Blue Water Back Pay Errors VA has been awarding benefits to Vietnam veterans for any conditions related to Agent Orange for decades. Our task is to report the facts. What is the , It raises the risk for heart disease, cancer, liver damage, and stroke. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. b. If you are a Veteran who served in Vietnam, suffered from any of these diseases listed above, and were exposed to Agent Orange, you may be entitled to benefits and compensation. Copyright 2022 Veterans Help Group All Right Reserved. Many Veterans are unaware of the details surrounding the VA and how they make the decisions they do. Is there a blood test for Agent Orange exposure? Agent Orange has been shown to cause serious health conditions including causing certain birth defects in the children of those veterans who were exposed. Manufacturers promised the herbicide would cause no lasting harm to humans but they were wrong. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Veterans have reported their own illnesses, of course, and saw birth defects in their children. Agent Blue is not made of the same chemical compounds as Agent Orange, with Agent Blue consisting of arsenic compounds - however, it's still quite deadly to humans and lives forever in soil and water. Unfortunately, failing to apply means they are not receiving benefits which could have made life easier for them and their families. However, over time, exposure to dioxin has been linked to the following in Veterans children: Veterans exposed to Agent Orange can seek disability compensation from the VA if their children suffer from any congenital disabilities and they served in the Vietnam war. If you have any further questions email me at aolegacy@gmail.com. Female soldiers often served as nurses and other medical personnel in field hospitals, where they were likely exposed to Agent Orange. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. VA has recognized certain cancers and other health problems as presumptive diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service. National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) offers two rare disease patient registries, 6. As many as 60,000 of these veterans are Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. Do women qualify for Vietnam Agent Orange disability? No. Despite the efforts to decontaminate the soil, the U.S. vehemently denies that the number of Agent Orange illnesses are that high, which according to the Vietnamese includes children of men and women who were exposed to the dioxin following the war. That said, studies on Agent Orange and its harmful effects are ongoing, and over the years, researchers have linked the herbicide to more and more illnesses, many of them serious and even life-threatening. My identical twin brother and I suffer major mental health issues. Appeals to the Board of Veterans Appeals, Appeal to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Increase Veterans Affairs Disability Rating, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), VA Mental Health: Legal Help for Veterans, Veterans Affairs Compensation for Sleep Apnea, VA Rating for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Symptoms, 2023 Veterans Affairs Disability Rate Increase, Youll understand the effects of chemical exposure and contaminants on Veterans, Youll know how herbicide exposure affects children of Vietnam Veterans, Youll learn about the benefits for Veterans who were exposed to and affected by Agent Orange, Spina Bifida, a malformation of the spinal cord, The Veteran must prove a current disability, A medical nexus between the in-service stressor and current diagnosis, Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, Korean Demilitarized Zone between April 1, 1968, and August 31, 1971, Or the Air Force, between 1969 and 1986 and regularly maintained and operated a C-123 aircraft, In a place where the military stored or tested herbicides, In Department of Defense projects where herbicides were tested. We use cookies to optimize our website and our service. And so does my 2 children and my twin brothers 2 children . one condition related to Agent Orange exposure chloracne, a skin condition, How exposure to Agent Orange affects Vietnam veterans. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. VETERANS HELP GROUP LAUNCHES ADVISORY BOARD WITH FOUR DISTINGUISHED VETERANS. Agent Orange was a chemical herbicide that the U.S. military used to clear out trees and other plants while combating Vietnamese forces. Perhaps they did not realize what they have is on the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list or they thought it would be too much trouble to apply. For the VA to go through a Veterans appeal can take years, prolonging the time it takes for Veterans to receive their benefits. (U.S. Navy photo/Released). The Vietnam Red Cross estimates that Agent Orange has affected 3 million Vietnamese people, including at least 150,000 children. Agent Orange is a herbicide composed of a 1 to 1 mixture of esters of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic-acid (94757) and 2,4,5-trichloroacetic-acid (93765) which may have the trace contaminant 2,4,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Can a child of a Vietnam Veteran get benefits? The U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs, known as the VA, has added atypical Parkinsonism to the list of conditions presumptively associated with Agent Orange exposure during military service. 