WomanMarine

Yes ma'am you did! In fact I used those case histories in my AO Statement. I gleaned this info off of my MHV Notes ... Have not received 'official' I am told it is in the mail.

I have had heart troubles all my adult life. Up until last year I had no idea I had Ischemic heart disease. I had a CABG in August. It failed in December when I had to have 8 stents and a week later another stent AFTER a heart attack. I filed for Agent Orange connection, as that is what I believe has caused this, and this is the comment I gleaned from MHV: "Per VAVBA/CO/211/AGENT ORANGE 1/9/2020:DoD HAS NOT identified any location on El Toro Marine Corps Air Station,California, where Agent Orange was used, tested, stored, or transported. Therefore, Compensation Service can provide no evidence to support the claim." El Toro was shut down by the EPA in 1990 because of contamination! FAMILY HISTORY: Father died at age 56, congenital coronary artery disease. (I don't believe this to be true, as he had a stroke and I 'think' that is different) Left Ventricle: The left ventricle was not enlarged. There are no wall motion abnormalities. The ejection fraction is 55%. 8/12/2019 ECHO Conclusion: 1. Normal left ventricular systolic function. Moderate conecntric left ventricular hypertrophy. Ejection fraction is visually estimated at 60%. Mild hypokinesis of inferior wall. Date of interview-based METs test: 2/6/2020 Symptoms during activity: The METs level checked below reflects the lowest activity level at which the Veteran reports any of the following symptoms attributable to a cardiac condition (check all symptoms that the Veteran reports at the indicated METs level of activity): [X] Dyspnea [X] Fatigue [X] Angina [X] Dizziness Results of interview-based METs test METs level on most recent interview-based METs test: [X] (1-3 METs) This METs level has been found to be consistent with activities such as eating, dressing, taking" ... ETC. ### So, it appears, they are not going to SC my heart because of AO. BUT they gave me a low METS ... I am now 90% P&T will this add to the score since it is not SC?

Well got my anwser from VA "Per VAVBA/CO/211/AGENT ORANGE 1/9/2020:DoD HAS NOT identified any location on El Toro Marine Corps Air Station,California, where Agent Orange was used, tested, stored, or transported." Wow I hate the VA

I was placed in the ILP last year. They sent a counselor out from Texas who spent three hours to evaluate my situation. Although it is probably quite different than yours Ms. T. I am a widowed vet that lives out in the woods. I bought a five-acre parcel on an 18 acre lake. When my disability caused an accident where my disc slipped a few years back, I was glad for my 'knee-injury' in the service, @ least while I was laid up I had a check! But was not able to finish building my cabin. I found out that my 'back injury' is more likely than not to have been caused by the toxins I came into contact @ MCAS El Toro. In these last few years I have also had four heart attacks and had to have a quad-by-pass this last year and KNOW that is caused by A.O. Back to the IPL ... The counselor requested all kinds of things from lift chairs, scooters to organizers. My local V.A., Poplar Bluff, would not comply but eventually my Primary signed the paperwork and sent it over to Ortho, who denied everything with the exception of a 'shower chair' ... My ILP counselor cancelled my IPL citing initially that it was due to the fact that my Primary would not communicate with IPL. Later they changed it to be MY issue stating the my cabin was not finished but that I could re-open my claim after I have taken care of these issues. Well I got rid of my Primary, as she was not a good doc and I then re-applied. I am now scheduled for a second visit, but this counselor is 'local' and I have a plan of what I would like to do and build my property. And I just had an appraisal on my property and bank is giving loan to finish cabin. I believe I qualify for the SAH grant, as I have LOU from my foot, as well as Ischemic Heart disease and degenerative disc disease. I was also denied by V.A. for HISA as they stated it was only for walks and rails. Counselor had indicated that I needed my driveway expanded. Pretty sure there are issues in the Ortho dept of this particular VA, as they did not want to fulfill any requests from my ILP. I am hoping to get the SAH and the HISA for the concrete work and would like to build a 'Dude Ranch' for disabled vets, particularly AO related. I know there are a lot of guys that live @ the Poplar Bluff, V.A. and because it is a federal facility, they cannot smoke medical cannabis or grow it, where it is legal in MO. I know when I had my accident, someone suggested CBD oil, I tried it and owe the fact that I can walk with a cane to it. I have never really used the 'full-spectrum' but planning on checking out dispensaries in IL in the near future. Good luck on your IPL!

