Veteran's 
Health Issues

Years ago, I read a report that necropsy reports on military dogs in Viet Nam suffered a much higher rate of testicular cancer than military dogs assigned elsewhere.  I thought about all the hours I spent walking behind my dog in Viet Nam....... If he had a higher risk, what about me? Did I have a Testicular Cancer Risk?  

I started reading about Agent Orange Information and comparing medical problems with other veterans concerned about their possible Agent Orange Exposure.  Reports of exposure of Ranch Hand personnel proved that it was more of a problem than originally reported. 

As I started attending VSPA reunions, I noticed that the majority of old dog handlers seemed to be have diabetes. At the 2004 VSPA reunion at Tucson, the subject came up at the banquet table. As webmaster, many photos of Thailand bases had been sent to me. Many had the same bare dirt perimeter look that some Viet Nam bases had (Phu Cat Air Base, RVN 1970).  Agent Orange in Thailand, it must have been used on the perimeters.  We discussed the fact that Thailand veterans were shut out of VA healthcare. 

Thai Vietnam Vets For Equity in Treatment (TVVET) was born that night to address the issue of unequal treatment for veterans of South-East Asia service.   

Chronology of Herbicide Used in Thailand

Letter from DOD to Congressman Lane & Location of Agent Orange Sites in the US  (PDF Format)

 
First Report To Congress From TVVET Large Slow File to Download from non-VSPA server

Additional photos of Agent Orange at Small Installations in Thailand ?  We started gathering statements, photos of perimeters in tropical locations, devoid of jungle  vegetation.

VA Claim & Appeal Information  How to file, and supporting decisions! 

Many veterans had increased exposure to hazardous chemicals and tropical diseases, caused by multiple tours in South East Asia (SEA). "Herbicides were used by the U.S. military to defoliate military facilities in the U.S. and in other countries as far back as the 1950s. Even if you did not serve in Vietnam, you can still apply for service-connected benefits if you were exposed to an herbicide while in the military which you believe caused your disease or injury. If you have a disease which is on the list of diseases recognized by the VA as being associated with Agent Orange, the VA requires: 

  1. a medical diagnosis of a disease which VA recognizes as being associated with Agent Orange (listed below),

  2. competent evidence of exposure to a chemical contained in one of the herbicides used in Vietnam (2,4-D; 2,4,5-T and its contaminant TCDD; cacodylic acid; or picloram), and

  3. competent medical evidence that the disease began within the deadline for that disease (if any). " 

  4.  

Another health issue!

Malathion Exposure ?  

Malathion Symptoms

Dipping Dogs!

 

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Chemical Exposure Bulletin Board