2nd Battalion 94th
Artillery
VETERAN MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WEBSITES
AND INFORMATION WEBSITES AND URL'S
REGARDING AGENT ORANGE
Revision Date: 10-28-03
(Gathering Info, so not a complete page yet)
Note from website: This whole scenario is a tragedy in the history of the U.S. Armed Forces. For the Vietnam Veteran to have to file a law suit to get any kind of compensation should be a shameful blot on the Military and the U.S. Congress and its members. We give Billions of dollars away for nothing in social and economic aid, not only in this country but other countries as well. These programs are chock full of fraud and yet nothing is done. So for the Veteran, who went to war as his country asked him to come home and suit, while the lawyers got over 50% of the settlement, is an outrage and a disgrace. In addition, so much for the VA whose motto is supposed to be, "We Serve Those That Served." I think their actions in this matter speak for them and how much they serve.
There is still research going on as to the effect the sprays used in Vietnam have had and are still having on personnel of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Here is a list of areas sprayed and quantities sprayed in I Corps and II Corps. Most of you 2/94th fellows will be surprised at how much you were exposed.
III Corps and IV Corps info is also available at http://www.vnnews.com/coci/ginc/dioxinrisk.htm
|
I Corps: 2,355,322 |
. |
II Corps: 1,054,406 |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Location |
Orange |
White |
Blue |
Total |
Location |
Orange |
White |
Blue |
Total |
|
|
A Shau |
53,550 |
2,550 |
6,128 |
62,228 |
An Khe, Camp Radcliff |
37,810 |
6,400 |
5,610 |
49,820 |
|
|
An Hoa |
6,500 |
1,800 |
11,250 |
19,550 |
An Lao, LZ Laramie |
68,970 |
490 |
10,570 |
80,030 |
|
|
Binh Hoa |
8,220 |
0 |
1,600 |
9,820 |
Ban Me Thuot |
16,000 |
9,250 |
0 |
25,250 |
|
|
Cam Lo |
80,375 |
8,660 |
12,785 |
101,820 |
Ben Het |
80,495 |
7,230 |
3,000 |
90,725 |
|
|
Camp Carrol |
78,200 |
5,400 |
5,050 |
88,650 |
Bon Song, LZ Two Bits |
80,643 |
630 |
6,000 |
87,273 |
|
|
Camp Eagle |
14,250 |
0 |
0 |
14,250 |
Bre Nhi |
6,600 |
0 |
0 |
6,600 |
|
|
Camp Esso |
53,410 |
5,600 |
5,500 |
64,510 |
Cam Ranh Bay |
21,227 |
1,373 |
0 |
22,600 |
|
|
Camp Evans |
18,690 |
0 |
880 |
19,570 |
Camp Granite |
59,310 |
2,075 |
5,390 |
66,775 |
|
|
Camp Henderson |
68,155 |
7,040 |
4,800 |
79,995 |
Che Oreo |
0 |
1,800 |
0 |
1,800 |
|
|
Chu Lai |
12,170 |
4,150 |
1,598 |
17,918 |
Da Lat |
575 |
0 |
0 |
575 |
|
|
Con Thien |
84,700 |
12,460 |
10,925 |
108,085 |
Dak To |
49,460 |
600 |
34,800 |
84,860 |
|
|
Da Nang, China Beach |
13,800 |
0 |
2,000 |
15,800 |
Firebase Pony |
43,490 |
0 |
3,800 |
47,290 |
|
|
Dong Ha |
54,385 |
5,060 |
9,935 |
69,380 |
Kontum |
0 |
415 |
0 |
415 |
|
|
Duc Pho, LZ Bronco |
46,225 |
14,400 |
1,175 |
61,800 |
LZ Dog, LZ English |
63,073 |
630 |
6,000 |
69,703 |
|
|
Firebase Jack |
140,875 |
11,900 |
3,280 |
156,055 |
LZ Oasis |
No Data |
||||
|
Firebase Rakkassan |
150,145 |
23,900 |
2,510 |
176,555 |
LZ Putter, Firebase Bird |
50,095 |
0 |
7,200 |
57,295 |
|
|
