Esophageal cancer and agent orange.

Fighting the VA
Ms. Barb,
I have been praying for you and your husband. Every now and then, I check in to see how everyone is and set about praying for those who are being tried. In California and Michigan, some vets have been able to win compensation for EC, under the Agent Orange provisions. My husband, was also a Vietnam vet who served 2 tours. Please check out these links..one is a forum for folks struggling with the VA
http://vets.yuku.com/topic/4442/t/ESOPHAGEAL-CANCER-AND-AGENT-ORANGE.html

The other is a confidential study that I assume has since been declassified, written by a Admiral Zumwalt, who in a report to Veterans affairs, stated that he perceived an underlying pattern of cover-up and feels that statistically, there IS evidence to suggest a cause and effect.

EXCERPTS
"I further conclude that the Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Environmental Hazards has not acted with impartiality in its review and assessment of the scientific evidence related to the association of adverse health effects and exposure to Agent Orange."

"Agent Orange strongly hints at a discernible pattern, if not outright governmental collaboration, to deny compensation to Vietnam Veterans for disabilities associated with exposure to dioxin ."

"It can, in my judgment, be concluded, vith a very high degree of confidence, that it is at least as likely as not that the following are caused in humans by exposure to TCDD: non—Hodgkin’ s lymphoma, chloracne and other skin disorders, lip cancer, bone cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, birth defects, skin cancer, lung cancer, porphyria cutanea tarda and other liver disorders, Hodgkin’s disease, hematopoietic diseases, multiple myeloma, neurological defects and auto—immune diseases and disorders.
In addition, I am most comfortable in concluding that it is at least as likely as not that liver cancer, nasal/pharyngeal/esophageal cancers, leukemia, malignant melanoma, kidney cancer, testicular cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, brain cancer, psychosocial effects, and gastrointestinal disease are service-- connected."

I was also told by an advocate of the Disabled Veterans, that it is a matter of policy to reject any claim, on the first go round without consideration. This is supposed to weed out frivolous claims. This made me very angry. There are people suffering out there who don't have the strength, resources or wherewithall, to apply again or go through an appeals process. This "policy" saves the government alot of money. My husband was also told early on by a career/retired COmmand Sgt. Major,, that he should go to the Disabled American Veterans an join as a lifetime member. The VA treats DAV members with more courtesy than those who are not. The DAV will also assign an advocate to you to help you cut through the beaurocratic machine. Go to www.dav.org

"Disabled American Veterans has never wavered in our commitment to serve our nation’s service-connected disabled veterans, their dependents and survivors. Our largest endeavor in fulfilling that mission is our National Service Program. In 88 offices throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico, the DAV employs a corps of approximately 260 National Service Officers (NSOs) who represent veterans and their families with claims for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Defense and other government agencies. Veterans need not be DAV members to take advantage of this outstanding assistance, which is provided free of charge."

My husband is currently receiving benefits and considered "80%" disabled, due to service connected illnesses caused by exposure to AO. We recently submitted a claim for EC. Once you reach 100 percent, you AND your husband will be eligable for medical coverage at no cost thru the VA medical system and you won't have to pay taxes on your house, although these benefits are not all-inclusive. There are more. He will also receive extra disability money for his spouse.

Don't give up. It really is a policy to say no, on the first go round. You have to fight this fight now. As the government continues to cut programs to people who are suffering from life-threatening diseases, who acquired them thru SERVING that very government, it will be increasingly difficult to collect those monies while our government assists the private sector and corporate culture with "BAILOUTS." Where's our bailout Obama?"

Anyway, I didn't intend for this to turn into a political conversation, but the failure to recognize EC, along with many other cancers which develop as a result of exposure to AO, is and of itself politically entrenched. I will be continuing my prayers for you and your husband. I hope this information helps. Luv u both.

http://www.gulfwarvets.com/ao.html

mrsbotch said:

Hi Cindy
If you could speak to Jow Biden that would be wonderful. I am in the process of just collecting names now. Please do call me when you get a chance and maybe we can get our ducks in a row. I know the grief and the paperwork. It really is tough.

I have thought of contacting the preident and Michele too. I will go all the way with this.

Barb

Just seeing if anything new
Just seeing if anything new has come up. My dad passed away in May of EC. He was a Vietnam vet and is similar to all the cases I read about. My mom submitted a claim and we haven't heard a final decision but assuming it will be denied. What do we do next? Sounds like a lot of you have been through this. Any help?

