To all of you wishing info on Vietnam vets and Agent orange

mrsbotch
mrsbotch Member Posts: 349
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi For any of you deaking with this issue thru the VA. What I have done in Georgia is
1) contacted my local congressman( Got a good response from him)
2) Contact your govenor( He denied me as EC is not on the Va list of cancers relatated to EC.
3)Contact you senator or whomever handles VA matters in your state.
4) Try to get doctors letters relating to EC- agent orange for your loved one to give to the VA

YOU MUST FILE A CLAIM THO. If you do not once they do or may pass EC is a disease/ cancer you will get no help if you have not filed a claim while your loved one is still here. Thats what I was told. Then if you have done that their file will remain apen.


My VA senator in Georgia Saxby Chambliss wrote me a letter(or his aides did) saying that he had an interest in my case and that he was following up with the VA on it.

Vince was denied before he passed away and I have been denied once for widows benefits. I even wrote to the WHITE HOUSE but NO reply whatsoever from them. I think we all need to write as many letters as possible to get EC on the list.
If you go to your local VA ask for the VA book for 2010( thats the latest thay had) and you will see 12 diseases related to agent orange. This year they added 3 more so now there are 15. You will have to ask for the names of the 3 they added.

I thought this would be easier but it is not. Everything is so backlogeed now that we are all just waiting in line.

If you know of anyone with some clout USE IT. MRUBLE has done benefits with the Harmon Killebrew foundation and other things. You really have to go after this

I know you are all dealing with so many issies now so mit is hard but if you are well enough or your spouse is please try.

I am meeting Thursday with another EC widow from south of Atlanta to discuss this cause. Her hubby was a vet too and she is involved in those groups.

I will let you know the outcome. God Bless ou all and hang in there. This is so difficult to do and I commend you for doing what you can.

Make sure that you also know if your state has EC awareness month for April and start working on getting it if it isn't already on the books for this year. I wrote the Govenor of Georgia with my story and he sent me the proclamation a month later. If you write to ECAN -Kim Priest or Mindy they will give you info on what to do.


Take care and if I can help I will. But this is much harder than I thought it would be. Not many really care about our vets and their families and that is just a fact.

Take care

Barbara

Comments

  • ritawaite13
    ritawaite13 Member Posts: 236
    #2
    Exceptions
    Hi Barbara,
    My husband is also a Vietnam Vet - forward observer with the infantry 1967-68 who has EC. He has none of the risk factors associated with EC. He quit smoking in 1978, has never been treated for reflux and is not a drinker. We can figure out no reason other than just dumb luck that he got this. The lady from our Vietnam Vets Association here in Minnesota told us that you can get benefits if you jump through enough hoops. First, you need to show proof that your EC patient did not have other risk factors. Second, you have to find a doctor who will substantiate that this could have been caused by chemical exposure (Agent Orange). Third, your case will go before a review board who will make a final decision. Fourth, pray a lot.
    I also have contacted our two senators from Minnesota and the Veterans Benefits office. We all need to lobby hard to get EC added to the presumptive list of health conditions that may have been caused by Agent Orange. All other respiratory and oral cancers are covered. Even congestive heart failure is now on the list. We have a friend who was a chain smoker, an alcoholic and both of his parents died young of heart problems. He has congestive heart failure and is receiving VA benefits! Come on folks, doesn't lifestyle choices play any role here!! If they can approve this type of claim, I think we have a chance of making this happen. Just keep fighting, writing letters and praying.

    Rita
  • Callaloo
    Callaloo Member Posts: 135
    #3
    Barb, you are an amazing and tireless lady
    Always working hard on these issues. How do you do it. I'm so glad to see you posting.

    Lu
  • mrsbotch
    mrsbotch Member Posts: 349
    #4
    Callaloo said:

    Barb, you are an amazing and tireless lady
    Always working hard on these issues. How do you do it. I'm so glad to see you posting.

    Lu

    I miss you Lu
    Thanks for the atta boy Lu but I will tell you this. This damned EC has made my skin crawl. I cannot bare all the suffering everyone is going thru and if I can make just 1 tiny difference I will do it.

