Agent Orange hearing

While this is going on, a travesty of justice is actually under the scrutiny of the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In Haas v. Nicholson, the Department of Veterans Affairs is appealing a decision from its own Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims last August which overturned the DVA's policy blocking thousands of Vietnam Veterans from Agent Orange Presumptive eligibility because they served in the Navy in offshore waters.

These "Blue Water Sailors" are dying at a faster rate than soldiers and Marines who were exposed in Vietnam. The reason is likely that ship's desalinization equipment, which made fresh water from seawater, did not eliminate the dioxins in the seawater [from runoff and overspray], but concentrated it. The Blue Water Sailors bathed in it, drank it in their coffee, and cooked with it.

The Australians government, and the New Zealand government have both agreed to pay their sailors for contamination.

The US did pay its Navy Veterans of Vietnam from the time the Agent Orange legislation was enacted in 1991 until the DVA decided on its own to stop in 2002.

Haas v. Nicholson is the result of that policy.

Please spread the word, and get this info out to the public as much as possible. Public sentiment can help sway the courts. It might even cause the DVA to have second thoughts and drop its appeal.

For complete information on this, and documentation as well, visit this website:

http://bluewaternavy.org/

I have been grossly facial disfigured facialy from major surgeries. To fight and repair Soft Tissue Sarcoma with a secondary bout with Arterial Vascular Malformation. I lost the left side of my face, ear, most of my tongue and swallowing ability and am fed with a tube, These symptoms are all approved diseases caused by Agent Orange exposure. The USS Arlington actually hauled A/O on board. I provided pictures that were verifable with sworn statements by sailors that loaded and handled the barrels with the orange stripes. We all distinctly remember the smell and the spill in the hanger bay where it was stored next to the Skippers Dingy which is included in the proof positive picture of the barrels. I have been this way since 11/88 and have yet to be approved for compensation and just recently was approved for medical help as a non service connected victim. Phooey What more does the VA need...They are suppose to assist not battle us veterans, yet they are like fighting a prosecuting attorney. When will someone with authority step forward and put an end to this. Good luck Mr. Haas

I will be going to a VA disability claims office Monday to register my belief that I am suffering from AO contact in the PCZ. I know, good luck with that but, if we don't all suffering register, the gov has won getting out of yet another contractually bound promise. I am in sympathy with all the rest us who KNOW the truth but, even with undeniable evidence, the government seems to fabricate loopholes. I apologize, I've been very sick for 5 years now and I know the truth.

James Mathews wrote:

I have been grossly facial disfigured facialy from major surgeries...... I provided pictures that were verifable with sworn statements by sailors that loaded and handled the barrels with the orange stripes.

*******
Jim,
Can you share those photos? e.g., post them or somehow get them in a format that I could post to bluewaternavy.org ? Thank,-Rossie

David Sorrell wrote:

I will be going to a VA disability claims office Monday to register my belief that I am suffering from AO contact in the PCZ. I know, good luck with that but, if we don't all suffering register, the gov has won getting out of yet another contractually bound promise. I am in sympathy with all the rest us who KNOW the truth but, even with undeniable evidence, the government seems to fabricate loopholes. I apologize, I've been very sick for 5 years now and I know the truth.

Before you go to register for being exposed to agent orange in PCZ, may I suggest that you contact CDC (preferrably in Washington, DC) and get examined for symptoms and/or exposure for agent orange first.
I say this after attempting to get examined or registered for agent orange exposure while in Panama Canal myself, after my Army buddy and I found a VA website that not only disclosed that agent orange had been burried in 15 locations in Panama, along with Sarrin Nerve Agent and something called NX agent.

This website not only exposed this information, but also had a map on it showing not one, but two locations at Ft. Sherman, PCZ, where 150 barrels were burried.

My Army buddy and I have found many of our men, NCO's and Officers, to get their assistance in winning our claims against the VA for our service connected disabilities. We found that three of our men have died from colon cancer, which along with pancreatic cancer, are symptoms of agent orange among many other symptoms. Another one of our men died from pancreatic cancer, and we have learned several weeks ago, that one of our Sergeant's is dying of one of the two types of cancer's at this moment.

My twin son's were born in 1985 and had nearly died when they were three months old, from spinal meninjitis, which turns out that meninjitis is yet another symptom of agent orange. Now, a few days ago, I learned that the surviving twin (his brother committed suicide in 2005) has an unknown fluid on his brain and has most likely had it from birth. The probability of this being a result of agent orange, is not implausible.

One of my Army buddies that lives here in Tampa, Fl., and another one in Maine, both have daughters who have been diagnosed with Learning disabilities and one daughter diagnosed as mentally retarded. The buddy in Maine, has two daughters and he has been diagnosed with exposure to Agent Orange approx. eight times, I know this to be true, as I have seen his medical records.

Many of my other buddies that have died or are ill with symptoms of Agent Orange, have never been to Vietnam, and the one here in Tampa, has been to Korea, in an area that has been exposed with Agent Orange, as found in the VA website and documented by records from the DOD.

When you get evidence of being exposed to agent orange, get ahold of your congressman or senator with copies of this evidence and documents showing that you were indeed in Panama Canal, and file Congressional, that is the only way you are going to beat the VA, trust me, I know. I am 100% service connected for a host of "other" disabilities, including several "disease's".

Good Luck and keep me informed as to how the battle is going. If any Veterans need help in fighting the VA, let me know. I can help, as one Vet to Another.

I was station in Panama on Fort Clayto from 1965 to 1967. I was exposed to nightly spraying. I now have type II dibetes and breathing problems. I was denied compenstion because VA said I didn't serve in Vietnam. I have wrote to disagree with their decision.

My brother in law, George is actively wasting away with cancer everywhere but his brain...it's in his lungs, lymph nodes, heart, but since he was initially diagnosed with skin cancer, it is causing difficulty in making the so called famous "list" of "acceptables". Also, the doctor waiting a couple months, with delaying tests etc. to finally make his statement about the cancer.

My sister in law has a VA advocate but he is doing not much to help (which I cannot believe)them. George and his comrades ate and slept on the grass where AO was sprayed.
In response to both of you, archielake and ranger rupe, he is too ill to even leave bed now for the bathroom, much less the CDC in Atlanta, and yes, I am taking you up on your offer for any help. God Bless you (us) and our families.

My husband was in a patrol boat in Vietnam. For years he was a brittle diabetic and ammune system was terible.. He got sicker and sicker.. He called the V.A. to see if we could get any type of help.. they told us it was not a war so good luck.. Then for about a year 1/2 he had this terrible pain inside. Monthly he told dr about it. Due to type of job he had doctor did not run any tests.. Finally when pain got too bad he went to hospital.. he was stage 4 pancriatic cancer.. they could not operate. He has been on G.T.X. all this time.. as to date the cancer has not only stopped growing but it has shrunk. The out look is still the same but With Gods Grace instead of 6months tops to live he is still here at 15months..
I was told to check out this site. I am not sure what to do or who to contact for help.. Or even if we can do anything at all.. I am mentally exhausted and he is pretty much down 20days a month..
if anyone has any ideas please let us know..
OR IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT IS LOOKING FOR A CHEMO TREATMENT.. THIS IS PRETTY NEW.. AND SO FAR WORKING..
Thanks for your time..
sheila
HDsheila@aol.com

I was recently diagnosed with glioblastoma cancer of the brain. I am certain it is from agent orange and I have filed a claim form for agent orange to be summited soon any suggestions?

[I could use some help. my claim was rejected as i only served in PCZ not Viet nam.wtharper57@sbcglobal.net