Mrs.MikeMooney said:

EC & exposure to Agent Orange in Viet Nam
Dear Barb,
I lost my husband of 34 years to EC in November of 2010. He was a Marine in Viet Nam and exposed to Agent Orange in 1968-1969. I would like to join you and others to do what we must so the VA will recognize EC on its presumptive list of service connection for EC occurring in Veterans who served in the Republic of Viet Nam and were exposed to the herbicide agent.
My email address is: mystiquefarm@aol.com
Kind regards,
Debbie Mooney

One more
I would also like to join your group of caregivers of VietNam Vets who now have EC. My husband was in VietNam 1967-68 and was a forward observer with the infantry. He said the US Government was spraying that stuff all over the place. Greg quit smoking in 1978, he has never been treated or had any problems with acid reflux and he is not a drinker. He has no typical risk factors for EC. He was diagnosed with stageIV on July 11, 2011 and suffered a severe stroke on July 20, 2011.

For our own government to do this to our own soldiers and then turn their backs on them later is a travesty. I am working with the VietNam Veterans of America here in MN to make sure this is all recorded on his military record. I have contacted both of the senators from Minnesota regarding this and will do whatever I have to do to make sure EC is included on THE LIST.

I know we are just starting a huge fight. Prayers are always appreciated.

Esophageal cancer and agent orange

Hello, I was wondering if you are still working on getting esophageal cancer onto the presumptive list?  I am from Illinois and also lost my husband to this type of cancer.  His claim was denied.  Please let me know, as I am interested in working as a group to file a suit.  Thanks very much in advance!

 

Trish

esophageal cancer and agent orange connection

hi

I just lost my husband to esophageal cancer 9/7/2015 he was recieving VA benefits for type 2 diabetes I just went to the VA and the person I spoke to said because the cause of death was linked to esophegeal cancer I would be denied benefits, he suggested finding medical journals that link the 2 together and also if the doctor would agree  there is a link between the two. has anything changed as far as linking the two  together since most of the posts were made? If anyone could help me with the information it would be very helpful.

                                                                                     thanks

Hello Everyon

Hello Everyon

Like so many of you I lost my husband to EC 4 months ago, I went to the VA on the advice of a friend. My husband was in Vietnam exposed to Agent Orange. I did all the paper work just to recieve a letter from them saying I need to submit all of his medical records, proof that he was there which they have, and a letter from his doctor stating that his cancer could have been a result of Agent Orange along with a case study. Even if I get all this they might still say it had nothing to do with it. I am going to try to get all they asked for but I will probably still get denied. I wish you all good luck. This was a horible time for him and our family her suffered more than any one person should. 

 

Toni C said:

Hello Everyon

Hello Everyon

Like so many of you I lost my husband to EC 4 months ago, I went to the VA on the advice of a friend. My husband was in Vietnam exposed to Agent Orange. I did all the paper work just to recieve a letter from them saying I need to submit all of his medical records, proof that he was there which they have, and a letter from his doctor stating that his cancer could have been a result of Agent Orange along with a case study. Even if I get all this they might still say it had nothing to do with it. I am going to try to get all they asked for but I will probably still get denied. I wish you all good luck. This was a horible time for him and our family her suffered more than any one person should. 

 

Toni~Wishing U success if you enter the VA~EC~Agent Orange MAZE

Dear Toni ~ My response to JKmelch is equally addressed to you.  I can readily believe the sad story of you and your husband's battle with Esophageal Cancer.  After reading your letter of yesterday, I felt you at least deserved an answer.  It will not be one you want.  Since I'm not on the board that makes final decisions at the VA, I cannot speak for them. I am not a medical person, only the wife of an EC survivor, Stage III first diagnosed in 2002.  Thank God my husband is still a survivor.  The words, "I'm sorry" sound so trite but all of us here at the EC link are always sad to learn that yet someone else's life was lost due to this vicious cancer.  Even more, we are sorry that veterans who served in the jungles of Vietnam are now required to enter a maze of endless paperwork in order to beg for benefits.  For shame.  If anyone reading this has successfully "beat the VA at their own game", I hope they will write and tell us exactly how and when, and how long it took for them to receive any recognition that the death of their loved one to Esophageal Cancer was caused by exposure to Agent Orange.

I am very serious about contacting your Senator FIRST.  If he/she can't get help for you, your own time would be better spent trying to regroup and carry on life without the love of your life.  Needless to say I am very skeptical, but it you are going to pursue this and are successful, please share it with us.  I would hate to see you supply all the necessary paperwork, and my soul that will be exhaustive, and still the claim be denied, or for that matter, be found on someone's desk months later not yet acknowledged!  Once more, pardon my disillusionment, but I'm not happy about the way our EC vets are "treated".   

Loretta

Wife of William first DX in Nov. of 2012, EC Stage III (T3N1M0) but thankfully still a survivor.

I put my response on a "separate topic form" here:  https://csn.cancer.org/node/312447