    You are always in my thoughts Lu and write privately if you can


    Love
    Barb
  • JanBink
    JanBink Member Posts: 1
    #5
    EC and AO
    Hi Barb,
    Jan here and I thought I'd add my two cents worth to this discussion. I'm Barb's Frister from the south side of Atlanta. My husband, TL, died January 31, 2011 after a valiant 8 month and 5 day battle with the beast! He was a proud Vietnam Vet, serving as a convoy trucker in the Republic of South Vietnam in 1967-1968. As a trucker, they were constantly being sprayed, along with the foliage, to cut down on the ambushes. He NEVER had any acid reflux, indigestion, any type of stomach issues. We used to tease him about his "iron stomach"! He was in the VA System with PTSD at 30% disability and for tinnitus at 10%. When diagnosed with EC in May, 2010, we filed a claim for service connection disability, knowing it would be denied (it was), but wanting to get the word to the VA that we were there! TL was treated by 2 different oncologists, one GI doc, one Radiation Oncologist (never was able to have any radiation), 2 dermatologist for numberous skin cancers over the last 20+ years. We filed a claim in 2002 for the PTSD and the skin cancers, PTSD approved, skin cancers denied. Of all the doctors, the ones above and our GP, one - 1 - was actually willing to put pen to paper and say he believed there was a correlation between the EC and AO (the GI Doctor who incidentally did some of his training and later teaching at a VA Hospital). TL's EC was squamous cell at the JX, which is very uncommon. I have been in contact with 2 or 3 different Vietnam Veteran's associations, ATAV (Army Transportation Association Vietnam) and a rep from the National VVA. I have information from both, and the concensus is file, appeal, file again, then appeal again, write your US Representatives, the VA! Remember the "squeaky wheel gets the oil". Was also told to write a statement of why you believe the EC was AO connected, just your thoughts, the thoughts of all family that was/is effected. As of today, my claim for "pension" through the VA is still being processed (I'm not sure if this is the DIC claim or burial benefits, as I filed for both), so I haven't been denied, yet. I have 2 Vet Service Representatives working with me, one a Senior VSR at the Atlanta VA Hospital, who told me to file the DIC claim initially, so "when" EC is added, my claim is there and will be retro.

    To all you out there fighting the beast, GO! FIGHT! WIN! To the caregivers, you are their cheerleader, nursemaid, helper, their ALL! Keep up the good work, it's hard work, but do it! To those out there who were caregivers to those who have lost this battle, my thoughts and prayers are with you, as we both work our way through this process. If you are a widow whose husband was a Nam Vet, file the claim, the worst that can happen is they say "no"! You are out nothing but time. If I can be of assistance to anyone, Barb knows my contact information or contact me through here. I'm digging names and numbers and hope to take this battle to a positive conclusion. My TL, Barb's Vince and these other Vietnam Vets, deserve nothing less!

    Jan Binkley
  • ritawaite13
    ritawaite13 Member Posts: 236
    #6
    JanBink said:

    EC and AO
    Hi Barb,
    Jan here and I thought I'd add my two cents worth to this discussion. I'm Barb's Frister from the south side of Atlanta. My husband, TL, died January 31, 2011 after a valiant 8 month and 5 day battle with the beast! He was a proud Vietnam Vet, serving as a convoy trucker in the Republic of South Vietnam in 1967-1968. As a trucker, they were constantly being sprayed, along with the foliage, to cut down on the ambushes. He NEVER had any acid reflux, indigestion, any type of stomach issues. We used to tease him about his "iron stomach"! He was in the VA System with PTSD at 30% disability and for tinnitus at 10%. When diagnosed with EC in May, 2010, we filed a claim for service connection disability, knowing it would be denied (it was), but wanting to get the word to the VA that we were there! TL was treated by 2 different oncologists, one GI doc, one Radiation Oncologist (never was able to have any radiation), 2 dermatologist for numberous skin cancers over the last 20+ years. We filed a claim in 2002 for the PTSD and the skin cancers, PTSD approved, skin cancers denied. Of all the doctors, the ones above and our GP, one - 1 - was actually willing to put pen to paper and say he believed there was a correlation between the EC and AO (the GI Doctor who incidentally did some of his training and later teaching at a VA Hospital). TL's EC was squamous cell at the JX, which is very uncommon. I have been in contact with 2 or 3 different Vietnam Veteran's associations, ATAV (Army Transportation Association Vietnam) and a rep from the National VVA. I have information from both, and the concensus is file, appeal, file again, then appeal again, write your US Representatives, the VA! Remember the "squeaky wheel gets the oil". Was also told to write a statement of why you believe the EC was AO connected, just your thoughts, the thoughts of all family that was/is effected. As of today, my claim for "pension" through the VA is still being processed (I'm not sure if this is the DIC claim or burial benefits, as I filed for both), so I haven't been denied, yet. I have 2 Vet Service Representatives working with me, one a Senior VSR at the Atlanta VA Hospital, who told me to file the DIC claim initially, so "when" EC is added, my claim is there and will be retro.