Firebase West |
15,405 |
3,690 |
18,480 |
37,575 |
LZ Uplift |
43,455 |
3,220 |
275 |
46,950 |
|
|
Hill 63 |
20,500 |
3,200 |
0 |
23,700 |
Nha Trang |
6,950 |
325 |
0 |
7,275 |
|
|
Hill 69 |
11,620 |
4,150 |
1,598 |
17,368 |
Pham Rang |
110 |
2,075 |
0 |
2,185 |
|
|
Hoi An |
17,520 |
3,000 |
13,950 |
34,470 |
Phan Thiet |
5,000 |
330 |
220 |
5,550 |
|
|
Hue |
41,395 |
0 |
5,070 |
46,465 |
Plei Ho, SF Camp |
15,300 |
1,260 |
110 |
16,670 |
|
|
Khe Sanh, Firebase Smith |
43,705 |
3,040 |
4,300 |
51,045 |
Plei Jerang |
98,220 |
51,235 |
1,800 |
151,255 |
|
|
LangCo Bridge |
50,610 |
5,600 |
3,500 |
59,710 |
Pleiku |
1,210 |
11,640 |
1,950 |
14,800 |
|
|
LZ Baldy |
15,430 |
3,000 |
13,950 |
32,380 |
Puh Cat, LZ Hammond |
29,700 |
7,210 |
0 |
36,910 |
|
|
LZ Dogpatch, Hill 327 |
4,490 |
0 |
8,250 |
12,740 |
Qui Nhon |
53,215 |
1,800 |
4,125 |
59,140 |
|
|
LZ Geronimo |
22,535 |
14,000 |
468 |
37,003 |
Song Cau |
5,650 |
55 |
0 |
5,705 |
|
|
LZ Jane, Firebase Barbara |
91,150 |
6,750 |
3,700 |
101,600 |
Tuy An |
13,215 |
3,740 |
0 |
16,955 |
|
|
LZ Langley, Firebase Shepard |
72,105 |
7,040 |
4,800 |
83,945 |
Tuy Hoa |
29,565 |
4,485 |
0 |
34,050 |
|
| LZ Profess, Hill 55 | 39,300 | 13,000 | 17,209 | 69,509 | ||||||
|
LZ Rockcrusher, Hill 85 |
47,800 |
0 |
0 |
47,800 |
||||||
|
LZ Rockpile |
110,050 |
15,440 |
7,650 |
133,140 |
||||||
|
LZ Ross |
15,405 |
6,720 |
18,508 |
40,633 |
||||||
|
LZ Sandra |
118,780 |
20,210 |
24,755 |
163,745 |
||||||
|
LZ Snapper, Firebase Leather |
11,350 |
0 |
3,000 |
14,350 |
||||||
|
Marble, Hill 59 |
15,405 |
6,720 |
18,508 |
40,633 |
||||||
|
Phu Bai |
54,300 |
3,000 |
120 |
57,420 |
||||||
|
Phu Loc, LZ Tommahawk |
78,250 |
4,000 |
0 |
82,250 |
||||||
|
Quang Nai |
25,605 |
0 |
1,800 |
27,405 |
||||||
|
Quang Tri, LZ Nancy |
68,000 |
2,750 |
3,700 |
74,450 |
||||||
**** Special Note: VA presumes that all military personnel who served in Vietnam and who have one of the listed diseases were exposed to Agent Orange.
Conditions Recognized as Service-Connected for Vietnam Veterans Based on Exposure to Agent Orange or Other Herbicides:
Chloracne
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Hodgkin's Disease
Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
Multiple Myeloma
Respiratory Cancers (lung, larynx, trachea and bronchus)
Prostate Cancer
Peripheral Neuropathy (acute or subacute)
Diabetes Mellitus (Diabetes Type II)
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Conditions Recognized in the Children of Vietnam Veterans:
Spina Bifida
On the Peripheral
Neuropathy thing. I did not realize but it looks like another lawsuit is going
to be filed regarding a lot of the new problems that have developed. Neuropathy
being one.
There is also a Neuropathy registry you can sign up on.
Also there is a question and answer site for problems.
http://www.soft-vision.net/ao_vets/
On this site you will find neurologist who differ with the VA's opinion on the
effects of dioxin and the nerve system, who can be effected, how one can be
effected, and how long after exposure in life one can be effected. Or whether
diabetes has to be uncovered first. They say no.
