent Orange. There are also other locations where we presume that you had exposure to radiation. More than 400 of those 534 honored this year died because of Agent Orange exposure. Were not wealthy, he says. Veterans Crisis Line, Dial 988, then Press 1. Veterans with glioblastoma and their family members say the process of filing a VA claim is painstaking and at times downright cruel. 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. Some veterans and their widows have won their glioblastoma cases at VA, she said. This month, the House Veterans Affairs Committee approved legislation to extend Agent Orange-related benefits to the Blue Water Navy. 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. The Veterans Health Administration's Public Health website lists these diseases VA presumes are associated with exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service: If you are seeking service connection for one of the diseases VA presumes is associated with exposure to herbicides during service, VA requires the following: If you believe that you have a disease caused by herbicide exposure, but that disease is not on the list of diseases associated with Agent Orange, you may still apply for service-connection. It is difficult to say how many Vietnam veterans have been affected by Agent Orange. 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. It seems to depend on whose desk it appears. Agent Orange May Be Responsible For More Veteran Deaths Than The Government Is Willing To Recognize Peter Naylor died of esophageal cancer in 2015, 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. Organize banner/sign hangings around the community. In fact, he was 21. If youre a surviving family member of a Veteran, you may be eligible for these benefits: You can submit a new application for VA dependency and indemnity compensation (VA DIC). Though the academys past reports have recognized 50 diseases that fall under the limited or suggestive evidentiary category, the VA has only. The VA has no idea how many people are actually being diagnosed.. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy. Javascript must be enabled to use this site. 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. related to AARP volunteering. DeLeos opinion could help Kates case, however. You served your country. Agent Orange is the name given to a blend of highly toxic herbicides the U.S. military sprayed from 1962 to 1971 in Vietnam to remove foliage that provided enemy cover. Note:If we denied your claim in the past and we think you may be eligible now, well try to contact you. WebHow many REAL Vietnam vets are alive today? This law helps us provide generations of Veteransand their survivorswith the care and benefits theyve earned and deserve. Please switch auto forms mode to off. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. 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. Last November, I traveled to the East Coast to attend the burial of a friend of over 50 years who also served in Vietnam. After he died, I only got survivor benefits from Social Security, $500 a month. In 1986, the group helped bring the case of. 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. If you served in any of these locations, you may be eligiblefor health care or benefits. He served for nearly three years, including 11 months as a helicopter crew chief in Vietnam. We call these presumptive conditions.. 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. Stenvold did three tours in Vietnam and in 2002 he was diagnosed with diabetes linked to Agent Orange. You served in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War, You served in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after November 11, 1998, You were discharged or released on or after October 1, 2013. Former Secretary David Shulkin, who was fired by President Trump in late March, voiced his support of the Blue Water Navy during his tenure. Dewinski commissioned him to research and analyze the available evidence on veterans service-related Agent Orange exposure and illnesses for the report. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. He died of throat cancer, caused by Agent Orange. Yet, the fact that review boards have ruled in widows favor in the past doesnt mean its a guaranteed to help current cases. Expands While the VA to date has not budged, the tide now appears to be turning toward the sailors. In the meantime, please feel free That number is almost 5x The following are just some examples of how individuals and communities across the nation came together to raise Agent Orange Awareness last 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. The Vietnam War may be over, but the battle continues for many Vietnam veterans. Its a long time coming. So then why does one get approved and another does not? Attention A T users. Peter Naylor died of esophageal cancer in 2015, and now his wife is fighting to have the disease recognized as related to his service in Vietnam. Yes. 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. 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. These veterans dont need to prove that they were exposed to Agent Orange to qualify for benefits related to ailments on the list. 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. We did everything they told us to do, she said. This page will help answer your questions about what the PACT Act means for you or your loved ones. You can also enroll at any time during this period and get any care you need, but you may owe a copay for some care.At least one of these must be true of your active-duty service: We encourage you to enroll now so we can provide any care you may need now or in the future. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Kate, 66, now lives alone with her dog, Cabernet. This change expands benefits for Gulf War era and post-9/11 Veterans. But will they? You dont need to do anything. VA currently presumes that some diseases resulted from exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange. WebPeak troop strength in Vietnam: 543,482 (April 30, 1968). But the VA told Kate that it was denying her claim because in the agencys opinion, there is not enough evidence of a link between esophageal cancer and Agent Orange exposure. You can also call us at800-698-2411(TTY: 711). It can only advise the department, which hastaken decades to acknowledge how harmful TCDD, the dioxin in Agent Orange, really is. They may also be used to keep track of what [products, video, links, etc.] Six of the 46 veterans had served in Vietnam, Cashour said. The fact is, we needed to know more about Agent Orange then, and we still do., a Facebook page for veterans with glioblastoma. Untold numbers were wounded. Kate filed more paperwork a few months after her husbands death for spousal compensation. There are 14 diseases now presumed by the VA to be caused by Agent Orange exposure. The Vietnam Veterans of America nonprofit has been working to expand the VAs list of service-related illnesses for years. 