RJ and any other Korean Vet

[Cruiserman]

Due to a final regulation just issued, VA officials will now presume herbicide exposure for any veteran who served between April 1, 1968, and August 31, 1971, in a unit determined by VA and Department of Defense officials to have operated in an area in or near the Korean DMZ in which herbicides were applied. Veterans with covered service in Korea who have medical conditions that may be related to Agent Orange are encouraged to submit their applications for access to VA health care and compensation as soon as possible. Click on these links to learn about Veterans' diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure and birth defects in children of Vietnam-era Veterans. For more information on filing a claim, visit the VA's Filing Claims for Presumptive Conditions Based on Herbicide Exposure website. Additional information about Agent Orange and VA's services for Veterans exposed to the chemical is available at this website.
For more information on veteran benefits, visit the Military.com Benefits Channel.
   Check out Military.com for more imfo.

                                                      Crusierman

[solo1]

RJ served in the very early '50's and I served in 1953 so it doesn't apply but thanks.

[R J]

Yup what Wayne said.  

1st tour - July 1950 - August 1951

2nd tour - March 1952 - August 9th, 1952.
Left this one on a Medical evac Cargo carrier, in a full body cast, carrier was equipped with cots from floor to about 8' up, front to rear..     I was lucky, I was by a window.      In a pig's arse to.

[JerryB]

Thought the A/O was Vietnam in '68'-'71' thing.......We were not ground fighting in Korea then were we.....Age may have let it slip my mind............JerryB.

[Brovietnam]

Let's see, I served in Korea, I Corps Artillery, fall 1963 through fall of 1964, Republic of Vietnam, Spring of 1966 through Spring of 1967.  What do you think my chances are of the VA even acknowleging the fact that I was in either place?  I have been fighting them since 1968 over shrapnel wounds that they say were caused by a motorcycle accident.  Hmmmm!  

[Gear Jammer]

Let's see, I served in Korea, I Corps Artillery, fall 1963 through fall of 1964, Republic of Vietnam, Spring of 1966 through Spring of 1967.  What do you think my chances are of the VA even acknowleging the fact that I was in either place?  I have been fighting them since 1968 over shrapnel wounds that they say were caused by a motorcycle accident.  Hmmmm!  

You probably were running Darkside     

[Kaiser]

My Dad served in 'Nam and just did all the required forms/paperwork with his VA doctor for this program.  He does not have any AO symptoms, but the Dr. said it was a good idea to do the paperwork "just in case" something shows up later.  At least his name is on the list...hope he never needs it.

[Jess from VA]

Under law and regulation, VA presumes that a specified list of diseases (below) were caused by exposure to herbicide agents (agent orange) if you can prove you were in certain places at certain times.  Service connection for the disease will be granted, and the veteran entitled to disability compensation (determined by how bad the symptoms are) and to medical treatment.  Any service in Vietnam is good enough, just stepping off a plane or ship with one foot for one second, or service in the brown-water Navy (but not out in the Gulf of Tonkin/Yankee Station or flying over the country) at any time during the war '61-'75.  

However, herbicides were used, tested and stored at a whole laundry list of locations worldwide, which has been researched and listed, and if you can prove you were at such locations at the proper time, and have any of the presumptive diseases, you may also be covered.  

Some of the locations outside Vietnam are Korea (Veterans who served in a unit in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) anytime between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971),

Thailand (U.S. Air Force Veterans who served on Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) bases at U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, and Don Muang, near the air base perimeter anytime between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975).
    * U.S. Army Veterans who provided perimeter security on RTAF bases in Thailand anytime between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975.
    * U.S. Army Veterans who were stationed on some small Army installations in Thailand anytime between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975. However, the Army Veteran must have been a member of a military police (MP) unit or was assigned an MP military
      occupational specialty whose duty placed him/her
      at or near the base perimeter.

certain US locations:   http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/outside_vietnam_usa.asp

Outside US:  http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/outside_vietnam.asp  

Here is the list of diseases. Note, most of them have a lifetime presumption, meaning if you were exposed and manifested the presumptive disease 40 years later, you're covered.  A couple of exceptions are skin diseases, which must have manifested soon after exposure.  Also note, the list of presumptive diseases continues to grow, so Vietnam vets should check the list from time to time.  The newest diseases added were Diabetes (type II, adult onset), and the newest (just added in Oct 2110) are Ischemic Heart Disease and Chronic B-cell Leukemias.  

http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/diseases.asp

Anyone who ever set foot for one minute in RVN during the 60-70s can ask VA for a special  herbicide physical examination.  

If you are service connected for herbicide related disease, and later die from such disease(s), you are entitled to service connection for cause of death, and you wife and dependents (to 18, to 23 if in college) entitled to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC is much better than pension), kids can get a full-ride college scholarship (most are grown by now), wife's DIC benefits are lifetime.  And you get a few hundred more dollars of burial benefits.