If you go to http://goiv.com/ao/ (Agent Orange Debrief) there is a description of the disease and some of its characteristics. For ones that are not there you can input that into your computer as subject and should be able to come up with description/characteristics. I use AOL and most of the information they use comes from the Mayo Clinic. I recommend you use the Mayo Clinic as it seems to be more clear and concise in their descriptions. But that is what I would expect.
In addition, http://goiv.com/ao/ (Agent Orange Debrief) has many links that I could not possible show. So go there and browse through all the information posted.
**** Special Note: VA presumes that all military personnel who served in Vietnam and who have one of the listed diseases were exposed to Agent Orange.
How to apply for Compensation from the VA
Here are some helpful hints from John Heritage, 5/4, who has gone through the process and also works for the VA in the education section.
My recommendation is as
follows:
1. Call your private doctor first to set up an appointment for a complete
evaluation. It takes a longer time to get an appointment with VA but do
call VA also to set up an appointment with them. The reason you want to go
to your private doctor is that you can probably get an appointment right
away and you can submit those medical records sooner when you file your
claim. The reason you want to go with VA is that the VA records that you
submit with your claim will have their own doctors verifying your current
condition. You can submit the records from your private doctor to get your
claim started right away, then at a later time submit the VA records to
reinforce your claim. VA's records can be added to your initial claim any
time.
2. I recommend that you use DAV (Disabled American Veterans) to submit
your
claim. They are a nationwide veterans service organization, deal only with
assisting disabled veterans, and are located in very VA hospital. Other
organizations such as VFW and American Legion, and County veterans service
officers can help you as well but are not located in the hospital and do not
specialize in dealing with disabled vets. The DAV will act as your direct
representative between you and the VA Regional office that will process your
claim. They will also be there when the VA medical board adjudicates your
case and fight for you to receive the highest possible disability rating you
are entitled to. You will need your DD-214, your military medical records
as well as any records from any private civilian doctor. If you do not have
any of those records, DAV can get them. They will need them in order to
file your claim. You will need to sign a power of attorney so that they can
retrieve those records. I strongly field that DAV is the best way to go. I
base this on my on personal experience.
3. Once your claim is filed by DAV, within a couple of weeks you will
receive a letter from VA acknowledging receipt of the packet. A few days
letter you will receive a latter stating that they set an appointment for
you for evaluation at the VA hospital closest to you. They will give you a
time, date, and room number to report to which is the Compensation and
Pension clinic. The VA regional office will have their medical team there
to evaluate you and about 20 other vets that day. If necessary, they will
send you to get lab test as well as x-rays done. When you finally get to
see the evaluating doctor, that is the time to tell him, "I hurt here, I
hurt there, I can't bend, stoop or kneel, I can't stand for a prolonged
period of time on a hard surface floor". Tell him anything that you feel is
wrong or you have difficulty with. This will be your only opportunity to
tell him about all of your ailments. Most doctors will have a small tape
recorder and will transcribe any thing you tell him. He will submit his
findings to the VA Region medical board. It will take approximately 6 to 9
months before you hear from VA again when they will send you an official
disability rating letter. Be sure to make several copies of this letter
because you may need it to submit to different agencies if they request it.
4. If you ever buy a home through VA, be sure to give the mortgage company
a
copy of your VA rating letter. You will save $3,000 to $5,000 because you
will not have to pay the VA funding fee. If you get a disability rating of
20% or more, you will be eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation through VA.
This is a vocational training program or a degree producing program that you
can participate in. VA will pay for the school, any equipment that you need
to go to school, pay you to go to school, and pay for additional funds for
any legal dependent you may have. I have a client that is required by her
course to have a computer. VA bought her a computer. But you can also use
Voc Rehab to get a degree at any school of your choice. You have 12 years
to use it after receiving your disability rating. I urge you to check and
see what programs your state may offer if you receive a disability. As an
example, if you get 60% or more, Texas will provide a free driver's license,
free plates for two different cars, free hunting and fishing license, and
free admission to all state parks. In addition to all this, the state will
give an exemption on property taxes. I am at 90% so that first $12,000 of
the appraised value of my home is tax free. So check with your state to see
what programs are available.
5. As far as diabetes is concerned, VA gave me 20% for diabetes, 10% for
each lower extremities for neuropathy secondary to diabetes. Each case may
be different. I now have a claim for neuropathy of the upper extremities.