This is NOT a complete list, as Camp Lejeune and El Toro are not listed and we KNOW AO was used in those locations.

Good advise! I have two sisters with the greenest eyes, it is painful. I wasn't expecting this disability, as I had things yet to do. But now that I do, I have to make the best of it and deal with it. In the same token I feel so blessed that one of my worries is not financial. I hope to 'pay-it-forward' with this new found blessing, as I know others are not so fortunate or have more battles to endure. Semper Fi!

V.A. has scheduled another C&P for my heart. This time it is with a V.A. examiner who was unaware of my recent heart issues. This will be interesting, as these folks, in the past, have doubted my issues. Prior to that I have a Voc Rehab Independent Living counselor coming to my home. I am trying to get a SAH grant to finish building my home. I would like to add on a few extra bedrooms and become a Medical Foster Care home for veterans that have Agent Orange related issues. I think my property is a peaceful place to make ones 'last stand' ... so to speak.

I was 18 when I went into the Corps and it was @ the tail end of VN. This is totally incredible to me, as how many have died … without connecting the dots?

One other note ... ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE The conversation about AO and herbicide was brought up because of me asking my Cardiologist to put in his letter to my primary that I suffered from ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE. He laughed at me and said "of course you suffer from IHD' ... I told him I knew but V.A. would not put it in writing. My letter starts off ... Due to your ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE ... VA is going to love dealing with 'outside' drs ...

UPDATE: C&P completed. I think it went well ... Fortunately I was in a 'flare-up' and it was noted. I was also told that the C&P docs cannot refer to it as Agent Orange ... It has to be referred to as a 'herbicide' ... Doc was also impressed that I survived so many heart proceedures ... And she sided that the vets should be told if VA knows they have been exposed ... to a herbicide. Fingers crossed on the SAH grant as I want to build a 'Dude Ranch' for 'herbicide' survivors ... I have a social worker coming to my home this month for VR ILP. My five acres sits on an 18 acre private lake. Pretty sure I will be 100% after this last C&P and would like to setup a non-profit to help victims of 'herbicide' exposure. Also checking out the V.A. medical 'Foster' home program. It only makes sense for my particular situation, as I live alone am and pretty sure I will be getting Aid and Attendence as it has been suggested by my last ILP doctor. It only makes sense as one can do just as much for two or three https://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/pages/Medical_Foster_Homes.asp

The C-123 flew into El Toro bringing our boys back from Nam ...

Sorry, my laptop died and have to communicate on this little Kindle.

Great comments!

First off I am a Vietnam ERA vet and never served in VN nor the blue waters of VN. My AO contact came from MCAS El Toro and it hit me like a time-bomb! Currently I am 90% P&T which mostly stems to my R knee and an injury I received in the Corps. However I have had issues that are now surfacing that are not from my knee, but I believe because of my contact with TCE. I was the 'first' woman flight crew capt., although I had the duties, women did not have an 'official' MOS as such. Never-the-less I came into contact with cleaning solvents for jet parts. As well it is widely known that we sprayed the flight decks with AO to get rid of vegetation. Hypertension was diagnosed by the VA in 1998. In 2009 I started having heart issues, and had to have a stint. And again in 2012 another stint. In late 2017 I had a heart attack and early in 2018 I had a disc go out and render me helpless causing my drop foot. The V.A., allowed me to see an outside cardiologist, who concurred I had the heart attack and scheduled me for a stress test, which I did not pass. Subsequently, in August, I was hospitalized and had a quad-by-pass. Just this month, the by-pass failed and I had to have 8 stints placed. This last week, because of no comms between VA and public hospital (choice), I went home without meds and had another heart attack, needing one of those stints replaced. I have an upcoming C&P for the issues attached. I had included my heart and hypertension, due to my AO contact, who btw I was informed by a V.A. x-ray tech to check my duty stations for AO contamination ... NOT MY PRIMARY! Since 2018 I have to have the assistance of another person to get around. I was enrolled VR independent Living Program, who sent out an Industrial Psychologist to my home who, among other recommendations suggested I needed Aid and Attendance as well as someone to come in and help with household chores. Since my heart is new, I have had to file a Supplemental claim to these additional claims. I opened it with 'new' evidence from my cardiologist which clearly states I have Ischemic heart disease. Curious if folks that did not serve in VN get AO connected? Any idea where I might fall on the SMC chart? That is so difficult to figure. I have loss of use of my left foot, as I have been told that a 'foot drop' diagnosis hold that place. I have degenerative disc disease and am just now seeing a Neurologist, my accident occurred 02/2018 and left me paralyzed for two weeks and the residual foot. I am not sure how they would rate my heart, or if they would, as I did not serve in VN. Thoughts?

