Diagnosed 6 months ago. Epect this is a result of being exposed to Agent Orange iN Vietnam. Diagnosed with CLl in 2004.

[Johnny_joe]

Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016. PD was diagnosed in 2018

[MBAnderson]

Johnny Joe, doesn't sound like you filed a claim with the VA? Are you interested in doing that?

[Johnny_joe in reply to MBAnderson]

Yes I am

[MBAnderson in reply to Johnny_joe]

Do file a claim. You do not have to prove a connection between Parkinson's and Agent Orange. It is assumed if you were in country. You get good healthcare and you get disability compensation -- which you are owed. I get my healthcare at the Minneapolis VA which is excellent. Be forewarned, the VA is Hyde and Jekyll, with the claims processing people being Hyde, i.e., terrible, and the healthcare providers being wonderful.

[Johnny_joe in reply to MBAnderson]

Ok thanks i’ll look into it

[kgold in reply to MBAnderson]

My husband was on Okinawa during the Vietnam war and it has been reported that Agent Orange was dumped there. We haven't followed up with the VA but comments I've read elsewhere seem to indicate the government isn't willing to see any connection with a veteran's PD and/or doesn't believe the news reports. I believe my husband has had PD for a very long time, way before he was diagnosed in 2012 at the age of 70.

[MBAnderson in reply to kgold]

If the government has acknowledged dumping agent orange on Okinawa, you do not have to prove the connection. You cannot take the VA claims people at face value. You have to research everything they say and everything you need to know.

Find a certified veterans advocate. There are nonprofit organizations that have a database of law firms who will do Pro Bono work for vets filing claims with the VA. Most county governments have a veterans advocate office. Check them out or look for another veterans organization like VFW that have trained veteran advocates.

Subscribe to Veterans Law Blog.

features.japantimes.co.jp/a...

It takes perseverance, but it is worth it.

[kgold in reply to MBAnderson]

Thank you SO MUCH. I will pursue.

[Babowen898 in reply to MBAnderson]

My husband, too, was exposed to Agent Orange on a daily basis for5 months. But he was a civil service worker on Ft. Bragg, NC. Because he is not a veteran, we have been denied benefits over and over. His job was to decontaminate Chinook helicopters that flew in various places spraying AO from homemade sprayers in the rear of the aircraft. They took the screws and all parts of the helicopter apart and used wire brushes to rid the aircraft of AO residue. We have all sorts of proof of his employment, but VA refutes the claim because we do not have the mechanical records of the aircraft. We have been to the archives and through the Freedom of Information Act, gone through boxes and boxes of mechanical records, all for planes that were destroyed in Vietnam Nam. We learned that Boeing houses mechanical records for Chinooks ( I believe they built them), but can’t get a return call or point of contact. I wonder if any civilian has ever gotten benefits, and if anyone has advice on how we might proceed. We have also had our state senator contact the VA with no luck. Meanwhile, hubby continues to decline with major balance, incontinence, sudden blood pressure drops, and more and more and more. He draws a state disability check of $1,000.00. I am soon going to require help to take care of him. Any advice out there?

[Johnny_joe in reply to Babowen898]

That just sucks. I am So sorry to hear this story

[Johnny_joe in reply to Babowen898]

Do you know the tail number of the Ac? I can do some checking

[Babowen898 in reply to Johnny_joe]

No unfortunately we don’t. My husband worked on the aircraft from November 1972 to March 1973 five days a week 8 hours a day. We have been told the mechanical records would be housed in Pennsylvania at Boeing. Unfortunately, my husband is no longer able to travel in order for us to make this search through the freedom of information act. There were military personnel who also worked on the aircraft. Any suggestions?

[MBAnderson in reply to Babowen898]

I don't know if the military or the defense contractor that was the employer has liability for negligent exposure to toxics for civilians. I can imagine they do. If they do, it would not be the VA since he's not a veteran. I think telling you to track down the identification of the aircraft involved is a ruse, i.e., wild goose chase to know you can never succeed at. Probably worth looking at legal options..

[Johnny_joe in reply to MBAnderson]

The aircraft is now manufactured in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania by the Vertical Lift division of Boeing Defense, Space & Security.

[Babowen898 in reply to MBAnderson]

How would we go about learning who the defense contractor was that would have liability for agent orange exposure for civilian workers?

[MBAnderson in reply to Babowen898]

Who was his employer? The military or private company?

I'd consult with a personal injury lawyer.

[Babowen898 in reply to MBAnderson]

We have tried that route. Lawyers don’t want to take federal workers comp cases, although I don’t know how this could be considered workers comp. will check again on this.

[MBAnderson in reply to Babowen898]

I didn't mean a Worker's Comp. case. Same kind of lawsuit against a corporation if you get poisoned by water they contaminated.

Sorry. Can't help. I know a little bit about what vets should do, but not civilians.

[Babowen898]

No unfortunately we don’t. My husband worked on the aircraft from November 1972 to March 1973 five days a week 8 hours a day. We have been told the mechanical records would be housed in Pennsylvania at Boeing. Unfortunately, my husband is no longer able to travel in order for us to make this search through the freedom of information act. There were military personnel who also worked on the aircraft. Any suggestions?

How would we go about learning who the defense contractor was that would be liable?

[Johnny_joe in reply to Babowen898]

The liable contractor is the Vertical Lift division of Boeing Defense, Space & Security.

[Johnny_joe in reply to Babowen898]

As far as finding mechanical records there is no way of knowing which aircraft

he worked on there are countless records

[Babowen898]

No unfortunately we don’t. My husband worked on the aircraft from November 1972 to March 1973 five days a week 8 hours a day. We have been told the mechanical records would be housed in Pennsylvania at Boeing. Unfortunately, my husband is no longer able to travel in order for us to make this search through the freedom of information act. There were military personnel who also worked on the aircraft. Any suggestions?

How would we go about learning who the defense contractor was that would be liable?