VA officials have announced that they are planning to expand eligibility for Agent Orange disability benefits to more Vietnam-era veterans.
Agent Orange was used to kill heavy vegetation during the Vietnam War, but it also left hundreds of thousands of veterans and Vietnam civilians with horrific illnesses and death.
Old Army videos have shown shirtless soldiers wearing no protective equipment pumping the chemical from large barrels while they spray the vegetation along a river bank.
But human exposure goes beyond those who were in Vietnam. There were actually Agent Orange storage facilities all across the world, and this proposed VA rule change would expand presumptive medical conditions to those locations as well.
Here's a list of some of those locations where exposure could have happened in the U.S (you can see the full list here).:
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Indiana
Maryland
Mississippi
Montana
New York
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Outside of the U.S., the list of locations includes Guam, Korea, Thailand, Laos, American Samoa, Johnson Atoll, Canada, Cambodia and Vietnam (to see the full list click here).
VA Secretary Denis McDonough had this to say about the rule change: “This proposed change would make it easier for Veterans exposed to herbicides who served outside Vietnam to access the benefits they so rightly deserve.”
He stated the decision is another step in the right direction.
Veterans who were in the locations listed should file claims related to exposure.
h/t WCPO
I have had prostate cancer, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer and liver cancer. Also I have high blood pressure. I was able to get rid of all but now the liver cancer has come back. I have to have an injection to keep the cancer at bay. The VA won’t cover pancreatic cancer or liver cancer and said because bladder cancer is at bay they cover it. Not fair!
How about all this shit they sprayed in Panama and those vets
Keep fighting for all Vietnam veterans and all of the veterans that was in in war that the United States was involved in
Filed in 96 for Prostate cancer. Had cancer,diabetes,chloracne, high blood pressure, along with a few other maladies. Was based in Okinawa but because of pentagon agreements they said no chemicals in Okinawa. All agent orange came through there. Ships with thousands of barrels. Also damaged equipment. PSP and other equipment were sent to Okinawa for repair i helped sort this with out gloves or protective gear It was still dripping AO from Vietnam. Gov lies have left me with 0 disabilities but with 100%physical disabilities would you be bitter? Still no monetary compensation for my disability
We need help with agent orange babies. My daughter has many many disabilities. She cannot support herself. Her Dad was on the front lines in 1967. We are desperate.