Parkinson’s Disease Linked to Agent Orange
The Veterans Group that is fighting to get Parkinson’s associated to their exposures from the government usage of herbicides, which one those was Agent Orange has found a link in a credible study.
The announcement includes a plan by Congressman Tim Walz, Minnesota District 1, to introduce legislation that will add Parkinson’s to the list of Agent Orange associated disorders.
See announcement at: http://www.2ndbattalion94thartillery.com/Chas/NewsLetter2.pdf
Also, see study at: http://www.2ndbattalion94thartillery.com/Chas/IAStudyUpdate2007.pdf
This announcement and many other associated disorders and diseases that need to be re-evaluated by congress alone have been a long time coming for our Nations Government Toxic Chemical Exposure Veterans. I have documented many issues to all of you many times of bias, less than forthcoming facts, less then transparent processes used in determining these associations by both the Institute of Medicine and Veterans Affairs from 1991 to present.
The previous recommendations and pronouncements by the Veterans Affairs Committee on Environmental Hazards (VACEH) from 1979 to 1991 being very questionable indeed into outcomes and processes used or lack of a clear process that Veterans and their families could address. Since these decisions have had legal implications used against Veterans and their families by Veterans Affairs and the Board of Veterans Appeals with little or no transparency for at least 35 years, this effort by this group of Veterans to get someone in our Congress to hear them, listen to them, and take action is simply outstanding.
Please pass this on to your Veterans Groups for anyone with Parkinson’s or Parkinson like symptoms.
For those that are able to and we need to support this Congressman to the fullest extent we can:
Run copies of the announcement and send a short note supporting this congressional action to your own district congressperson and your two state senators.
This has been a long time coming for our affected Veterans.
At least since 1987.
On February 23, 1990, the Air Force finally released a follow-up morbidity report on the Ranch Handers. That report, "1987 Follow-up Examination Results," described statistically significant increases in health problems among Ranch Handers including: all cancers —— skin and systemic combined, both verified and suspected; skin cancers alone; hereditary and degenerative neurological diseases and other problems.
1990 The Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) commissioned by congress, cited evidence that toxic chemicals might even be the sole causative agents in some cases of Parkinson's disease, since onset in certain families was at similar ages, and since Parkinson's disease has increased significantly from 1962 to 1984 along with exposures to toxic chemicals. The OTA also cited evidence that the substantial increase in the incidence of motor neuron disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease) between 1962 and 1984 was due to environmental exposures to neurotoxic chemicals.
Out of about 40,000 returning Aussies from Nam, they estimated they would find 2 as a national average motor neuron disease cases, instead they found 128, and that was years ago. Just a slight increase in what was the average. That disparity may have widened even more with the persistence of dioxin in the body.
Maybe our Congress will start to listen now, that we Veterans really did not do anything wrong in our war. The wrong was on the side of the government and continues to be so.
Congratulations to Steve, Alan, and their Parkinson’s Group.
Let’s get behind them 100%.
I certainly hope that Congressmen Bob Filner and Steve Kagen (MD) will also get behind this effort 100%.
I will send to my Congressman (John Linder) and both Georgia Senators in hopes that they will also finally listen.
Best,
Kelley