Agent Orange & the VA
 

FYI,, for those that might be interested..

Get to your local VA and get tested...

I spoke with the VA about my father who is a Vietnam veteran x 2. They told me that being a Vietnam vet and having prostate CA would be an automatic qualifyer for disablity benefits c agent orange being the link.

He hasnt persued it-

Your dad has C,, sorry to hear,

I have just started the process of getting my claim looked at. I am currently 30% SC PH. I have been getting the AO fliers from the VA for years and after reading the latest list, I have started a conversation with my cardiologist & neurologist, I may be showing symptoms of acute and subacute transient peripheral neuropathy. It's showing up in my ankles...

1st: the VA can make a Pope Jewish. You must be persistent, polite, and most of all, studious.

2nd: you need a trained VA Veterans Representative to act as your front man.

Then it's off to war... If your dad has a good insurance plan, the VA might not add much in the way of on-hands doctoring. But if the VA loses and your dad is recognized as being an AO victim, he will collect some disability.

My neighbor went through the VA to treat his prostate CA. His PSA score was over 14 something. I think 2.5 is the clip point... He's been good for 2 yrs, looks like they got it,, He had a couple months radiation.

any,, good luck.

My $00.0002

Agent Orange & the VA
 

Never Quit!!

I was denied a claim on my heart. The day I took my retirement physical my BP was 120/70.
VA said I was healthy.

BMT

has recently come to the Chief Business Office attention that staff in the field may not be familiar with the flexibilities offered by this authority which can result in an erroneous billing to Project 112 SHAD Veteran's. Project 112 is the name of the overall program for both shipboard and land-based biological and chemical testing that was conducted by the United States military between 1962 and 1973.

Public Law 110-387, Section 803, the Veterans’ Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008, permanently provides for Veterans, who participated in Project 112, to be enrolled in Priority Enrollment Category 6. On September 30, 2009, VHA released to the field VHA Directive 2009-047, Provision of Health Care Services to Veterans Involved in Project 112-Shipboard Hazard and Defense (SHAD) Testing. This Directive provides policy for providing Project 112-Shipboard Hazard and Defense (SHAD) Veterans a thorough clinical evaluation and enhanced access to enrollment in PG 6, unless eligible for higher enrollment placement in the VA Health Care System. This Directive also describes the type of care for which these Veterans are eligible from VA at no cost; notwithstanding there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude their conditions are attributable to such testing.

Facility intake, eligibility and clinic scheduling staff should be reminded of the Project 112-SHAD indicator in VistA on the Registration Screen #7. By completing this field, the information is viewable in other VistA packages by clinical and administrative staff. If staff need to update this field and are unable to edit this field, they should contact the VHA HEC Alert mail group in Outlook or contact the HEC by fax at (404)982-3060 or phone (404) 828-5257.

References for this VHA Directive are Title 38 U.S.C. §1710(e)(1)(E) and Public Law 110-387, Section 803, The Veterans Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008.

This VHA Directive and other important and informative Directives and Handbooks are located on the VHA Forms and Publications website at http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/.

VA Extends “Agent Orange” Benefits to More Veterans
Parkinson’s Disease, Two Other Illnesses Recognized

WASHINGTON (Oct. 13, 2009) – Relying on an independent study by the Institute of Medicine, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki decided to establish a service-connection for Vietnam Veterans with three specific illnesses based on the latest evidence of an association with the herbicides referred to Agent Orange.

The illnesses affected by the recent decision are B cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia; Parkinson’s disease; and ischemic heart disease.

Used in Vietnam to defoliate trees and remove concealment for the enemy, Agent Orange left a legacy of suffering and disability that continues to the present. Between January 1965 and April 1970, an estimated 2.6 million military personnel who served in Vietnam were potentially exposed to sprayed Agent Orange.

In practical terms, Veterans who served in Vietnam during the war and who have a “presumed” illness don’t have to prove an association between their illnesses and their military service. This “presumption” simplifies and speeds up the application process for benefits.

The Secretary’s decision brings to 15 the number of presumed illnesses recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“We must do better reviews of illnesses that may be connected to service, and we will,” Shinseki added. “Veterans who endure health problems deserve timely decisions based on solid evidence.”

