VA Argues With Itself Over Agent Orange

Fact: Agent Orange (not all of it) contained a toxin called TCDD, a recognized human carcinogen.

Fact:  Different agencies within VA see it from opposite perspectives: one is from science (VHA) and the other from preventing veterans' claims (VBA)

Here are quotes from the two major VA agencies, VHA and VBA, and the Secretary himself:

-Veterans Health Administration: "TCDD is the most toxic of the dioxins, and is classified as a human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency"(1)

-Veterans Benefits Administration: "In summary, there is no conclusive evidence that TCDD exposure causes any adverse health effects."(2)

-Secretary Shinseki: "The Secretary remains committed to ensuring Vietnam-era Veterans receive benefits they have earned through their service.  This commitment includes determining presumptive service connection related to Agent Orange exposure when appropriate."(3) "TCC is the most toxic of dioxins. TCDD causes cell damage.  TCDD raises IHD rates.  TCDD damages arteries. "(4)

(1) VA web page "Facts About Herbicides"

ACTUAL CDC-Mandated C-123 Flight Suits. Confirmed by
Joint Services Records Research Center to VA May 2014.

(2) Mr T. Murphy, VA Director Compensation and Pension, "Advisory Opinion," denying a C-123 veteran's exposure claim. Mr. Murphy was modifying for VA's purposes the official finding by which the CDC/ATSDR actually concluded C-123 veterans have a 200-fold greater cancer risk, and that if the contamination on the airplanes had been known when they were in service (1972-1982) CDC would either order crews to wear full HAZMAT or ground the C-123s as a toxic hazard. ATSDR considers TCDD a toxic hazard and nothing in the report otherwise.  VA twisted everything! Mr. Murphy's rewrite, over his own signature of the CDC/ATSDR finding was read back and discussed with him face-to-face as well as in several letters and emails.
(3) VA Fact Sheet
(4) Senate Testimony by then-Secretary Shineski

Gosh...don't you wonder why Compensation and Pension skipped all but the Director's personal opinions and instead took the CDC/ATSDR finding that veterans were exposed and dismissed it, taking a official finding and clearly mistating its conclusions? And ignored the Secretary's "committed" approach?

This veteran considers the twisting of the ATSDR finding by Compensation and Pension to be a clear prevarication. On February 28 2013 it was brought to the attention of the Director of C&P who offered no correction then or since. It is still in the veteran's "C File," his Agent Orange claim denied.

It stands as another example of how the Secrretary's trust in the loyality and abilities of his staff was misplaced, leading to his resignation as scandal after scandal began unfolding.

VA Exec Insists Agent Orange is Harmless & Orders C-123 Exposure Claim Denied: Earns $11,000 Bonus!

Its true. The recent release of VA executive bonuses revealed a sore point about a sore point.

A C-123 veteran's claim for Agent Orange exposure was ordered denied by VA's Compensation and Pension Service with the statement that Agent Orange is harmless. Hard to believe, right?

Here is is. A regional office had recommended approval of a C-123 veteran's Agent Orange exposure claim and, following instructions in VA 21-1MR, forwarded the case to a special desk at VBA's Compensation and Pension Service. Quickly, the claim was slapped down and ordered denied.

In the Advisory Opinion sent back to the regional office, the Director of Compensation and Pension summaries the official findings by the CDC/ATSDR that C-123 vets were exposed to Agent Orange and suffer a 200-fold greater cancer risk with the misleading sentence in the summary paragraph, "In summary, there is no evidence of adverse health effects from TCDD exposure."

This executive earned $11,000 by overlooking the reams of VA official documentation labeling

TCDD "a potent human carcinogen." This executive earned $11,000 by ignoring the requirement in his department's own rules that all a non-Vietnam vet needs to prove is Agent Orange exposure, and the executive twisted the denial into one citing no proof of medical nexus...a requirement not mentioned in the law, VA rules, Federal Register...only in his mindset that the clam must be denied.

Maybe he was too focused on that $11,000 bonus to read the law correctly.