Many VA C-123 Publication and Web Page Errors Now Resolved (I hope)

Much still needs to be done, however we're grateful for all progress! Email from VA Post Deployment Public Health, received today:

Sir:

Post Deployment Health Services updated the webpage and also mentioned the C-123 group on a national call with the Environmental Health Coordinators and Clinicians this week.  We will send the link to the updated page to our VISN leads.  Thank you for your email and concern for the C-123 Veterans. 

 On web page:C-123 Airplanes and the Agent Orange RegistryVeterans (including some Reservists) who state that they flew on or worked on a C-123 aircraft between 1969 and 1986 are eligible for the Agent Orange Registry.https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/locations/residue-c123-aircraft/index.asp  Please note that VBA will have documentation requirements while for registry exams we only require a verbal declaration.

VA Now Permits C-123 Veterans Agent Orange Registry Exam!

At first available, then forbidden us, the VA's Agent Orange Registry Exam is now available to C-123 veterans! This is a terrific step for VA to take and important to us. The exam is one of our first requests to the VA, and here it is!

The first notice I had of this is the Manchester NH VA Medical Center's web page, published on February 11. Manchester is dear to all of us because they are the ones who bravely reviewed Paul Bailey's denied claim, and awarded it to him a month before his death. They stood up to the system and read their rules and regulations fairly.

The exam itself doesn't qualify a veteran for Agent Orange benefits. However, it is a comprehensive exam by practitioners who know what to look for, and I strongly encourage everyone concerned about their exposures to complete the exam.

How? Call your nearest VA medical center and ask for the Agent Orange exam people. Here's the text from the Manchester VA web page...wonderful to see it in print!

C-123 Veterans Excluded from Agent Orange Registry Exam effective 5 May 2013

This morning, VA's Deputy Director Post-Deployment Health, part of the VA's Office of Public Health, corrected our understanding regarding the Agent Orange Registry exam. C-123 veterans, unless otherwise qualified through Vietnam service, are not eligible for this screening examination.

Originally, the current  Jun 2 2012 Internet page specified eligibility for any veteran believing him/herself to have been exposed.  Recent interpretations of that page have added language denying coverage for dried Agent Orange and specifying only liquid Agent Orange, thus restricting us from eligibility. The new version reads:

"Other potential Agent Orange exposures

• Veterans who may have been exposed to herbicides during a military operation or as a result of testing, transporting, or spraying herbicides for military purposes. Learn about herbicide tests and storage outside Vietnam. Agent Orange or Dioxin dried on surfaces does not present a significant threat to human health. Veterans are eligible if they were in the presence of liquid Agent Orange such as when Agent Orange was sprayed, tested or transported."

The language of the Internet page which now provides for us to be included will probably be updated to exclude us at some point to address this confusion. I don't know what the impact will be on any Agent Orange claims but the Registry exam was never a part of the disability application process so there should be none.

Thanks to the VA's Post-Deployment Health for detailing these important changes for us. 

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