Newest Claims Project: Peripheral Neuropathy

 I've drafted a sample VA disability claim for peripheral neuropathy as SECONDARY to diabetes. Vietnam War and C-123 veterans are presumed exposed to Agent Orange and already get service connection for diabetes if diagnosed. The effort here will be to illustrate how a veteran can get service connection by using diabetes type 2 (and other causes) and then peripheral neuropathy as a secondary issue.

Many vets have complained that their peripheral neuropathy claims long after Vietnam are denied due to VA's one year for symptoms requirement – this effort is an alternate approach using peripheral neuropathy as secondary to another illness or injury already recognized by VA as service connected. It’s for anyone, not just Agent Orange folks. Many other ailments are associated with peripheral neuropathy and if you have PN, you'd be wise to investigate.

VA Disability Claim Form VA 526EZ now includes Agent Orange C-123 details

 Reference VA Form 526EZ disability claim form.

I hadn't noticed but Veterans Benefit Administration now includes C-123 veterans in their Agent Orange exposure section. BTW: if you haven't checked with VA for their full range of toxic exposure disabilities, do so NOW!

VA 526EZ, Section IV EXPOSURE INFORMAON

Eglin AFB Veteran Wins Domestic Agent Orange VA Claim!

Just received from an AF veteran who served at Eglin AFB, Florida. Eglin was the principal field test facility for Agent Orange, and this veteran finally won VA recognition for his Agent Orange exposure. Eglin AFB still has 400 acres of dioxin-laden, fenced-off area due to this severe contamination. Congratulations...and note his emphasis on being persistent! Get your claim in, even if only via a general letter, and get your Agent Orange exam scheduled by contacting the Agent Orange Hotline - call 800-749-8387.

Just got the award letter today, saying that I got 20% for Diabetes II, 20% for radial nerve damage from removal of tumor left arm and 20% for the painful swelling and edema left arm. It only took 9 years, but Brothers and Sisters, you got to be vigilant and persistent in your fight to get the rights you deserve and were promised.I've a few other symptoms that are secondary, but now that they're recognized we can go on from there, as they're still in the exploratory stage right now.I wish to thank those on this site in helping me get the recognition, by providing advice, documents and direction. 

Dan Callaghan, Recognized Victim - Eglin AFB AO Exposure 

click: CDC - Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry Eglin AFB Contamination Study 

Agent Orange & Type 2 Diabetes

Vietnam veterans (and others like us with established exposure to dioxin) with type 2 diabetes are eligible for disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) based on their presumed exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides. In 2000, the VA added type 2 diabetes to the list of "presumptive diseases associated with herbicide exposure." That action followed a report from the National Academy of Sciences that found "limited/suggestive" evidence of an association between the chemicals used in herbicides during the Vietnam War, such as Agent Orange, and type 2 diabetes.

The evidence of a link between exposure to Agent Orange (or dioxin, the problematic contaminant in Agent Orange) and diabetes is modest. Most of the association between Agent Orange and diabetes comes from studies of people who lived near or worked at manufacturing plants that produced large quantities of Agent Orange dioxin. In those cases, there appears to be some relationship between Agent Orange exposure and increased insulin resistance, the precursor to type 2 diabetes. In general the exposure that Vietnam veterans had to Agent Orange was much less than in the populations studied by scientists. Still, the VA has added diabetes to the list of conditions for which Vietnam veterans are eligible for disability compensation.

What is Agent Orange and what is dioxin?