x020574

Will do... Thank You.

Wow... thank you all for the support. I am going to go to the VARO (not too far from min 20-30min) and make sure a copy of these documents get put into my c-file. Then I'll sit back and wait a long-time for a decision... I will post back whenever one is made. Thanks again, it sounds encouraging that I might not have to argue with them as to whether I was 'close enough' to the perimeter fence. Notice how they never gave anyone a difinetive measurement as to what is 'near' or not... hmmm... sounds shady to me.

It was a surprise to me... since my documentation only states that I served in Thailand and didn't specify which location. Hoping to avoid any contentions, I wrote to NPRC and provided the dates of TDY and requested any Pay or Travel records hoping to prove I was at Korat AFB. Little did I know I did stop in RVN - hey, it was 40 years ago, I'm lucky i can remember my wife's name today! I'm worried they will argue that it was only 50 minutes - am I worring for nothing? I have heard 'if you only touch your big toe on the ground and jump back on the plane, you are considered boots on the ground' - is that really true? Thank you for the quick response!

I have recently filed a claim for exposure to herbicdes while assigned TDY at Korat AFB 72-73. I was a jet engine mechanic and supplied as much supporting documentation that I had. I filed over 2 months ago, talked to the 800 number twice but have not recieved any verification that they have reviewed my claim - I do have a certified delivery receipt showing it was signed for at the mailroom's VARO on Oct 23, 2012. Yesterday I finally got a reply from NPRC regarding my requests for pay/travel records for my 2 TDY tours to Korat AFB. To my suprise one of my stops was at Ton Son Nhut AFB RVN, it states that I arrived at 1400 and departed 1450. I think if I refile I should use the Boots On Ground approach as opposed to Direct Connection. Question: Being that my flight shows I was only on the ground for 50 mins, will the VBA decision makers claim that is not considered Boots On Ground? Should I refile using both Direct Connect and Boots On Ground? I have had CABG surgery and dx of IHD.

My name is Tom, Vietnam Era vet... no 'boots on the ground' (that I'm aware of...) but I did 2 TDY tours ar Korat AFB, Thailand in 1972-73. I was a Jet Engine Mechanic on F-105 planes, in the 561st TFS that initially deployed TDY from Mcconnell AFB , Kansas and then did a second TDY tour to Korat from. I had coronary bypasses (CABx2) in a VA hospital in June 2010. I only recently learned that there was finally some evidence of 'herbicides' being used at various bases in Thailand (CHECO Report). I have a dx of IHD and plain to file a claim... I have read a lot about having a job/service putting you in near the fenced in perimeter, I am pretty sure I can establish that with copies of my performance reports, TDY quarters were open air hootches, etc, etc. Question: when filling out VA Form 21-526, section 11 ask to the nature of your SC disability. I will list IHD and state my symptons in the remark section. But what if I wanted to ED and depression as secondary to IHD, do I list these dx/illnesses in section 11 and explain my rational in the remarks section, I know these conditions could be related to the medications I have to take for IHD. Or does the scheduler/rater determine this by reviewing my medical VAMC records.