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March 11, 2010 By Karen Wilkinson
Photo: Eric Shinseki, Secretary, Veterans Affairs/Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The VA announced this week a new initiative to solicit private-sector input on a proposed fast-track claims process for "service-connected presumptive illnesses due to Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War."
This is the VA's first stab at automating claims processing in its 80-year history, according to the agency. With about 200,000 veterans expected to file disability compensation claims over the next two years -- the VA officially linked three more illnesses to the herbicide in October 2009 -- the federal agency aims to shorten the time it takes to gather evidence to support the claims, which currently takes an average of more than three months.
"With the latest, fastest and most reliable technology, VA hopes to migrate the manual processing of these claims to an automated process that meets the needs of today's veterans in a more timely manner," VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said in a press release.
In practical terms, Vietnam veterans who have one of the "presumed illnesses" -- the three additions include Parkinson's disease, ischemic heart disease and B-cell leukemia -- don't have to prove an association between their illness and military service, a VA press release said. "This 'presumption' makes it easier for Vietnam veterans to access disability compensation benefits."
Agent Orange is the code name for the herbicide used in Vietnam to defoliate trees and remove concealment for the enemy, which left a legacy of suffering, diseases and disability that continues well after the time of its original use.
The VA intends to publish a formal request on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site in spring 2010 so that the private sector may propose automated solutions for the parts of the claims process that take the longest amount of time, according to the VA announcement. Several phone calls to VA public affairs seeking specifics on the automation plan and the current system were not returned.
For some Vietnam veterans, this plan and the addition of the three illnesses to the list of "presumptives" is too little, too late.
"In the case of the Vietnam vets, a common phrase used is, 'Sure, they will start paying for 'X' illness when we are all dead,'" Mary Lou McNeill, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 500 executive director, said in an e-mail. "And in many cases, that is true. For instance, with the new presumptive illnesses added, how many have died after 40-plus years or suffered from the effects without appropriate compensation all of this time?"
McNeill said the current claims process is lengthy, unpredictable and confusing, regardless of the illness for which veterans are seeking compensation. "At times, it appears there is no rhyme or reason as to how the adjudication of the claims is determined," she said. "Some veterans can wait for years to have their claim adjudicated or to receive a compensation rating comparable to their illness."
With a mixture of hope and skepticism, McNeill said she'll wait and see how the automated process works.
"This could mean a change in the lives of veterans who possibly cannot work because of their disabilities due to their service or earn enough income to survive at least comfortably," she said. "Unless the system actually does improve the timely processing of claims -- and all claims, not just the current new presumptives -- I can not foresee any change in their daily lives."
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http://www.govtech.com/e-government/Veterans-Affairs-Planning-to-Automate-Agent.html
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Anyone exposed to this agent orange will be long gone before anything ever gets done about it. Oh and by the way, Baseball players still make more than soldiers sailors or marines. Got to love the good ole USA where we ALWAYS have our priorities straight.
My friend Rod Kane says 'thanks'. He died in '01 from the 'agent'.
I agree tad bit late, Tell my Dad who died fighting them, their job is to deny deny
yes we are starting to reach that age.even us younger vietnam veterans.i'm 58 years old in vietnam in 70-71. been fighting since the late 70's and early 80's.and as you say deny,deny deny.i'm sure we will be dead from this agent before we ever get what we deserve.as you say look how many of us are already gone.good old va. always talking the talk but never have they walked the walk.more than likely never will
I just lost my dear veteran husband 6 months ago due to agent orange exposure. Heart disease he had no clue he had. As many times as he went to docots at the VA and even had major back surgery a few years ago at the VA, his disease was never noticed. EVERY VIETNAM VET SHOULD BE TESTED FOR ALL DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH AGENT ORANGE!!! MY HUSBAND WOULD STILL BE HERE TODAY! HOW CAN THIS COUNTRY CONINUE TO TREAT OUR VETS AS SECOND HAND CITIZENS?? IT MAKES ME SAD AND ANGRY! SEMPER FI!
If the ones that DENY would have been their it would be a different story. What happen to hire a VET.
Just to let you know, Sen. Jim Webb ( Vietnam vet) added an amendment to "study" Agent Orange exposure and "not" accept these 3 condition added to presumptive list (could be too costly). He stabbed 86,000 Vietnam Vets in the back (who already field their claims) with this stunt so we can "study it further"? Contact Sen. Webb and let him know the Vietnam Veterans that helped elect him will remember and you have been "studying this for 35 years" while hundreds of thousands of vets died.
My brother passed away on 18 April, 2010 just one week after receiving a liver and a kidney transplant. He suffered with Sarcoidosis before he came home from Vietnam. He suffered the effects of Agent Orange early on and was very ill for many years, and yet it took many years for him to receive his Veterans Disability. Veterans Affairs should have done a lot more for him and others like him a lot sooner than they did. To think that he's now gone because of a chemical sprayed on him is horrendous, and that will forever haunt me and my Mom. He did his part for our country, so now it's our country's time to do for those like him and at least give them compensation for what they have each suffered for many, many years! I'm glad and proud that my brother served in Vietnam, but I am not proud or glad for what our country did to him when he was there. I pray that no other Vietnam Veteran has to suffer for as long as he did, or that they are ignored for as long as he was! Our Vietnam Veterans are our most precious people on this earth, and they deserve far more than they have received from this government. Shame on all officials who were involved with giving orders to have them sprayed with Agent Orange! May God have Mercy on your souls!
My husband died back in 1995 of AO cancers .My Daughter and Grandkids all suffer after affects such as..Midral Valve Prolaps..Adrial Septal Anurism.three abnormal papsmears.Sleep Apnea ..ancxiety.Astma .Cysts.Allergies.Grandkids Autism ..ADHD..Asthma, Allergies ,Bipolor etc.and hearing loses.
My brother died of cancer in 1998. He served in Vietnam several times and the VA would not admit any Agent Orange cause. His daughters had to pay for their own college. No help from the government after he died.
I filed a claim last year, denied..okay, however now 2012, the ship I was assigned to now IS on the VA's A/O exposure list, Do I re-apply, or just what are they in need of?