    To all you out there fighting the beast, GO! FIGHT! WIN! To the caregivers, you are their cheerleader, nursemaid, helper, their ALL! Keep up the good work, it's hard work, but do it! To those out there who were caregivers to those who have lost this battle, my thoughts and prayers are with you, as we both work our way through this process. If you are a widow whose husband was a Nam Vet, file the claim, the worst that can happen is they say "no"! You are out nothing but time. If I can be of assistance to anyone, Barb knows my contact information or contact me through here. I'm digging names and numbers and hope to take this battle to a positive conclusion. My TL, Barb's Vince and these other Vietnam Vets, deserve nothing less!

    Jan Binkley

    Another Avenue
    Hi Barb and Jan,
    My husband and I met with a representative from the VVA today and she gave us some good information. She said that she had a client a few years back who won his claim that his cancer was "as likely as not" caused by toxic exposure. She is getting us the name of the doctor who testified in his behalf and used those words "as likely as not". This doctor had to have some rationale for his opinion, ie studies he's read or done and forensic evidence. His wording was ""Mr.___'s Esophageal Cancer was as likely as not due to toxic exposure". The other thing that worked in this guys favor was the fact that he had NEVER been treated for acid reflux and was not a smoker or a drinker, in other words, the usual risk factors.
    This representative also went to her computer and googled, "Agent Orange Esophageal Cancer" and came up with many, many claims and many that were approved. You have to be careful with the wording in your claims so use some of these as examples AND you have to get a doctor or even better, two doctors who will substantiate your claim.

    We also filed a claim today for a secondary condition because my husband suffered a severe stroke just 9 days after his EC diagnosis which impacted his speech, his cognitive abilities and his entire right side. We were told by the doctor at the VA that his stroke was caused by blood clots which are a side effect of EC.

    My only other thought here is that we all need to go through these other avenues to get our claims approved. We could all be dead by the time EC makes it to the darn list!!

    Our guys deserve this compensation for what our own government did to them when they were just kids in a foreign country just doing their jobs fighting an unpopular war. The VietNam Vets have always been frowned on, from the time they went to war to when they returned home to protestors and jeers. Now, as they age, the government is still trying to get by with as little as possible in the way of recognition for their valiant service. Sorry, sometimes I have trouble getting off this soapbox.
    Rita
  • mrsbotch
    mrsbotch Member Posts: 349
    #7
    ritawaite13 said:

    Another Avenue
    Hi Barb and Jan,
    My husband and I met with a representative from the VVA today and she gave us some good information. She said that she had a client a few years back who won his claim that his cancer was "as likely as not" caused by toxic exposure. She is getting us the name of the doctor who testified in his behalf and used those words "as likely as not". This doctor had to have some rationale for his opinion, ie studies he's read or done and forensic evidence. His wording was ""Mr.___'s Esophageal Cancer was as likely as not due to toxic exposure". The other thing that worked in this guys favor was the fact that he had NEVER been treated for acid reflux and was not a smoker or a drinker, in other words, the usual risk factors.
    This representative also went to her computer and googled, "Agent Orange Esophageal Cancer" and came up with many, many claims and many that were approved. You have to be careful with the wording in your claims so use some of these as examples AND you have to get a doctor or even better, two doctors who will substantiate your claim.

