Agent Orange & Peripheral Neuropathy

After the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy carried a note about our Agent Orange & C-123 connection, I wrote them asking for advice helpful to our flyers. Here is the on-target advice from a Vietnam veteran who's already gone this route. Consider his approach...I can think of none better as we submit our VA claims. One important point about peripheral neuropathy...it must be acute and it must evidence within one year of exposure.

In my case, I had burning sensations severe enough that, while still flying the C-123, I had two operations to sever nerves in my left leg to stop the pain, thus meeting the timing requirement for symptoms. Let us all know how your own complaints get received by the VA!

Eugene Richardson gene@neuropathysupportnetwork.org to brenda, Dominick, me show details 6:49 AM (1 hour ago)  Wes Brenda at the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy sent me your request regarding exposure to Agent Orange and Peripheral Neuropathy and fighting with the VA. As a retired Vietnam Veteran 67/68 I fought with the VA for six years and finally received 100% disability due to exposure to Agent Orange that in all PROBABILITTY resulted in my symptoms of PN!   Others have fought the same battle and won. The secret is to have a Neuromuscular Neurologist familiar with PN to run all the tests possible and rule out all other causes.   In this way via an AFFIDAVIT from that doctor, he can state that since all other causes have been ruled out, there is a very HIGH probability that your diagnosis and symptoms from PN are due to your exposure to Agent Orange. Refer to the research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Vet Medicine, published in the findings of the IOM December 2009, stating in essence that dioxin is a toxin and a carcinogen of the worst order, causing previously unknown damage to the very cellular structure of the human body and even the VA acknowledges that it causes Peripheral Neuropathy. Go on my website at www.neuropathysupportnetwork.org and first ORDER the FREE DVD at the ORDER DVD tab.   Second, go to the VETERANS/AGENT ORANGE tab read what it says about Agent Orange and PN, then at the VERY BOTTOM of this page there is a booklet to download.  In this booklet there are samples of cases won in regard to PM/Agent Orage, and sample affidavits that I used. If you have someone write up a draft affidavit for your doctor to use, that is better, as no doctor has the time to do this for you. Make sure you only use facts from your medical record that the VA has or will have. After all of this go to the FAQ tab and read all the questions and answers as you will learn much.  Remember some Neurologists support the fact of chronic neuropathy due to Agent Orange Exposure and other support only the Acute forms, and others deny everything.   It is important to know that the amount of Clinical training in the diagnosis and treatment of the neuropathies is in its infancy and few have been sufficiently trained.   If you read Dr. Latov’s book (RESOURCE tab) on the causes and some treatments, you will know more than many of them but do not tell them this.   Just use your knowledge to GUIDE them by asking questions that they can explore with you by testing.  When you have done all of this, please let me know when you have other questions. If you have a website we can send you a LINK ICON to the website for other veterans. I have attached an endorsement on the DVD and WEBSITE from professionals and ALL  of the endorsements are in the NSN TODAY tab on the website. Col Gene EUGENE B. RICHARDSON, BA, MDiv, EdM, MS (Counseling) LtCol, USA (Retired) President, Network for Neuropathy Support, Inc., dba Neuropathy Support Network Advisory Board Member of The Neuropathy Association, Inc. Volunteer Patient Support and Advocate Disabled American Veteran Visit The Neuropathy Association, Inc., at www.neuropathysupportnetwork.org