877-222-8387, TDD (Hearing Impaired) Agent Orangeis a herbicide, classified as a defoliant, that was used most notably by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. It will lay the groundwork for the research we need on the health of our children and grandchildren, whom we believe have been impacted by exposures during our military serviceand in keeping with our founding principle, Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another, this legislation will ensure that our newer veterans will not have to wait 50 years for answers., b. Dr. Michael Skinner, with Washington State Universitys Center for Reproductive biology, has studied the transgenerational health effects of dioxin exposure using animals and says women who served in Vietnam and was exposed to Agent Orange could have passed the dioxin to children for at least 15 to 20 years after they returned home. Making an appeal is not an easy task, though. Born and raised in the bustling city of New York, Sandra has always been drawn to the idea of living a balanced and fulfilling life. Both my son and myself experienced outstanding results because we were represented by Woods and Woods. Kuhn said she often relies on wheelchairs and canes to move around and because her husband works to support her family she is often alone at home. Betty Mekdeci, the executive director of Birth Defect Research for Children, a Florida-based non-profit says shes collected data since 1986 on birth defects from toxic exposure. Has Your Child or Grandchilds Health Been Affected by Your Military Service? VA has established a list of presumptive conditions for service members that served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 cumulative days from August 1, 1953 through December 31, 1987: Adult leukemia Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes Bladder cancer Kidney cancer Liver cancer Multiple myeloma Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Parkinson's disease Visitor looks the names on the wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC, May 28, 2017. Amyloidosis can affect almost any organ, including the heart, kidneys, lungs, stomach, and even the skin. Contributions also allow them to continue shedding light on the long-term effects of Agent Orange so that those affected get the compensation they deserve. In some cases, a parents past contact with specific chemicals causes this birth defect. Agent Orange and Its Health Effects. MeSH terms 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / poisoning* 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / poisoning* In Southeast Asia, American soldiers spayed defoliants mainly Monsanto manufactured Agent Orange over millions of acres of dense jungle to deprive the Viet Cong of cover. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We invite you to light a candle for your veteran or for the veterans child lost to Agent Orange. Donations to the organization allow them to continue providing support and informational resources to veterans and their dependents. Kellie Bisset reports. "The fact that you may have been responsible for that child's hurt and pain it's very difficult to live with.". The concept of service connection is pretty Know the Difference: Burn Pit Claims and The Gulf War Illness Soldiers returning from the Gulf War Soldiers Angels Teams Up with Veterans Help Group to Advocate for South Carolina Veterans The national nonprofit Feb 28, 2023 | Burn Pit, Claims, Conditions, Sleep Apnea, Veterans Disability Blog. Request Your Military Service Records Online, by Mail, or by Fax (Includes DD 214/Separation Documents, Personnel Records, and/or Medical Records), 9. VA presumes that spina bifida in biological children of certain Vietnam-era Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange was caused by the Veterans' military service. The combined product was mixed with JP-4 or diesel fuel and dispersed by aircraft, vehicle, and hand spraying. Mental health problems caused by war service afflict veterans' families and children too. Angelica Caye Kuhn is seen with her daughter, Lauren Kuhn, left, in this undated photo. Unfortunately, Agent Orange exposure has led to long-term health effects in many Vietnam era veterans, including multiple myeloma, Parkinsons Disease, and various types of cancer. The VA recognizes that children born to female veterans who served in Vietnam have a higher incidence of birth defects, but it does not attribute these conditions to Agent Orange exposure. Any information on similar findings would be extremely helpful. Served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, or. These kids are having problems right now and we need to get on it right now not ten years from now. She says that the scientific community should focus on assisting children of veterans instead of studying them. These benefits are only available to children of Vietnam veterans under certain circumstances. The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Hi Annie, I am very interested in talking with you further about the info you posted. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. "Children and grandchildren did not sign up, but they may bear the wounds of war," Blumenthal said in reintroducing the legislation this year. free veterans benefits case evaluation form. However, an analysis of Agent Orange registry data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) suggests a link between males exposure to Agent Orange and having children with certain birth defects. And for years after the war, Air Force reservists flew the C-123 aircraft that had sprayed the chemical, still in the airframes as residue. What is Agent Orange? Agent Orange. Kuhns family members say they have also suffered medical problems. Female rats were exposed while pregnant, and both their direct progeny and descendants two generations removed were examined. That will make U.S. military veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange eligible for the VA's disability compensation benefits. Despite any anecdotal or academic evidence you may have read, the VA currently does not provide benefits for the grandchildren or great-grandchildren of Vietnam veterans. Unfortunately, we are in the same circumstances as you except for the children of women Vietnam veterans. military service in Vietnam during the period of January 9, 1962 to May 7, 1975. current diagnosis of: one of the diseases, or residuals of one of the diseases, that the VA recognizes as linked to Agent Orange exposure (see below). "Imprisoned by my handicap. And Kuhn's daughter suffers from a connective tissue disorder. Help Us Investigate the Impact of Agent Orange, NIH Scientists Uncover Genetic Explanation for Frustrating Syndrome, Reports link Agent Orange exposure and birth defects. Though many studies have been done, research remains inconclusive, leading to much controversy. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. Estimates show more than 20% to 30% of veterans A recent decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit confirms that VA must apply a generous standard when evaluating the lay testimony of veterans suffering from PTSD concerning their combat experiences and PTSD stressors. But the VA does not offer disability benefits for grandchildren of Agent Orange veterans, and it allows benefits to children of Vietnam veterans only under certain circumstances. In addition, the mother must have served in Vietnam between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Visiting a VA medical doctor could help gather the proper evidence to connect the in-service stressor and the current diagnosis. You may be owed compensation. The spouses and dependent children of veterans who died because of an illness caused by Agent Orange or those who died in the line of duty are eligible for survivor benefits. For example, veterans in the Blue Water Navy who were denied 3 years ago may now eligible. Posted: February 24, 2023. It can also cause testicular shrinkage and breast enlargement in men. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. "It has so many different . Brett. The children, spouses, and even parents of Servicemembers who died in the line of duty can qualify for DIC. With my condition, the doctor will tell you that it is something so rare that you hardly see it.. An experienced attorney will make sure that all of the pieces are there, and they will be able to advocate and work for the Veteran. It is our intent to gather details from as many adult children as we can. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Give us a call today at (888) 573-7838 for a free consultation about your Agent Orange-related claim, or fill out this quick form to get started. As in Australia it is next to impossible to get an help from Veterans Affairs with any mental health or heath conditions as they do not recognise any of these conditions could be attributed from agent Orange. Our monthly newsletter features about important and up-to-date veterans' law news, keeping you informed about the changes that matter. Jun 02, 2021. We fight to ensure that all veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam era are getting the benefits they earned. This blog does not store any files on its server. There are usually two forms of VA decisions that Veterans will decide to appeal. To qualify to receive VA compensation, healthcare, and vocational training the child must be the biological child of a veteran who: The child also must have been conceived after the date on which the veteran entered Vietnam or the DMZ. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. The VA did not respond to ABC News' multiple requests for comment. It contained toxic chemicals that cause serious health problems like cancer, birth defects, and neuro disorders. contact the experienced advocates at Veterans Help Group. In the meantime, Kuhn said she'll continue to push for awareness. The VA began recognizing diseases associated with herbicide exposure in Vietnam in 1991, naming 14 diseases as presumed to be linked to exposure, including Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma,. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Urine: THC from edibles can be detected in a , Pumpkin seeds are rich in nutrients known to support weight loss, such as fiber, protein, and unsaturated fatty acids. Exposure to Agent Orange was also associated with a diagnosis of dementia at a somewhat younger age. Spina Bifida and Agent Orange. No human studies exist. Orlando, FL. However, for the children of the men who served in Vietnam, only Spina Bifida is recognized as being directly connected to Agent Orange exposure. This is because Agent Orange exposure is presumed by the VA if a Veteran shows that they are diagnosed with one of the diseases or disabilities that Agent Orange causes. According to the BBC News, babies exposed to Agent Orange in the womb are more than three times as likely to suffer from mental retardation, cleft palate and other birth defects, such as the presence of extra fingers or toes 2. Are the grandchildren of Vietnam veterans eligible for Agent Orange benefits? By Laura Macfarlane. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. But studies are almost never absolute, so a lack of scientific consensus prevents much from being done. These include: Cognitive decline. There are steps Veterans can take to help prevent heart disease, cancer, and other common diseases of aging. Qualifications depend on when the surviving spouse and the veteran were married, whether they had children, or several other factors. Almost 20 million gallons of Agent Orange was sprayed in Vietnam, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. No definitive evidence shows that Agent Orange can cause schizophrenia as of 2019. As Vietnam War veterans turn into their 70s and 80s, they're giving a push to a bill that will ensure their offspring necessary healthcare if they have the diseases that are associated with toxic exposure. Years later, he was diagnosed with illnesses connected to Agent Orange. Do children of veterans have health problems because of their parents exposure? No definitive evidence shows that Agent Orange can cause schizophrenia as of 2019. What Causes PTSD to be Triggered in Veterans? The conditions are: Thousands of women served in Vietnam and are also Agent Orange victims even though they did not serve in combat. Job Description. The chemical was primarily used during a military campaign known as Operation Ranch Hand. Are Children or Grandchildren Eligible for Agent Orange Disability Benefits? This article will answer those questions and describe the benefits that Vietnam War Veterans are entitled to from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). During that time, it became apparent that exposure to the herbicide was not only dangerous to service members but also to their children. "The government owes our veterans so they can better understand the impact these indirect exposures have to guarantee their children and grandchildren receive appropriate treatment.". No definitive evidence shows that Agent Orange can cause schizophrenia as of 2019. About spina bifida. For ten years in Vietnam, it rained a chemical mist. I live in Australia and my father is a Vietnam Veteran. The United States and Vietnam set up a decontamination effort several years ago in Da Nang, a city in Central. Agent Orange has been shown to cause serious health conditions including causing certain birth defects in the children of those veterans who were exposed. 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