    We also filed a claim today for a secondary condition because my husband suffered a severe stroke just 9 days after his EC diagnosis which impacted his speech, his cognitive abilities and his entire right side. We were told by the doctor at the VA that his stroke was caused by blood clots which are a side effect of EC.

    My only other thought here is that we all need to go through these other avenues to get our claims approved. We could all be dead by the time EC makes it to the darn list!!

    Our guys deserve this compensation for what our own government did to them when they were just kids in a foreign country just doing their jobs fighting an unpopular war. The VietNam Vets have always been frowned on, from the time they went to war to when they returned home to protestors and jeers. Now, as they age, the government is still trying to get by with as little as possible in the way of recognition for their valiant service. Sorry, sometimes I have trouble getting off this soapbox.
    Rita

    Hi Rita
    If only I could get one of Vince's DRS. to write a letter. They are all scared to say anything. I am so mad. What else can our government possibly do to hurt our VETS. Its a disgrace.They were babies going in and now are dying because OUR GOVERNMENT decided to spray this poison and now will do nothing about it. God help our servicemen now that are fighting in Afganistan.
    I like the wording you gave us tho if we can get someone to help.
    I will see what I can do.
    Jan Bink and I have met, as she said, and we are trying to work together on this. Lets all just do what we can and never give up.


    Thanks yuou for the info



    Love

    Barb
  • micgrace
    micgrace Member Posts: 131
    #8
    mrsbotch said:

    Hi Rita
    If only I could get one of Vince's DRS. to write a letter. They are all scared to say anything. I am so mad. What else can our government possibly do to hurt our VETS. Its a disgrace.They were babies going in and now are dying because OUR GOVERNMENT decided to spray this poison and now will do nothing about it. God help our servicemen now that are fighting in Afganistan.
    I like the wording you gave us tho if we can get someone to help.
    I will see what I can do.
    Jan Bink and I have met, as she said, and we are trying to work together on this. Lets all just do what we can and never give up.


    Thanks yuou for the info



    Love

    Barb

    Agent orange. It also
    Agent orange. It also relates to my home town in Australia Innisfail where the jungle there was used for testing purposes. Yes, we copped it also and the Government (Australian) has washed their hands of it, so to speak.

    Chances of dying in my home town are around 90%. Government refuses to acknowledge there is any risk. I am so tired of losing relatives, friends, my own family and getting a cancer myself. Maybe they think if everyone dies, they won't have to pay.

    I now have no uncles, no aunties, no wife, lost a brother in law, lost a child, many friends are gone. All share one thing in common, we lived in Innisfail.
  • ritawaite13
    ritawaite13 Member Posts: 236
    #9
    micgrace said:

    Agent orange. It also
    Agent orange. It also relates to my home town in Australia Innisfail where the jungle there was used for testing purposes. Yes, we copped it also and the Government (Australian) has washed their hands of it, so to speak.

    Chances of dying in my home town are around 90%. Government refuses to acknowledge there is any risk. I am so tired of losing relatives, friends, my own family and getting a cancer myself. Maybe they think if everyone dies, they won't have to pay.

    I now have no uncles, no aunties, no wife, lost a brother in law, lost a child, many friends are gone. All share one thing in common, we lived in Innisfail.

    Wow!
    I had no idea that this stuff was happening in Australia. You have my sympathies, Mic. It's just unthinkable that a government can do this and get away with it!! Do you have no recourse with any of this?
    Rita
  • micgrace
    micgrace Member Posts: 131
    #10
    ritawaite13 said:

    Wow!
    I had no idea that this stuff was happening in Australia. You have my sympathies, Mic. It's just unthinkable that a government can do this and get away with it!! Do you have no recourse with any of this?
    Rita

    Its almost impossible to get
    Its almost impossible to get recourse in Australia. And Innisfail was also used for chemical weapons testing during WW2. In fact the empty shells/canisters can still be found. Our government has even got away with sending servicemen into nuclear fallout at Maralinga without protection and never compensating. I think they wait for everyone to die, then they don't have to pay.
  • mrsbotch
    mrsbotch Member Posts: 349
    #11
    micgrace said:

    Its almost impossible to get
    Its almost impossible to get recourse in Australia. And Innisfail was also used for chemical weapons testing during WW2. In fact the empty shells/canisters can still be found. Our government has even got away with sending servicemen into nuclear fallout at Maralinga without protection and never compensating. I think they wait for everyone to die, then they don't have to pay.

