We guide our clients through the most difficult times in their lives with courtesy, respect, and professionalism. While research on the use of Agent Orange in Guam is ongoing, you still might consider filing a claim. It is the chemical composition that is critical. First of all, I think the veterans and the residents deserve to know whether they were exposed because then they can deal with their illnesses appropriately and they can hopefully get healthcare, medical coverage, and compensation thats going to help them to take care and ease the suffering that theyre undergoing. This data may be used to help optimize our websites and make them easier for you to navigate. The use of the herbicide i.e. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. The new testing results ultimately showed thatTCDD was found at 8 out of the 10 locations sampled. Loading the player. New research could help Vietnam-era veterans who served in Guam and who have diseases linked to Agent Orange file for disability with the Department of Veterans Affairs. In these instances, VA counts the in-service exposure as the event. Recently, these organizations havepublished an updated reportwith new evidence. While there still is no presumption of exposure and veterans still have the burden of proving their condition was connected to exposure, this updated report can help bolster their claims. Spiritual adviser. Laos from December 1, 1965 to September 30, 1969; Cambodia, specifically at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from April 16, 1969 to April 30, 1969; Johnson Atoll or a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from January 1, 1972 to September 30, 1977; On or near the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ) between September 1, 1967 and August 31, 1971; Active duty and reservist personnel who had regular contact with C-123 aircraft between 1969 and 1986. This legislation will finally treat toxic exposure as a cost of war by addressing the full range of issues impacting toxic-exposed veterans including access to earned benefits and healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs, Takano said in a statement. Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. There was a problem saving your notification. Service members have said that they used Agent Orange across Guam, as well as other types of toxic herbicides, yet the VA has largely ignored these claims. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. Continued investigation of Agent Orange on Guam is recommended after testing from last year revealed the presence of related chemicals, according to Sen. Therese Terlaje's office. Read moreBiden tax hikes: Road to economic decline, Doctor. What is important is the chemical composition of the herbicide. this congressional report will be of help and assistance to the people of Guam who have been left twisting in the wind with the veterans that served there during the spraying years," Moyer said. "This whole tactical/commercial thing is a red herring. Was Your VA Disability Claim Based on Agent Orange Exposure in Guam Denied? The manufacture of 2, 4, 5-T at high temperatures is associated with an. Do you support or oppose making abortion legal on Guam? While this chemical is generally associated with Vietnam, there have been questions raised about its use in Guam and its effect on Guam veterans. More research into the subject could reveal the use of Agent Orange and other herbicides in more locations on Guam. Presumptions of exposure help replace the element of service connection that requires veterans to have an in-service event that caused their condition. Thus, VA may not have accurate information when making decisions on veterans claims related to herbicide exposure. Mai Habib is a radio and television broadcaster and journalist originally from Toronto, Canada. Were Guam Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange? But what's known now is that its toxic components were utilized on island. 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Among the so-called rainbow herbicides - chemicals used to clear vegetation during the Vietnam War - Agent Orange is perhaps the most well known, andhas been linked to several diseases. 203, San Jose, CA 95134 April 21, 2023 <https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/s3446> show another citation format: APA Blue Book Wikipedia Template Why would Agent Orange be used on a remote location so far from the battlefields of Southeast asia? This new testing challenges the findings of a previous Government Accountability Office report which found that Agent Orange exposure could not be conclusively proved or disproved because of incomplete, lost and absent records and a lack of credible soil samples. Two veterans advocacy groups published a policy paper Monday saying that veterans who served on Guam between 1962 and 1975 likely were exposed to herbicides disposed of on the Pacific island or used for vegetation control. Streamline VAs review process for establishing toxic exposure presumptions, Concede exposure to airborne hazards/burn pits based on locations & dates of service, Require medical exams/opinions for certain veterans with toxic exposure disability claims, Add hypertension and Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance to the list of presumptions for Agent Orange exposure, Establish a presumption of service connection for 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers related to burn pits/airborne