Agent Orange Primer

Via Dan Cedusky’s Veterans’ Issues:

Below is the intro to a 36 page PDF file.  Go to web site above for extensive info on Agent Orange Claims.

 A Review of the Conditions and Benefits Linked to Agent Orange Exposure

 Editor: Bob Kozel

 1.0 Introduction

The year 2010 has already proven to be a busy one in the Agent Orange arena. In a flurry of activity four new conditions became recognized as presumptive for Agent Orange in 2009. The action continued in 2010 as the ships defined as “Brown Water” continued to expand (see Annex 2) and new information came out on Agent Orange exposure in Thailand (see Annex 3).

 Agent Orange exposure covers the veterans who were in country from January 9, 1962 to May 7, 1975. Veteran exposed in 1968 and 1969 in Korea are also covered in this document (see explanation below, also Annex 4). In 2006 the Department of Defense, DoD, provided a partial list of other locations where Agent Orange has been used. In 2009 the VA included to a very extensive website on Agent Orange usage that included the original DoD list, but also greatly expanded the information available on Agent Orange usage. The links below include the Agent Orange homepage, and the website for other areas where Agent Orange was used.

The specific list can be found at:

http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/basics.asp#outside

 The Department of Defense list can be found at:

http://www.publichealth.va.gov/docs/agentorange/dod_herbicides_outside_vietnam.pdf

 For more information on how to file an Agent Orange claim one should go to:

http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/AO/claimherbicide.htm

And, there is more information about Agent Orange in general at:

www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange

 The issue of Blue Water Navy veterans (those who served in the Gulf of Tonkin vs. close to shore) will continue into 2011. The Secretary of the VA asked to Institute of Medicine to research this issue and report to the VA. The report is expected in the summer of 2011.

Finally, expect more updates and changes as the list of ships qualifying veterans to be considered Agent Orange exposed continues to expand. Also, there are likely to be new revelations about where Agent Orange was used.

Bob Kozel, September 2010