    OMG
    I am so distressed to hear about the agent orange in Australia. This is so terrible that any government would do this to their people. Amazing that they can get away with this. You have my true sadness knowing how manty people you have lost. I am so very sorry. Take care and I wonder if you would mind if I shared your info with the VA in this country. MAYBE they might take a 2nd look. Doubt it tho.


    Love

    Barb
  • ritawaite13
    ritawaite13 Member Posts: 236
    #12
    mrsbotch said:

    OMG
    I am so distressed to hear about the agent orange in Australia. This is so terrible that any government would do this to their people. Amazing that they can get away with this. You have my true sadness knowing how manty people you have lost. I am so very sorry. Take care and I wonder if you would mind if I shared your info with the VA in this country. MAYBE they might take a 2nd look. Doubt it tho.


    Love

    Barb

    Jean Williams
    Good Morning,
    I just did a google search of Agent Orange Innisfall Australia and came up with the name of Jean Williams who is a researcher who's son was a VietNam Vet and died shortly after he returned from cancer. Apparently she's found that secret tests were done at Gregory Falls because the climate is similar to that of VietNam. She was awarded an Order for Australia for her work. The secret tests were called the Desert Project and it talked specifically about the toxic chemical TCDD which is used in Agent Orange. She found information documented at the Australian War Memorial which speaks of this testing at Innisfall in the mid '60's. I'll do some further checking but thought I'd pass the name along to the rest of you who will (hopefully) also do some checking. Just do the same google search and you'll come up with lots of articles.
    My husband had a ride and is off to 3 appointments today - physical, occupational and speech therapy (due to stroke) and I have so darn much to do and here I am, on the computer. I guess the rest will just have to keep. :)
    Rita
  • mrsbotch
    mrsbotch Member Posts: 349
    #13
    ritawaite13 said:

    Jean Williams
    Good Morning,
    I just did a google search of Agent Orange Innisfall Australia and came up with the name of Jean Williams who is a researcher who's son was a VietNam Vet and died shortly after he returned from cancer. Apparently she's found that secret tests were done at Gregory Falls because the climate is similar to that of VietNam. She was awarded an Order for Australia for her work. The secret tests were called the Desert Project and it talked specifically about the toxic chemical TCDD which is used in Agent Orange. She found information documented at the Australian War Memorial which speaks of this testing at Innisfall in the mid '60's. I'll do some further checking but thought I'd pass the name along to the rest of you who will (hopefully) also do some checking. Just do the same google search and you'll come up with lots of articles.
    My husband had a ride and is off to 3 appointments today - physical, occupational and speech therapy (due to stroke) and I have so darn much to do and here I am, on the computer. I guess the rest will just have to keep. :)
    Rita

    Thanks
    Wow Rita

    That is some information. Wouldn't it be great if we could open ONE BIG CAN OF WORMS regarding Agent Orange.

    I would be thrilled.


    Love ya

    Barb
  • ritawaite13
    ritawaite13 Member Posts: 236
    #14
    mrsbotch said:

    Thanks
    Wow Rita

    That is some information. Wouldn't it be great if we could open ONE BIG CAN OF WORMS regarding Agent Orange.

    I would be thrilled.


    Love ya

    Barb

    Can of Worms
    Hi Barb,
    I think Agent Orange IS definately a huge can of worms. If the government of the United States ever had to try to compensate all of the people negatively impacted by this, it would probably bankrupt the country.

    I so wish I had more time to do more research on this but right now caring for my husband is almost a full time job. Because of his stroke, he's getting OT, PT and Speech therapies along with all of his other doctor appointments. He spent last night in the hospital with severe dehydration and very low blood pressure. After hearing his latest scan report which wasn't encouraging, I actually asked his VA radiation doctor who we absolutely love about whether or not his cancer COULD "AS LIKELY AS NOT" be caused by toxic exposure. He promised to do some further checking and I believe he will. I was encouraged by that.

