Jan

11

ANOTHER HAZARD OF WAR

Filed Under Agent Orange, Tears of a Warrior, War 

by Tony & Janet Seahorn

agent-orange

 

            There are many Vietnam veterans who have and are continuing to suffer from exposure to AGENT ORANGE. For many, getting adequate information has been a challenge. Because of that challenge, we decided to put the following information on Agent Orange in this blog. We hope it will be of some help.

 

Presumption of Exposure — A veteran who, during active military, naval, or air service, served in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962 and ending on May 7, 1975, will be presumed to have been exposed to an herbicide agent during such service, unless there is affirmative evidence that establishes that the veteran was not exposed to any such herbicide agent. 

Length of Exposure — There is no regulatory requirement as to how long the veteran was in Vietnam; even a few hours of service in country is sufficient to establish the presumption of exposure. The last date on which a veteran will be presumed to have been exposed to an herbicide agent will be the last date on which he or she served in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962 and ending on May 7, 1975. 

Presumptive Service Connection (herbicide-related diseases)

If a veteran has one of the diseases listed in 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e) (see Appendix A) and his/her exposure to an herbicide is either presumed, based on service in Vietnam, or otherwise proven by the evidence, the disease is presumed to be related to the in-service exposure.

The all inclusive list, according to the VA site now reads:

  • Acute and Subacute Peripheral Neuropathy
    A nervous system condition that causes numbness, tingling, and motor weakness. Under VA’s rating regulations, it must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure to Agent Orange and resolve within 2 years after the date it began.
  • AL Amyloidosis
    A rare disease caused when an abnormal protein, amyloid, enters tissues or organs.
  • B Cell Leukemias
    Cancers which affect B cells, such as hairy cell leukemia.
  • Chloracne (or Similar Acneform Disease)
    A skin condition that occurs soon after dioxin exposure and looks like common forms of acne seen in teenagers. Under VA’s rating regulations, chloracne (or other acneform disease similar to chloracne) must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure to Agent Orange.
  • Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
    A disease that progresses slowly with increasing production of excessive numbers of white blood cells.
  • Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2)
    A disease characterized by high blood sugar levels resulting from the body’s inability to respond properly to the hormone insulin.
  • Hodgkin’s Disease
    A malignant lymphoma (cancer) characterized by progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, and by progressive anemia.
  • Ischemic Heart Disease
    A disease characterized by a reduced supply of blood to the heart.
  • Multiple Myeloma
    A cancer of specific bone marrow cells that is characterized by bone marrow tumors in various bones of the body.
  • Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
    A group of cancers that affect the lymph glands and other lymphatic tissue.
  • Parkinson’s Disease
    A motor system condition with symptoms that include trembling of the limbs and face and impaired balance.
  • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
    A disorder characterized by liver dysfunction and by thinning and blistering of the skin in sun-exposed areas. Under VA’s rating regulations, it must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure to Agent Orange.
  • Prostate Cancer
    Cancer of the prostate; one of the most common cancers among men.
  • Respiratory Cancers
    Cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus.
  • Soft Tissue Sarcoma (other than Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or Mesothelioma)
    A group of different types of cancers in body tissues such as muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels, and connective tissues.

Here is the link, as well:

http://www.publiche alth.va.gov/ exposures/ agentorange/ diseases. asp#veterans

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