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? to the list in a request to OMB last fall, but the agency was still looking at data and reviewing financial estimates. If you have a presumptive condition, you dont need to prove that your service caused the condition. You can find your regional office on our. While he would not comment specifically on the type of claims coming from the Blue Water Navy or glioblastoma patients and families because he has not studied their claims, Hagel said all who file an Agent Orange claim need to be heard and respected by the VA. When you are dealing with these deadly toxic chemicals, we owe it to these people to take a closer look, he said. 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. 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. They quickly filed paperwork with the Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, for disability payments. The NAS has no mandate power over Veterans Affairs. You can view the current Compensation Rate Tables to determine the amount you may receive. Our staff offers a free case evaluation. 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. 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. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund | 3033 Wilson Blvd, Suite 300 | Arlington VA 22201 | 202.393.0090 A VA disability lawyer can help you with this process. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. In some cases, the resistance to adding more to the list has not been the VA but, rather the Office of Management and Budget, . 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 The diseases now on the VAs Agent Orange list are ischemic heart disease, lung and trachea cancers, prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, Hodgkins disease, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, Parkinsons Disease, type 2 diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, AL amyloidosis, chronic B-cell leukemia, chloracne, early-onset peripheral neuropathy, porphyriacutaneatarda, and soft tissue sarcomas. - Maynard Kaderlik, Vietnam Veterans of America, When the diagnosis came, both Pete and Kate were sure they knew the cause: Petes. See this episode and all of our previous episodes here at https://www.vvmf.org/echoes. But bureaucracy in Washington doesnt move fast enough for most veterans and their families. Her husband, Frank Josenhans, spent six years in the waters off of Vietnam as a Navy diver. Most of them are deceased. If someone you know has lost their battle to Agent Orange learn how to honor them in our In Memory Program. Competent medical evidence that the disease began within the deadline (if any). 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. receive communications related to AARP volunteering. Review boards are not required to consider precedent decisions, meaning there are no easy answers for people attempting to navigate the VA the whole thing is somewhat of a crapshoot. A review of Petes service records confirms the exposure to the defoliant. 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. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly WebHow many Vietnam veterans had Agent Orange? "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. VA and federal law presumes that certain diseases are a result of exposure to these herbicides. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. Now known simply as the Zumwalt report, the document sent shockwaves through the political establishment. An official website of the State of North Dakota. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Funds (VVMF) In Memoryprogram honors those who returned home from Vietnam and later died. You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. 11 million gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed in Vietnam over 20 million acres, putting three million Vietnam veterans and their families at risk. 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. . Veterans and survivors also can learn more abouteligibility for benefits. He was 76 years old and had recently had Covid and pneumonia. Veterans service groups say it can be worth trying to bring such claims even though they can be difficult. But countless veterans and their families who try to get disability and survivor benefits are still turned away, left to contest their claims on a case-by-case basis. The State of North Dakota provides automatic translation for nd.gov websites, courtesy of Google Translate. No 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 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. Additional amounts are paid to certain Veterans with severe disabilities ("special monthly compensation") and certain Veterans with dependents. 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. Check the list of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships that operated in Vietnam to confirm whether your service aboard a ship allows VA to concede you were exposed to Agent Orange.. Any man or woman thats served who walks into the VA should be taken care of.. We get by with Social Security and the compensation and substitute teaching.. ", Getting extra compensation certainly helps. Weve added these 3 new response efforts to the list of presumptive locations: If you took part in any of these efforts, well automatically assume (or presume) that you had exposure to radiation. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. 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. I was telling Ashley I know of at least 70 in North Dakota alone where the daughters can't have kids, said Stenvold. Copyright 2023 Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD. All Rights Reserved. In April, she did. I cant go to work.. 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. In some cases, the resistance to adding more to the list has not been the VA but rather the Office of Management and Budget. Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? has been working on Agent Orange cases since its founding in 1980, said Bart Stichman, the groups executive director. Enrollment is free. The agency can go weeks or months without replying to an appeal, while sending back paperwork with a hard and fast deadline later. Get a list of other radiation presumptive locations. An official website of the United States government. It was quite a moment because they couldnt question his integrity, said Wilcox. They cant do this by themselves, says Schwartz. Your dependents and survivors also may be eligible for benefits. 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. These veterans dont need to prove that they were exposed to Agent Orange to qualify for benefits related to ailments on the list. 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 We call this having a presumption of exposure. Even when such records do exist, it is extremely hard for the average veteran to track them down, Moore said. 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. Disclaimer: This information is not legal advice. Get a list of other Agent Orange presumptive conditions. 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