    The other thing I found out yesterday is that the coalition of veterans groups in Minnesota just were granted legislative approval to go in to our Federal Building here in Minnesota with a team of lawyers and doctors and go through pending claims. Apparently some of them have been backlogged for years and that's just not acceptable. Minnesota is the second state to pass this legislation and from what I understand 14 more states have bills in committee.

    Another issue I need to take care of is making sure that his service in VietNam is actually documented on his military record. Apparently this is not something you can just assume. Go figure!

    I'm trying to become more acquainted with this site and I read something tonight about a support group on Mondays. Do you know anything about that? Is it online?

    Thanks for your support!
    Rita
    Oh boy!! I just found something exciting on another site. It refers to a woman in Wisconsin who finally is receiving DIC after her husband died of EC. I'll copy paste the exciting part on here:
    Earlier this month, Congressman Kagen introduced legislation adding all GI tract cancers to the list of illnesses presumed to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange. H.R. 6798 will allow Vietnam veterans to receive a presumption of service connected disability when they are diagnosed with cancers of the gastro-intestinal tract. Several Vietnam veterans from the 8th congressional district are currently suffering from cancer of the GI tract.
  • mrsbotch
    mrsbotch Member Posts: 349
    #15
    ritawaite13 said:

    Can of Worms
    Hi Barb,
    I think Agent Orange IS definately a huge can of worms. If the government of the United States ever had to try to compensate all of the people negatively impacted by this, it would probably bankrupt the country.

    I so wish I had more time to do more research on this but right now caring for my husband is almost a full time job. Because of his stroke, he's getting OT, PT and Speech therapies along with all of his other doctor appointments. He spent last night in the hospital with severe dehydration and very low blood pressure. After hearing his latest scan report which wasn't encouraging, I actually asked his VA radiation doctor who we absolutely love about whether or not his cancer COULD "AS LIKELY AS NOT" be caused by toxic exposure. He promised to do some further checking and I believe he will. I was encouraged by that.

    The other thing I found out yesterday is that the coalition of veterans groups in Minnesota just were granted legislative approval to go in to our Federal Building here in Minnesota with a team of lawyers and doctors and go through pending claims. Apparently some of them have been backlogged for years and that's just not acceptable. Minnesota is the second state to pass this legislation and from what I understand 14 more states have bills in committee.

    Another issue I need to take care of is making sure that his service in VietNam is actually documented on his military record. Apparently this is not something you can just assume. Go figure!

    I'm trying to become more acquainted with this site and I read something tonight about a support group on Mondays. Do you know anything about that? Is it online?

    Thanks for your support!
    Rita
    Oh boy!! I just found something exciting on another site. It refers to a woman in Wisconsin who finally is receiving DIC after her husband died of EC. I'll copy paste the exciting part on here:
    Earlier this month, Congressman Kagen introduced legislation adding all GI tract cancers to the list of illnesses presumed to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange. H.R. 6798 will allow Vietnam veterans to receive a presumption of service connected disability when they are diagnosed with cancers of the gastro-intestinal tract. Several Vietnam veterans from the 8th congressional district are currently suffering from cancer of the GI tract.

    Hi Rita
    Yes our country would be bankrupt if we did payout to all the Vets. Altho I think we are bankrupt now. Anyhow the money is just not here for anything.

    I am so sorry about all your husband's issues. I know only too well the caregiver roll. It is so tough for anyone who is going thru it. You feel so alone at times as others will never understand the full scope of what we do. I admire anyone out there that is a caregiver.

    Are you talking about the Morning Dawns or an Ec group that talks on Mondays? The morning dawns are a site of EC widows ONLY who e-mail back and forth. Then on Monday nights once a month we have a conference call with Bart Frazitta from the Esophageal Cancer research center. This is only for people who have lost a partner thru EC. You can go on his website at Fightec.com and see all the info. Bart is a wonderful man that has survived EC and has now dedicated his life to try and research ways to do early detection. Anyhow if it is not one of these groups maybe you can find out who it is.
    Well I have to go for now. Take care and we'll keep on trying to get info out there as best we can.



    Much Love

    Barb

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