What You Can Do!

It amazes Stephanie and I to this day how many Vietnam Veterans don’t know about Agent Orange and what they should do.  This is a tragedy that needs to be stopped before its to late.

                                                       Awareness
Vietnam Veterans need to be informed that the VA is compensating for diseases related to exposure to Agent Orange for two main reasons:
1.    Vietnam Veterans need to be aware of these diseases so they can be more prudent in watching their health.
2.    Many Veterans are not aware that they can be compensated for diseases they currently are being treated for.  The compensation can be small or large but know matter the amount they are owed it.

 
                                                  Know the Facts
In 1978, The Veteran’s Administration initiated an Agent Orange Registry Health Examination Program for Vietnam Veterans.  The exam includes a medical history, a physical examination, blood tests, urinalysis, and x-rays, if appropriate.  Participants will automatically be included in the Agent Orange Registry and will receive the "Agent Orange Review" newsletter.  The exam is FREE and it’s not time consuming.  This is the first step that ALL Veterans need to take.  Just call your local VA and ask to setup an appointment for the Agent Orange Exam.

 
Toll Free Gulf War/Agent Orange Help Line: 1-800-749-8387

Website:                   http://www1.va.gov/agentorange

 
                                                 Spreading the Word
What you can do is share all the information that you obtain from the documentary and this website with your neighbors, friends, e-mail pals, local service organizations, write a letter to your local paper, post messages on community boards, and just spread the word.

 
                                           Diseases Being Compensated
The Agent Orange Act of 1991stated in part that the VA needed to compensate Vietnam Veterans for illnesses caused by exposure to defoliants sprayed in Vietnam.  The following is a list of diseases that the VA is compensating for: (Please look at the VA website to get further information on the diseases being compensated for)

1.    Chloracne Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
2.    Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
3.    Hodgkin’s Disease.
4.    Soft Tissue Sarcoma.
5.    Multiple Myeloma.
6.    Respiratory cancers, including cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus.
7.    Prostate Cancer.
8.    Acute and Sub-Acute Transient Peripheral Neuropathy
9.    Type - 2 Diabetes.
10.   Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Additionally, the following conditions for children of Vietnam veterans will be compensated:

1.    Spina Bifida.
2.    Certain other birth defects in the children of women of Vietnam veterans.