[Carwy]

Okay form the sounds of things and reading what some people have written.
I was wondering if you know about this. The VA released it in 2001 however the only place I ever saw it was in a DAV magazine.

WASHINGTON -- Vietnam veterans with "Type 2" diabetes came closer today to receiving disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with the formal publication of the rules that will allow VA to provide benefits to those veterans.

"The hazards of the battlefield include more than bullets and shells," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "As our understanding of the health risks faced by our military personnel increases, VA will adjust its programs and benefits to fit the needs of veterans."

Principi's announcement came as the Federal Register today published VA's final rules for benefits for Vietnam veterans with "Type 2" diabetes. Under federal law, those rules don't take effect for 60 days. However, VA offices are already accepting claims from eligible Vietnam veterans.

Rules Published for VA's Diabetes-Agent Orange Benefits

[spike]

Originally Posted by Carwy

Okay form the sounds of things and reading what some people have written.
I was wondering if you know about this. The VA released it in 2001 however the only place I ever saw it was in a DAV magazine.

WASHINGTON -- Vietnam veterans with "Type 2" diabetes came closer today to receiving disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with the formal publication of the rules that will allow VA to provide benefits to those veterans.

"The hazards of the battlefield include more than bullets and shells," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "As our understanding of the health risks faced by our military personnel increases, VA will adjust its programs and benefits to fit the needs of veterans."

Principi's announcement came as the Federal Register today published VA's final rules for benefits for Vietnam veterans with "Type 2" diabetes. Under federal law, those rules don't take effect for 60 days. However, VA offices are already accepting claims from eligible Vietnam veterans.

Rules Published for VA's Diabetes-Agent Orange Benefits

I'm a T1 and was denied benefits a couple years ago. My next door neighbor, same age (31), also served in 'Nam and he came down with T1 the same time as I did! Thank you, Uncle Sam. T2's get bennys and T1's don't. If the powers that be decided that T2 is caused by Agent Orange, how do they get off excluding T1's? I've never been given a rational explanation by the VA.

[Carwy]

Originally Posted by spike

I'm a T1 and was denied benefits a couple years ago. My next door neighbor, same age (31), also served in 'Nam and he came down with T1 the same time as I did! Thank you, Uncle Sam. T2's get bennys and T1's don't. If the powers that be decided that T2 is caused by Agent Orange, how do they get off excluding T1's? I've never been given a rational explanation by the VA.

I would keep looking Spike. I will also try and help.

[RBmumsie]

My brother (Coast Guard) served in 'Nam and was exposed to Agent Orange. He developed T2 symptoms by 40. Wound up on insulin before 50 and died last year at the age of 57 from a major heart attack.

I read about the Agent Orange/Diabetes connection back in 2001 and I've been angry ever since. Yes, we have diabetes in our family, but it appeared that the exposure to Agent Orange just accelerated his deterioration.

[4519]

Spike-

Probably 2 reasons for them not allowing benefits for you(type 1's).

First because they don't believe(or has not been proven) that anything you were exposed to caused it.

Second because they are a federal agency that does not always act like they should. Sometimes you have to force them to see the error of their ways - sometimes, most of the time. Keep looking into it. If you should be getting benefits it is worth the fight. Type 1 and type 2 are different diseases, that will be your biggest problem until they can link type 1 and something you were exposed to...

[Garf]

Sorry, if I sound stupid, but what is "Agent Orange".

Garf

[duck]

Originally Posted by Garf

Sorry, if I sound stupid, but what is "Agent Orange".

Garf

It was an herbicide used by the US in Viet Nam to "deforest" the jungles...They would spray it from airplanes, dropping loads and loads of it into forests with little regard to who or what was there, including US soldiers (or, after spraying, they would let the soldiers enter within hours). The stuff is toxic, and many soldiers exposed to it have become sick with many, many ailments.

Here's another take:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Orange

[Garf]

Thank You Duck

That is one of the reasons why I hate "war" or for that matter fighting. I don't think the people who did this thought of any other human or animal's life. It don't seem to me that they care about anyone's life or health.

Garf

[Carwy]

Originally Posted by duck

It was an herbicide used by the US in Viet Nam to "deforest" the jungles...They would spray it from airplanes, dropping loads and loads of it into forests with little regard to who or what was there, including US soldiers (or, after spraying, they would let the soldiers enter within hours). The stuff is toxic, and many soldiers exposed to it have become sick with many, many ailments.

Here's another take:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Orange

Duck is right they used it in Vietnam however they have also used it in other countries around the world. There is a place in Maryland that is still so toxic that it is still blocked from all access.
Off the top of my head other coubntries are
1) Vietnam
2) USA
3) Japan
4) Korea
5) Philippines
This is jsut the ones I can remember from the artical in the DAV magazine I recieved a couple of years ago.

http://www1.va.gov/agentorange/
http://www1.va.gov/agentorange/docs/...of_Vietnam.pdf

[vvti-le]

My father retired from the US Air Force in 75' after 20 years of service. Prior to his release he went thru a final physical and was diagnosed with T2. He was awarded 10% service connected disability from the VA. In 88' my father suffered a stroke and in 90' suffered a second stroke which was major. It was then when my uncle took my father to the VA to be re-evaluated and was awarded 100% service connected disability in which the stroke was due to the T2 diabetes. It's 2006 and he is still taken care by the VA.

[Carwy]

Originally Posted by vvti-le

My father retired from the US Air Force in 75' after 20 years of service. Prior to his release he went thru a final physical and was diagnosed with T2. He was awarded 10% service connected disability from the VA. In 88' my father suffered a stroke and in 90' suffered a second stroke which was major. It was then when my uncle took my father to the VA to be re-evaluated and was awarded 100% service connected disability in which the stroke was due to the T2 diabetes. It's 2006 and he is still taken care by the VA.

Once you can get the VA to recognize that what is wrong with is is because of something that happened while you where on active duty they take great care of you.
I had to prove my cancer was because of the gulf war. Once they aggreed they started taking care of me. I will also add I have never ran across a greart group of doctors anywhere.

[Mark C]

Originally Posted by Garf

Thank You Duck

That is one of the reasons why I hate "war" or for that matter fighting. I don't think the people who did this thought of any other human or animal's life. It don't seem to me that they care about anyone's life or health.

Garf

I don't know if you can "like" war?