Thank you Richard 1954, I read your documentation and believe you are correct. I have also recently switched Primary's and have put in a request for a new prescription. I am not sure how it is going to float as VR actually cancelled my ILP because my previous Primary would not correspond ... I am going to try to reopen now that I have new Primary.

In January of this year I was approved for the ILP through Voc Rehab. I had an Industrial Psychologist come to my home and visit with me for three hours. He developed a report that was then submitted to my VR counselor. My VR counselor then created several 'Request for Medical Services' Chpt 31 that were delivered, by me to my Primary. They stalled for several months of getting me the supplies which ranged from long handle grabber, electric scooter and HISA Grant for outside work which included drive-way. The only thing that was delivered was a set of grab rails and a shower chair. The issue I believe was with the Prosthetic dept; as I suspect I caught them in a lie. They stated that they had ordered the items and they had to give them out to other veterans. These folks would not follow-up with VR and because of this VR cancelled my ILP. I recently applied for a HISA Grant and was denied. They stated that my prescription was for hand rails and a ramp. In no place on the ILP plan does it request that. How does one appeal a HISA Grant? HISA recommendation.pdf

Not a thing and why I am going after them for ED of the 30% IF I ever get a date ... But the issue remains, they should have never taken away a 0% rating.

Thanks Vync, you sure have given me the research! I only had entrance exam, no issues and no troubles w/knee. DoD blew it out of proportion when I said my knee may have given way as a teen ... during my medical exam, I had no idea that those words would haunt me the rest of my life, as said it was NOT to the degree, nor same issue that it was when discharged. So they said aggravated with service.

Yes, right now I am 90% SC. When I was discharged, 1975, I had an accident w/my DoD 10% rated knee. After rehab, I went to Voc Rehab so I could get some training. I was denied. In the letter that I received with my C-File they stated I was only rated 0% by the V.A. I had another accident w/knee in 1980 and applied for benefits. V.A. denied and took away my 0%. Now V.A. states in recent rating on knee that it was 30% PRE service ...

I have an appeal in with the BVA. In 1980 when I asked for an increase on my 0% rated disability, rather than increasing it, they totally removed it! I believe this is a CUE. I have just recently been awarded my disability @ the 100% unemployability rate. The V.A. even states in my decision that my knee should have been 30% PRIOR to service ... I submitted my NOD for new effective date October 2018 and have not heard a word; except folks @ 1-800 telling me it does not exist; only to recant when I tell them I am looking at the original ... Is this normal?

Actually, broncovet, I was joking; as there are TWO different sets up numbers there. One is from eBenefits and the other from Voc Rehab. How can that be?

I am a Vietnam era vet. I was stationed @ MCAS El Toro in 1974 and recently found out that not only was I exposed to Agent Orange, but many other toxic chemicals: It is now all starting to hit me and I am not even Medicare age yet! I was recently enrolled in Voc Rehab and because my primary would not correspond with them on what they were providing me, they closed my case. I have a pending case for Aid and Attendance that was just decided this week; but it was also suppose to include my drop foot and there was no examination. AND can someone please tell me what I am rated? When VR sent out an Industrial Psychologist to my place on the report different rating than what is listed on eBenefits. I am being paid @ the 100% TDIU rate. In the VR report it was suggested that I needed Aid and Attendence as well as a housekeeper. How is that paid? Thanks all for the help!

Wow I guess that explains it. I was stationed @ MCAS El Toro in 1974 for a brief period. I had come from my MOS school only to find out I could not fill the Air Traffic Controller MOS due to my eyesight. I was assigned the duty of 'Flight Crew Captain' ... Women were not allowed that MOS in those days, so I was the 'unofficial' first woman FCC ... We were up to our eyeballs in solvent cleaning jet parts and it did drain into those grates in the hangers ... Little did I know the spray that they were using for vegetation on the flight deck was Agent Orange. The effects hit me like a cement truck last year. Now I require two braces, one for knee (my original medical discharge) and now an Arizona brace for my 'drop foot' from AO; fortunately on the opposite leg! It now goes along with my sciatica and degenerative disc disease ...