As I said before, I served as journeyman counsel for the USDVA, Board of Veteran's Appeals, for many years, and I am willing to help (but not represent) any veteran on the VRCC who asks, with any VA issue.  Send me a Board Message (and/or private email), and it will be confidential.  

[JerryB]

Thanks Jess.......didn't realize AO was so wide-spread......JerryB.

[Jess from VA]

didn't realize AO was so wide-spread

While many locations have been identified and listed (providing every benefit of the doubt to veterans), the truth is, relatively few claims arise from locations other than RVN.  

As soon as Diabetes was added to the list, VA received an easy quarter million (successful) claims, since the statistical number of people (mostly men) who would get diabetes for any number of reasons other than herbicide exposure were was significant.  Anyone who gets Type II (not Type I) diabetes at any age or years remote from RVN service and spent minutes or more time there has a successful claim.  More Vietnam veterans are being compensated for diabetes than for any other disability, including post-traumatic stress disorder, hearing loss or gun shot wounds.  Some 23 percent of Americans 60 and older have diabetes (whether they went to RVN or not), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, because Type II diabetes is usually well controlled with diet and medication, the most often assigned disability evaluation VA wide is (only) 20%.   For those who don't maintain control, we taxpayers pay separate compensation for resulting amputations of lower extremities.  

http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2010/08/agent_orange_suspicions_diabet.html

And the taxpayers may soon be responsible for even more: The VA said Monday that it will add heart disease, Parkinson's disease and certain types of leukemia to the list of conditions that might be connected to Agent Orange. The agency estimates that the new rules, which will go into effect in two months unless Congress intervenes, will cost $42 billion over the next 10 years.

[Bama Red]

RJ, you were there during some of the time my Dad was there. He was involved in the defense of the Pusan Perimeter, late Summer-early Fall, '50.

Thanks for your service, Pard.

[KW]

R.J and Wayne; I sincerely thank you gentleman for your service to our Country. I had no idea we had some Korean War Veterans on this board. My dad served with distinction in the 3rd Armored Division (the ‘Spearhead Division’) in Korea. He was awarded the Silver Star. You know, he NEVER talked about it until one day when a member from his old squad showed up from New York to visit. The fellow and his wife took my parents out and when they came home, they were all a little tipsy. He called all of us out into the kitchen and started telling us how dad saved "everyone's" life. It was the first any of us three boys heard of it. The next morning I couldn’t wait to ask Dad about it. He said; “Some shells started coming in and I said ‘let’s get out of here’ and they gave me a metal.” He never talked about it again.

Again, my entire family thanks you! God bless!

[czuch]

KW, the real heros dont talk about it. However THOSE are the stories we really need to hear and save. Agent Orange has taken more folks than the war did. Every year I participate in the
"Silver Rose " honor ride. Its through my American Legion. I dont know how to connect things  on the computer, but yawll ( a little sailor lingo there) can look it up.
Thank a Vet today. You owe them.
Thanks.

[KW]

Hey Czuch, We’re familiar with the 'Order the Silver Rose.’ It’s a great organization! (I put the link below for you brother.)  A friend of ours died from an Agent Orange related cancer. It was a particularly bad form of cancer and he suffered quite a bit.  During his tour, his squad was responsible for going in and clearing away the defoliated brush. So, there’s no doubt where he got the cancer from. We picked up the paperwork for the OSR, and a pin for him, before he passed away, but I don’t think they ever got around to sending it in.

And you’re RIGHT about thanking Veterans! My bride taught me that. She’s a Vietnam era Vet (69-70) who was stationed at Fort Lewis, in Tacoma, Washington. She’s fanatical about thanking any Vet she sees and I love her for it! Her name is Debby (Dew) and will be with me at InZane this summer (of course!)   

A quick story, if I may, about thanking Vets. Last summer my bride and I were down at Shipshewana (Sp? It’s large flea market in northern Indiana) and I came across an old fellow selling those real nice, big remote cars. He was wearing a WWII Veteran hat.  I asked if he was a WWII Vet and he said “yes”.  I reached across the table and told him I would be honored to shake his hand and thank him for our freedoms.  He stunned for a minute . . . and then slowly reached out and shook my hand. His grip was still firm as his eyes started to tear up. He said; “No one ever said that to me son. . . . Thank you.” His business partner was also a WWII Vet. Those old boys told me story after story about their experiences in Europe during the war.  As it turned out, they were both Rangers and believe me; they had some great stories to tell. I could have stood there all afternoon. It was awesome.

Cruiserman, that’s for the info and starting this thread!

 God bless! 

http://www.silverrose.info/main%20menu%20page.html