Myasthenia Gravis And Agent Orange

[zoe]

hello to all

i was just diagnosed with myasthenia gravis and would like to know if there is a valid relationship to agent orange.

i also have ischemic heart disease and have had a double bypass done by the va.

i also have prostate cancer and the surgery was postponed untill they get the myasthenia gravis under control, because it is severely effecting my breathing.

any feedback would be greatly appreciated. if i do not get back to you right off, it is because i will be admitted to the boston va on monday to get my breathing regulated.

thanks to all

peter ak(zoe)

[Berta]

This thread has had a recent reply but is all out of order.

I have found two more fairly recent BVA decisions that award service connection due to Agent Orange for myasthenia gravis

"ORDER

 

Service connection for myasthenia gravis is granted.

 

FINDINGS OF FACT

 

1. The Veteran is diagnosed with myasthenia gravis.  

 

2. The Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam.

 

3. The Agent Orange exposure caused the myasthenia gravis. "

 

 

https://www.va.gov/vetapp20/files2/20013838.txt

 

 

 

 

"FINDINGS OF FACT 1. The Veteran was exposed to herbicides agents while serving in Vietnam. 2. The Veteran has malignant thymoma that is related to his in-service herbicide exposure during his active military service.

 

 

 

As reflected above, the August 2020 VA examiner specifically noted that the Veteran had no other risk factors besides Agent Orange for the development of his myasthenia gravis. As a result, the Board finds that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the question of whether the Veteran has a current thymoma disability that is a result of his in-service herbicide exposure."

 

https://www.va.gov/vetapp21/files7/21046990.txt

 

[John Guilbert]

I am responding to the message above which was written 10 years ago.  I am curious as to what has transpired for this individual over those years as I too have MG and prostate cancer.  I served in Thailand at Takhli RTAFB 1967 & 68.  I worked on the flight line and observed many spraying of herbicidal chemicals at night around the work area. I was diagnosed 5 years ago.

John Guilbert (Gilbert)

Aircraft electrician, USAF 1965-69 (early out November 1968).

 

[GBArmy]

John Guilbert Welcome to Hadit. You probably shouldn't bring in these old posts as they are pretty old, they don't really add anything to your specific problem, and being old, can be confusing to some. But to answer it the best way I can, you need to check with your doc as to whether any of the cancers here https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/conditions/index.asp are the same or closely related to MG. If affirmative, then you have to confirm that AO was used in Thailand  (if that is where you were stationed) and is on the list admitted to by the VA, also listed on Hadit. If that is also true, then what I would do is get an IMO from a cancer doc that confirms the diagnosis, connects the two (AO and your cancer currently diagnosed) with medical reports/findings/journal articles that support your claim. AND his IMO states at least "at least likely as not" that your cancer is directly related to AO.

[Hoytt Runnels]

I also have MG and have a medical specialist state it was a greater that 50% chance it was caused by Agent Orange. Today I got a rejection letter from the VA denying my claim as it did not manifest itself prior to discharge. I even included in my claim copies of court cases (VA) where claims were approved yet they still denied it. I have been fighting them for five years and the VA motto seems to be , Deny, Deny until they die. They want the Veteran to provide medical evidence and/or studies that prove your case.

[Berta]

This thread is out or order. The recent new member Hoytt Runnells  stated:

"I even included in my claim copies of court cases (VA) where claims were approved yet they still denied it."

Where were you exposed to Agent Orange and when?

Can you link us to those court cases  that were approved for AO exposure causing myasthenia gravis?

I have been involved with the AO issue since 1991, AO Settlement fund 1992, my husband, me as his widow 1993, and also am a widow due to his two AO conditions at death.

I am surprised that VA has service connected myasthenia gravis

as due to AO exposure.

If you give us the Cases or links it can help us help you as well as help others.

 

 

Edited February 23, 2020 by Berta

[Buck52]

On 2/22/2020 at 8:58 AM, Hoytt Runnels said:

I also have MG and have a medical specialist state it was a greater that 50% chance it was caused by Agent Orange. Today I got a rejection letter from the VA denying my claim as it did not manifest itself prior to discharge. I even included in my claim copies of court cases (VA) where claims were approved yet they still denied it. I have been fighting them for five years and the VA motto seems to be , Deny, Deny until they die. They want the Veteran to provide medical evidence and/or studies that prove your case.

SO THIS MEDICAL SPECIALIST'' WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO RENDER HIS MEDICAL  OPINION?  THAT MG WAS GREATER THAN 50% IT WAS CAUSED BY AGENT ORANGE?

''today I got a rejection letter from the VA denying my claim as it did not manifest itself prior to discharge. I even included in my claim copies of court cases (VA) where claims were approved yet they still denied it.''

To make a claim for Agent Orange Exposure 

Agent Orange exposure

The U.S. military used Agent Orange to clear plants and trees during the Vietnam War. If you served in Vietnam or in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) during the Vietnam Era—or in certain related jobs—you may have had contact with this herbicide. We refer to this as having a presumption of contact. Find out if you can get disability compensation and other benefits for illnesses we believe are caused by Agent Orange.

Can I get disability benefits from VA?

You may be able to get disability benefits if the below descriptions are true for you.

This must be true:

You have an illness we believe is caused by Agent Orange (called a presumptive disease)

And at least one of these must also be true. You:

Came into contact with Agent Orange while serving in the military, or

Served in or near the DMZ for any length of time between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971, or

Served in the Republic of Vietnam for any length of time between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. This may include serving aboard a vessel on the inland waterways, or on a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia (as detailed in Public Law 116-23, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019).

Also if you were station in the USA where this Bad chemical was used.

Who’s covered?

Veterans

Qualified dependents