Other illnesses previously recognized under VA’s “presumption” rule as being caused by exposure to herbicides during the Vietnam War are:

• Acute and Subacute Transient Peripheral Neuropathy
• AL Amyloidosis
• Chloracne
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
• Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2)
• Hodgkin’s Disease
• Multiple Myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
• Prostate Cancer
• Respiratory Cancers, and
• Soft Tissue Sarcoma (other than Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or Mesothelioma)

Additional information about Agent Orange and VA’s services and programs for Veterans exposed to the chemical are available at www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange

Old Man w/25th in the Nam
 

I sent this info to my dad. He had Prostate CA and the VA did the surgery. He received monies for a while then they downgraded his condition until it just stopped. He now has diabetes and they told him everything has to be attributed to the "Orange". Said he should know something in a few weeks.

ccrn,

Terrible news regarding your father's DX. If you can, please impress upon him that it is not only he, that benefits by his processing his paperwork. Should the prostate cancer ultimately lead to his demise (or be a factor in his death), his dependents may be entitled to DIC. (see below). Whether he processes his own claim or not, his spouse may process the claim later. But it is so much easier for the survivors if the Veteran has already established the validity of the claim to service-connection while still with us. He knows better than anyone, where his supporting documentation is stored. Likewise, he can furnish sworn testimony to the VA concerning his service. Please, whether he is lethargic about his own claim, he's not doing only for himself.

v/r
phil
P.S. Get an service officer to help with the claim, and PM me if you have questions.


http://www.military.com/benefits/sur...y-compensation

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of certain deceased veterans. The following is a summary of this important benefit:

Eligible Survivors
2009 Monthly Rates
2009 Additional Allowances
The Application Process
Eligible Survivors:
DIC is a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of the following:

Military service member who died while on active duty, OR
Veteran whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease, OR
Veteran whose death resulted from a non service-related injury or disease, and who was receiving, or was entitled to receive, VA Compensation for service-connected disability that was rated as totally disabling
for at least 10 years immediately before death, OR
since the veteran's release from active duty and for at least five years immediately preceding death, OR
for at least one year before death if the veteran was a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999.

My dad decided to go with an outside provider, and wth the least invasive treatment. He'll have to be scanned every six months I believe.

I dont think he wants to go through the hassle, and doesnt want the money.

Mostly Id just like him to be VA connected in case he absolutely needs the care and is refused elsewhere.

Thanks everyone.

He is very stubborn-

JJ,

How,where do you get a trained VA Representative to act as your front man? Just ask for one at the VA ?:confused:

Big Teddy :munchin

I believe that he is referring to the service reps, like the VFW, AMVETS, American Legion, etc.

TR

Gotcha TR. I'll see what the VFW guy here will do for me.....Thanks. ;)

Big Teddy :munchin

Teddy,,

TR is correct, Most every military service org has trained VA Service Officer. They help vets run the maze. Most of the time the Vet has no idea how to get help. Other times the Vet may know but the VA is being an A$$ about the claim.

Be advised all Service Officers are not the same. Some like the guys in South Florida get very good at bull-dogging the VA because they handle 1000 of cases, but not all..

I am working with a Service Officer that has an office at the VA hospital in Palm Beach. There are 4 Service Officers working there more or less full time. The Palm Beach area has one of the largest Vet populations in the state.

You will find Service Officers at the local VFW, American Legion, MOPH, but the one with experience will be at the VA Hospital. The bigger the better..

Good Luck..

Just want to underscore JJ BPK's comment about all service officers not being the same.

For anyone navigating the system- don't get hooked into some of the organizations that market helping veterans with things like benefits- namely off site clubs/organizations or home health companies. There have been a few that promise getting benefits and then "manage" the benefits so the veteran gets screwed. Absolutely shameless.

FWIW-
Quick overview:
Every veteran is entitled up to 6 hours per week of health aide (HHA) help.
Every veteran is entitled to 30 days respite (in home or inpatient)

NO FIGHT/APPLICATIONS NEEDED for those.

Application is necessary for Aid & Attendant, Agent Orange, Service Connection, and Non Service Connected Pension.

Too bad they couldn't do this before my dad died of 3 different cancers in '07. VV 2 tours, and they never treated him for agent orange exposure. Sorry to all of you who lost or are losing same. Glad they finally got it right, even if this is an old thread.