Symptoms for diabetes include but are not limited to:
a. frequent urination
b. constant fatigue
c. numbness and burning of the legs and feet
d. constant thirst
e. dizziness
f. you feel as if you are being bitten by 100 fire ants but there is
nothing there.
Be sure to tell DAV to include these symptoms in your claim and tell the
doctor the same thing. He will probably give you a sensitivity test where
he runs a sharp wheel up and down your leg or on the bottom of your feet. I
didn't feel anything. That is nerve damage resulting from neuropathy. You
need to be careful not to run around bare-footed. You may get a cut and not
feel it which in turn will get infected. In some cases it is not caught in
time. Ask your doctor about neurontin medication. It does relieve some of
the numbness and pain. Only a neurologist can prescribe this. Now my arms
and hands feel like needles and nails are sticking me between my fingers and
in my palms. Also I am losing my sensation on my finger tips. Because of
this, I have trouble separating pages in a book, magazine, or newspaper.
Some times I keep dropping things. I am also starting to feel itching
sensations around my neck and ears. At night I feel like I'm being bitten
my some insect but again there is nothing there. If you have any of these
symptoms, let you doctor know.
I hope that I have given you some useful information. If you have a good
DAV rep, he will do a good job for you. If I left anything out, I will
e-mail you as I think of it. Again, I truly enjoyed the reunion and will
try to contact 4/5 vets.
You can also apply on line at
My suggestion is you download a copy of the form and do it all yourself. Just so there is no excuse that they never got it and it disappeared into hyper-space. I would fill out the forms, date them, make copies and date them. Keep a record of when you submitted and to whom you submitted. Register your mail when you send it to make sure they got it. Any phone calls should be recorded on a note pad and dated. Who you talked to and what the conversation was about. Most of all I would contact my Senator or Congressperson (being correct here) that I have submitted a claim and expect him/her to follow up on it. It seems that is a must otherwise nothing happens. Remember the VA has a reputation to protect and the longer they can stall any service at all; it seems the more raises they get. Also remember; you may have to get a lawyer, so the better records you keep the better he will be able to assist.
From what I have been told if they want to send your claim to "a board", deny them that option. That means you are being sent to a board in Washington. We all know what happens there, nothing. Plus, you would then have to appear at that board in Washington in about 20 years when your claim comes up. So keep it at the local area.
As I understand it, you will have to be medically examined. I have heard for certain claims; that for instance you had surgery for prostrate cancer. Your doctor and surgeon can verify that. There may be a chance you will not have to go to VA hospital. (One of you fellows that have gone through this may let me know so I can revise this statement.)
As you can tell I have heard too many horror stories from Veterans on their experience with the VA. Even from as far back as WW2 Veterans.
When the President has to put out a directive for them to their job, you wonder what in the world they are really doing. Of course, the President used words like, will provide, or will attempt. Kind of like what the definition of IS, is???? When you direct someone to do something and they have to back up what it is they did as part of their job performance: then the word is; SHALL provide and SHALL attempt, not WILL.
If you require assistance, let me know. I have not gone through this but know many who have. I could maybe put you in contact with those with similar situations.
**** Special Note: VA presumes that all military personnel who served in Vietnam and who have one of the listed diseases were exposed to Agent Orange.
You can download the form for
Compensation & Pension Program Application
(VA Form 21-526) at
http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms1.htm
Along with other forms you may need, including the SF 180 form. Also if you cannot download it gives a number to call for a hard copy.
Contact your local area VA shop to find out where to send the application locally. Again, make sure that you document what they tell you and who it was that told you, date and time. Register your mail to make sure that someone has to sign for it. NOTE: Payment is based on when you submitted not when it is approved. Then follow up. I have been told that you have to be as persistent, unrelenting, relentless, etc. in your claim as the VA is against the claim. Validity seems to have no impact to their service.
The below site has a number of links on it. Useful in reviewing many things
including schedules for ratings disability.
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_00/38cfrv1_00.html
If I can assist in anyway information wise please let me know. Once again if I cannot help, I can possibly put you in touch with a serviceman that has gone through the same process dealing with the same issues.
E-mail SP5Kelley2nd94th@aol.com
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