hazards exposure, Create a presumption of exposure to radiation for veterans who participated in cleanup activities in Palomares, Spain, and Enewetak Atoll, Allow for a new tort claim for veterans and families exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune, Expand agent orange exposure to veterans who served in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, Improve data collection between VA and the Department of Defense, Commission studies related to incidents of cancer among veterans, health trends of Post 9/11 veterans and feasibility of providing healthcare to dependents of veterans, Require VA to provide standardized training to improve toxic exposure disability claims adjudications, Require VA to conduct outreach and provide resources to toxic exposed veterans, 1082 Pale San Vitores Rd. The fact remains that both groups of veterans were exposed to the same herbicide agents. Watch for it. tactical or just as a weed killer is really irrelevant. There are approximately 36 Guam veterans who have been awarded compensation for direct exposure to Agent Orange, he said. Hustle Culture: Is This the End of Rise-and-Grind? One example included in the 2021 updated report described a veteran who was responsible for pushing the herbicide barrels off cliffs into dump sites, which is one of the places research has indicated herbicides were used in Guam. "One of them took his own life right at Christmas time. It is expected to complete updates for the sampling and analysis plan, field sampling, analysis, and reporting in early 2019. In what could be a major step forward for Vietnam-era veterans on Guam, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has publicly released the results of the Herbicides Investigation report eight months after soil sampling in October last year and the results find more clear evidence of Agent Orange in the island's soil. White People Were Kept Out of Prison During COVID. Guam May be Another Source of Agent Orange Exposure In early May 2020, two veterans advocacy groups published a white paper indicating Veterans who served in Guam from 1962 through 1975 were likely exposed to Agent Orange or some other dioxin containing herbicides https://www.nvlsp.org/images/uploads/2020.05.08_-_NVLSP-VLSC_White_Paper.pdf . The conclusion is based on an exhaustive review conducted over nearly two years of government, private, archival, and oral history evidence of herbicide use in Guam during the Vietnam era. I hope that HR 3967 will find equal support and be passed by the U.S. Senate, she added. The manufacture of 2, 4, 5-T at high temperatures is associated with anextremely toxicbyproduct known as2, 3, 7, 8-TCDD, more commonly referred to as TCDD dioxin. The reason behind the reports mentioned above is to urge the VA to both address and take responsibility for the distribution of the chemicals, as well as the health concerns of the veterans who were negatively affected. There are unofficial groups devoted to the aftereffects of the chemical, but the VA has never officially recognized these claims (or the resulting illnesses) as valid. These samples were first collected in April 2018 and sent to two labs for testing. Will The VA Recognize Agent Orange Exposure in Guam? However, the concentrations of these toxic chemicals did not exceed U.S. EPA screening levels. Guam EPA had been investigating the use of Agent Orange on Guam, but efforts stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cleveland, OH: 600 Superior Ave. East, Fifth Third Building, Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH, 44114 However, between the new reports by official parties as well as the overwhelming claims from the veterans themselves, there is reason to believe that the VA will begin to recognize a service connection between certain diseases if the veteran served in Guam during this time period. By using this information, you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship created by you reading or using the information contained on this website or in this newsletter, article, or blog. Mai is a graduate of Ryerson University's journalism program and completed her Master's in International Affairs and Public Policy at Carleton University. In fact, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 was signed into law primarily as a way to expand who was eligible for benefits for service-connected disabilities. Whether Agent Orange, specifically, was utilized in Guam is along-standingdebate. We recommend the following MLA -formatted citation when using the information you see here in academic work: "S. 3446 116th Congress: Expedite Agent Orange Coverage Act of 2020." www.GovTrack.us. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. These herbicides have caused a slew of health conditions in veterans who were exposed to them. The Veterans Legal Services Clinic was founded in 2010 to train law students and to serve the legal needs of veterans. Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. The bill is now headed to the U.S. Senate. "The PACT Act provides benefits for burn pit victims, radiation cleanup veterans and those exposed to Agent Orange in Guam, American Samoa, Johnston Island, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. One lab found trace elements of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, thereby indicating the presence of the residual form of Agent Orange in the soils tested. Sen. Chuck Schumer announced a plan Tuesday to expand the list of covered diseases linked to the toxic herbicide Agent Orange for Vietnam . "The global pandemic has really altered the course of our operations, especially with projects which are heavily reliant on federal counterparts and stakeholders abroad," Guam EPA spokesman Nicholas Lee told The Guam Daily Post. Under the supervision of clinical professors, Clinic students engage in litigation before administrative agencies and courts on a range of matters. Since Thanksgiving, there are four Guam veterans who have died from Agent Orange-related illnesses,'" Moyer said. The veterans disability attorneys at Hill & Ponton are available to analyze your case and help you prepare a case for disability benefits should you have one of the many related diseases caused by Agent Orange. She added: That is the way to get it done as a presumption for all as opposed to a case-by-case basis happening at the VA right now. It is the chemical composition that is critical. The highly toxic dioxin contaminant known as 2, 3, 7, 8-TCDD is a byproduct that is produced by Agent Orange. The information these cookies collect will not personally identify you, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. Post file photo courtesy of Guam Environmental Protection Agency. Community First Guam Federal Credit Union has promoted Neo Christian Pangilinan and Nathaniel Dela Cruz after they successfully completed a 20-month postgraduate officer training program, the credit union announced in a press release issued Monday. Michael San Nicolas. At the time of that May White Paper, Guam Attorney Mike Phillips said hes already contemplating legal action over the impact on Guams civilian community. Countries cant tax their way to long-term prosperity. The distinction is a myth, concocted decades ago by the supporters of herbicide use. A 2018 Government Accountability Office report concluded, however, that in the absence of records -- including those that were incomplete or have been lost -- and without credible soil samples, exposure could not be conclusively proven or disproven. Specifically, DoD with the U.S. and Guam Environmental Protection Agencies are conducting testing at Anderson Air Force Base on Guam. Accountant. Finally, the herbicides in question were known to contain TCDD," the 2019 sampling report stated. You have permission to edit this article. It was introduced by Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., and includes provisions from other legislation from San Nicolas to include Guam and other Pacific territories as places where Agent Orange. Reporting on utilities, education and other topics. They determined that 1962 to 1975 would have been the most likely years that the herbicide would have been used. In fact, given the overwhelming denial by the United State government, it would be easy to believe that there was no connection between the two. Taking Action on Agent Orange Guam Exposure, Seeking Legal Support for Your VA Disability Claim. It's the chemical composition that has harmed and killed people," Wells said. To gather information, the GAO reviewed agency policies, documents, and available archival records; interviewed Department of Defense (DoD), VA, and other agency officials; and met with a non-generalizable sample of 38 veterans and a Veterans Service Organization. The white paper comes as the latest effort seeking to make available Agent Orange disability benefits from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to troops who were exposed to the dangerous herbicide and related chemicals - after initially being told during combat that Agent Orange was virtually harmless. Agent Orange was approved in 1962 after John F. Kennedy gave his final approval to eliminate the growth of the Vietnam forests. As of the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act) of 2021, VA presumes that veterans who had active military, naval, air, or space service in the following locations during the specified timeframes were exposed to Agent Orange: Tens of thousands of servicemembers served in Guam during the Vietnam War era, especially at the height of the bombing operations during the conflict. According to a new white paper released on May 8, 2020 by the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School (VLSC) and the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP), veterans who served on Guam from 1962 to 1975 satisfy the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) legal standard for exposure to Agent Orange and other dioxin-containing herbicides. But how does that fare with the PACT Act now in tow? However, new evidence suggests U.S. herbicide spraying took place as early as 1958, Wells said, further recommending that the Legislature's resolutions urge that date change in the federal bills. We hope that veterans advocates and lawmakers will build on this report to address unremediated health risks and military pollution in Guam.. They start with an overview of what Agent Orange is and where the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense acknowledge the use of these herbicides. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 9. Have you been affected by Camp Lejeune water contamination? This exposure includes dioxin-containing herbicides other than Agent Orange, meaning the exposure is notlimited toAgent Orange. However, dioxin itself, which is a byproduct of those chemicals, is often found in the same herbicide agent and has a much longer half-life.
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