AGENT ORANGE~VA Administration DOES NOT LIST ESOPHAGEAL CANCER as a cancer caused by this herbicide!

  Dear Mike:

 Today I did a little more searching relative to Agent Orange.  As verified by Ms. Kime’s (Military Times) letter to me, indeed the VA does not recognize Esophageal Cancer as one of the diseases that are attributable to Agent Orange Exposure.  So I’m putting the list below my name as the diseases they do recognize, and indeed the 3 that Ms. Kime’s say have been added are in that list.  So for the sake of clarification, I will put my remarks in a new post so that the next person researching this same subject will know just what is covered by the VA thus far. 

 When we hear that VA is paying benefits to service people exposed to Agent Orange, we “Esophageal Cancer” families naturally “assume” that EC would have to be on the list.  Such is not the case.  Indeed this is an ongoing question here, so just for info purposes, I will take our recent conversation as a perfect time to make a definite statement about this, so others will be rightly informed.

 Really delighted to know of another EC survivor hitting the magic mark of 5 years.  And once more thank you for risking your life to save mine.  I appreciate our military.  You deserve nothing but thanks for all you’ve done for us. 

 Loretta

 My note to you and Ms. Kime’s reply can be read here for those asking the question in the future.  Now we can always hope for an update that will say the VA now accepts fact that Agent Orange does indeed contribute to Esophageal Cancer.  But so far, as of the writing of this letter, January 30, 2017, EC is NOT included in list of diseases for which veterans will receive benefits.

1.  http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1568202#comment-1568202

 Your original comments here. “Agent Orange and esophageal cancer

 Vietnam veteran; in-county, 'boots on the ground', Navy river boat base, 1971-72. Diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus in 2009. Monitored annually with endoscopy and esophageal cancer discovered in December 2011. I had surgery January 2012, esophagoscopy flexible to remove adenocarcinoma and my esophagus. I have never smoked, have always worked out and jogged or cycled and maintain weight proportional to height. Gastroenterologist said GERDs caused cancer in esophagus. Have made claim to Veterans Administration and am waiting for next step but have been told not to expect anything favorable since esophageal cancer is not presumed to be result of Agent Orange exposure even though other organs in throat have been included but not esophagus. I just discovered this site so I'm very late getting in but if anyone with similar circumstances wants to discuss further I'm willing to join in. For those of you with cancer, hang in there. It is a tough fight but you can get through it. I just made my 5 year anniversary since my surgery and plan to make many more. Good luck to all of you and if you are a Vietnam vet - welcome home, brothers.”

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 2.   http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1568535#comment-1568535

 Copy of Ms. Kime’s reply to me when I wrote her.  She reports for the Military Times and I figured she would be able to supply me with an answer, which she did.  Not that I doubted her, but I thought I would see just how many diseases are definitely deemed caused by Agent Orange.  Her remarks are verified by the VA article I have included below which gives a list of the diseases related to AGENT ORANGE.  Unfortunately indeed Esophageal Cancer is NOT on the list. 

  “…“Hi, Ms. Marshall - thanks for writing. The VA panel looking at Agent Orange is only looking at three additional diseases as being connected: bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinson’s-like symptoms. Esophageal cancer is not on the list.    That said, this veteran can hope that his claim gets accepted even though it's not an automatic qualifier. He could also reach out to Vietnam Veterans of America, which has people on staff to help him file his claim or an appeal…”

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3.  http://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-postservice-agent_orange.asp

 “…Diseases Associated with Agent Orange

 VA currently presumes that some diseases resulted from exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange. The Veterans Health Administration's Public Health website lists these diseases VA presumes are associated with exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service:..”

                            “Veterans' Diseases Associated with Agent Orange

 VA assumes that certain diseases can be related to a Veteran's qualifying military service. We call these "presumptive diseases."

 VA has recognized certain cancers and other health problems as presumptive diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service. Veterans and their survivors may be eligible for benefits for these diseases.

•  AL Amyloidosis
  A rare disease caused when an abnormal protein, amyloid, enters tissues or organs

• Chronic B-cell Leukemias
  A type of cancer which affects white blood cells

• Chloracne (or similar acneform disease)
  A skin condition that occurs soon after exposure to chemicals and looks like common forms of acne seen in teenagers. Under VA's rating regulations, it must be at least 10 percent disabling within one year of exposure to herbicides.

• Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
  A disease characterized by high blood sugar levels resulting from the body’s inability to respond properly to the hormone insulin

• Hodgkin's Disease
  A malignant lymphoma (cancer) characterized by progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, and by progressive anemia

• Ischemic Heart Disease
  A disease characterized by a reduced supply of blood to the heart, that leads to chest pain

• Multiple Myeloma
  A cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell in bone marrow

• Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
  A group of cancers that affect the lymph glands and other lymphatic tissue

• Parkinson's Disease
  A progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects muscle movement

• Peripheral Neuropathy, Early-Onset
  A nervous system condition that causes numbness, tingling, and motor weakness. Under VA's rating regulations, it must be at least 10 percent disabling within one year of herbicide exposure.

• Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
  A disorder characterized by liver dysfunction and by thinning and blistering of the skin in sun-exposed areas. Under VA's rating regulations, it must be at least 10 percent disabling within one year of exposure to herbicides.

• Prostate Cancer
  Cancer of the prostate; one of the most common cancers among men

• Respiratory Cancers (includes lung cancer)
  Cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus

• Soft Tissue Sarcomas (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, or mesothelioma)
  A group of different types of cancers in body tissues such as muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels, and connective tissues…”

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• http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/conditions/index.asp

  “…Evidence Needed

  If you are seeking service connection for one of the diseases VA presumes is associated with exposure to herbicides during service, VA requires the following:

 ·         A medical diagnosis of a disease which VA recognizes as being associated with Agent Orange (listed above)…”

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