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News from the VA
VA seeks fast track for Agent Orange
claims -
March 9, 2010
WASHINGTON –
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today an
aggressive new initiative to solicit private-sector input on
a proposed “fast track” Veterans’ claims process for
service-connected presumptive illnesses due to Agent Orange
exposure during the Vietnam War. More...
Secretary Shinseki Announces Study of
Vietnam-Era Women Veterans - VA Press
Release November 19, 2009. Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) is launching a comprehensive study of women
Veterans who served in the military during the Vietnam War
to explore the effects of their military service upon their
mental and physical health.
More...
Secretary Shinseki adds Parkinson's
Disease, B Cell Leukemia and Ischemic Heart Disease to the
list of diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange.
VA Press Release October
13, 2009.
Secretary Shinseki Announces New
Efforts to Explore Health Consequences
–
VA Press Release - September 14, 2009. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki announced today plans to begin additional research
by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to better
understand the health consequences of service in Vietnam. “The National Vietnam Veterans
Longitudinal Study (NVVLS) will allow VA to pursue another
valuable research tool,” Secretary Shinseki said. “The
insight we gain from this study will help give us an
understanding of how to better serve America’s Veterans.”
More...
The National Academy of Sciences
announces that limited data suggests possible
association between Agent Orange exposure and Ischemic Heart
disease and Parkinson's disease in Vietnam Veterans. July
24, 2009
NAS
Press release
“The National Vietnam Veterans
Longitudinal Study (NVVLS) will allow VA to pursue another
valuable research tool,” Secretary Shinseki said. “The
insight we gain from this study will help give us an
understanding of how to better serve America’s Veterans.”
More...
Hearing:
Senate Veteran's Committee hearing
on
upcoming legislation including S. 1939 Agent Orange Equity
Act and S. 1940 to require the VA to conduct a study on
Agent Orange effects on children of veterans. - May
19, 2010.
Reports:
National Organization for Disabled report
US Vietnam Veterans and Agent
Orange: Understanding the Impact Forty Years Later June
2, 2009
VVA
Press Release regarding NOD report - June 2, 2009
Information on the use of
Agent Orange
Summary of Available Information on Use, Testing and
Storage of Dioxin Containing Herbicides. From Department of
Defense to Representative Lane Evans
Additional DOD Information on use of herbicides outside
of Vietnam
VA's website pages on
Agent Orange:
Herbicide Tests and Storage in the U.S.
VA's website pages on
Agent Orange: Herbicide Tests and
Storage Outside the U.S.
Veteran Organizations and
Programs
There are several groups in the US who
have been working to raise awareness and to provide support
for US Veterans who are suffering from the affects of
exposure to Agent Orange. Please contact Susan Hammond at
shammond@warlegacies.org
if you know about others.
Vietnam
Veterans of America Provides information to Veterans
about the benefits they may qualify for if they have been
exposed to Agent Orange. Advocates for Veterans health
issues in Congress.
VVA's Self-Help Guide to Service
Connected Disability Compensation for Exposure to Agent
Orange (pdf)
American Legion
Provides information for Veterans and
collaborates with Columbia University on epidemiological
research of Veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
Disabled American Veterans
a non-profit 501(c)(4) charity dedicated to building better
lives for America’s disabled veterans and their families.
The DAV’s
Voluntary Services
Program operates a comprehensive network of
volunteers who provide veterans free rides to and from VA
medical facilities and improve care and morale for sick and
disabled veterans.
Order of the
Silver Rose Mission is "to recognize the courage,
heroism, and contributions of American service personnel
found to have been exposed to Agent Orange in a combat zone
... whose lethal exposure to Agent Orange resulted in
internal, invisible wounds, which are revealed only by the
passage of time."
Quilt of Tears:
The Vietnam Agent Orange Memorial Quilt, Agent Orange
Victims and Widows Support Network is promoting the crafting
of quilts to draw widespread national attention to the
plight of the Vietnam Veterans affected by Agent Orange
sprayed on them in Vietnam.
Memorial Plaque Project. On November 10, 2004 the
project dedicated a commemorative
plaque on the grounds of the Vietnam Memorial Wall on
the Mall in Washington, DC in honor of Vietnam veterans
whose premature death was due to their service in the war
but who were not eligible for recognition by having their
names inscribed on the Wall. The plaque honors those who
died of Agent Orange related illnesses as well as other
causes of premature death.
Children of Veterans
Agent Orange Legacy: Children of
Vietnam Veterans - Agent Orange Legacy is a
grassroots movement dedicated to uniting the children of
Vietnam veterans who are ill or not and adversely affected
by their parent(s) service in Vietnam and exposure to agent
orange and other toxins in order to lobby Congress to create
or change public policy regarding the plight of the children
of Vietnam veterans and their children.
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