Agent Orange Registry

[john999]

I got the AO registry information letter today. According to the review only about 20% of Vietnam vets have had the AO registry exam. A lot of these guys who have not taken the exam are going to get some AO disease and die and leave their spouses high and dry. The spouses will then spend years trying to get DIC.

[Chuck75]

When I went through this, the so called A.O. "Exam" was nothing more than a general physical, the same as that typically done for anyone that is a new VA patient, or a vet claiming drug benefits.

The so-called A.O. /environmental specialist in this area at the area VAMC turned out to be clueless. I'm told that this was later corrected.

As far as I can tell, the A.O. registry is just a paper exercise in this locale. It would seem that no one pays any attention to it.

I got the AO registry information letter today. According to the review only about 20% of Vietnam vets have had the AO registry exam. A lot of these guys who have not taken the exam are going to get some AO disease and die and leave their spouses high and dry. The spouses will then spend years trying to get DIC.

[john999]

When I got my AO exam it was comprehensive. The thing is only about 20% of vets even use the VA. I don't really blame them, but it is good to use the system to document things. The more you use the VA the more service connected things will be "discovered" over time. If you are a Vietnam vet and get diagnosed with DMII you can be pretty sure that you are going to have complications, and you want every one of these complications to be documented and service connected. That is the only reason I go to the VA. The care is not that bad, but I could get just as good care closer to home. However, I get everything into the VA records system. This is how I got my chronic pain syndrome service connected by going to the VA. One thing leads to another and if one ball drops you have five more in the air.

[danang_1969]

When I got my AO exam it was comprehensive. The thing is only about 20% of vets even use the VA. I don't really blame them, but it is good to use the system to document things. The more you use the VA the more service connected things will be "discovered" over time. If you are a Vietnam vet and get diagnosed with DMII you can be pretty sure that you are going to have complications, and you want every one of these complications to be documented and service connected. That is the only reason I go to the VA. The care is not that bad, but I could get just as good care closer to home. However, I get everything into the VA records system. This is how I got my chronic pain syndrome service connected by going to the VA. One thing leads to another and if one ball drops you have five more in the air.

I went through the registry in the 80's. I recently requested all of my VA medical records and when I went throught the records I observed the exam records are full of mistakes and they recorded answers I never gave. They evidently just put down what ever they wanted. I don't remember even being ask the questions. Of course they recorded nothing that was service connected. I also noticed I was given a GAF of 55 during that exam and wasn't formally diagnosed and rated for PTSD until 2007, 20 years later. I had a DAV service officers when I reopened my claim in 06 ask me what percent are you getting now. I said nothing. The SO said according to what I'm seeing on your paper work and on the dianostic code you are rated now. I told them I never got the award letter. I never have found out that mystery when I ask, I get a runaround.

Edited December 11, 2008 by danang_1969

[Stretch]

I went through the exam. It was all kinds of different blood test and other physical exams. That was about 3 years ago.

[vmo]

Had Agent Orange exam in late 80's at VAMC Butler, Pa.(even though I live in Ohio). Total physical exam, I was impressed. They did blood work, urine & chest xray if I remember correctly. Then VA did followup eye exam with VA opthalmologist as they thought they found something, but didn't. I been treated at six different VA medical centers and outpatient clinic's over the years. The Agent Orange exam to this date is (still) the most thorough exam I ever had. I slam the VA when they deserve it. However, the VA physician and exam for Agent Orange was tops!!

[vmo]

Had Agent Orange exam in late 80's at VAMC Butler, Pa.(even though I live in Ohio). Total physical exam, I was impressed. They did blood work, urine & chest xray if I remember correctly. Then VA did followup eye exam with VA opthalmologist as they thought they found something, but didn't. I been treated at six different VA medical centers and outpatient clinic's over the years. The Agent Orange exam to this date is (still) the most thorough exam I ever had. I slam the VA when they deserve it. However, the VA physician and exam for Agent Orange was tops!!

December 10, 2008: I received by mail the AGENT ORANGE REVIEW, Vol.23, No.2, August, 2008 issue, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, Information for Veterans Who Served in Vietnam. (They send me one of these periodically). *For general questions about Agent Orange, contact VA's toll free Special Issues Helpline at 1-800-749-8387, also check information on web page: www.va.gov/AgentOrange

Edited December 12, 2008 by vmo