Ao Fort Gordon

[Berta]

I received the decision but it is very hard to read-

"The evidence establishes that he was exposed to various herbicide agents... unreadable...as a game warden at Fort Gordon."

His MOS was Military Police.He proved AO was used there when he was there-

Granted DMII due to heribicides.

Granted Coronary artery disease due to DMII as secondary

Granted CHORACNE which was evuident in his SMRs- this is only the second grant for AO CHloracne I have ever seen.

It appears he is remanded for peripheral Neuropathy-

I regret it is more difficult to read than I first thought-

But when Allan posted the chloracne regs here-I thought best to post what I can from this Nov 8 2009 decision as chloracne is VERY difficult to prove due to AO.

[jamescripps2]

On my own I worked on the claim for three years. I gathered pertinant evidence and traveled thousands of miles. Consumed time translated into thousands of hours. The objective was not only to win my own claim, but to set the precedent for other veterans. I am also heavily involved in HR-2254 and AO outside vietnam. I was denied three times at the VARO.

After the claim was denied the second time I decided to go at it with a different aproach. I wrote the President OF The United States, The Sesretary Of The Department OF Veterans Affairs, my two Senators, and all of the Congressmen. The VARO Service Center Manager called me to complain that because of what I had done, he had to revue my entire claims foulder! I felt that it could be that I had struck a nerve, so I stirred the pot some more and turned the heat up on high. I put the VA in all of the newspapers and then gave them a spot on the Channel 5 News Investigative Reports.

On November 11 2007, I was working with the DAV, greeting all of the veterans who came to the Golden Corral for the free Veterans Day meal. Up stepped a seven foot, one hell of a man, he extended his hand and said, Hi I am Stephen Jones and I just went to work for the Tennessee Department OF Veterans Affairs as a VSO. Come and see me sometime, just ask for the big guy! This fellow was the epitemy of "AN ARMY Of One." I looked up at him and welcomed him home and thanked him for his service.

After the third denial and a year after I had met Steve, he came through the door at a Vietnam Veterans Of America meeting. He ducked to clear the door header and just stood there like a parascope, searching every inch of the room. When our eyes met he shouted across the room as he pointed at me, "I want your claim!

I said, "why would you want my claim?" Mr. Jones said, "because I have red your claims foulder and I can win it." Hell, that was a no brainer for me. Paul Bunyon saw the pot boiling but he wanted to poke his nose in it anyway. What did I have to loose? I said,"OK, you got it big guy! We were one hell of a team and withought Steve I would still be punching away. It was as if he held that BVA Judge in a trance on the day of the BVA video conference hearin. I had only seen that kind of performance on the TV and in the movies, but there stood Steve, toe to toe with that Judge and he never stuttered or stammered at all during the one hour and fifteen minute hearing. Although it took more than a year to get the decision, I knew that we had won when the hearing was over, and so did Steve.

Now here we are! I won my claim and MR. Stephen Jones Got Fired and lost his job. I don't know what the infraction was, but I do know that whatever it was it couldn't have posibily tiped the scale of justice enough to overcome the greatness of the victory for all of us veterans. We as honorable veterans can't allow this sort of thing to happen to a brother true hero for our cause. Can you not see his pride in the way that he writes?

I will take the point if the Hadit members will cover my six. Contact all of your friends and anybody else who is a friend of a veteran so as to support Steve in this misscarrage of veterans justice. You have been bitching, now you have the chance to get your back up and make a difference. Hell, just do it! The contacts are listed below, lock arms with me and lets save this veteran who has saved the pain of so many of us. Give him a lifelong Hadit welcome home and a base of operation from which to inform all of us who support each other, and have done so for so many years through thick and thin. What are we made of, and what do we stand for? We will be judged and judge each other by what we can do for our brothers and sisters in arms. Not only do we need to ask for the return of Steve's Job and his honor to be restored, but we need him in the position of "Director OF Claims"! That is what we will ask for. And that is what makes us tick!

Don't be afraid.

Think before you speak, but speak what you think.

Those that matter don't mind.

Those that mind don't matter.

James M. Cripps

Write, Email, call better yet, do all three!

Department of Veterans Affairs

215 Rosa L. Parks Avenue

Nashville, TN 37243

615-741-2931

TN.Veterans@tn.gov

John A. Keys

Commissioner

__________________________________________________________________

Governor's Office

Tennessee State Capitol

Nashville, TN 37243-0001

Phone: 615.741.2001

Fax: 615.532.9711

Email: Phil.Bredesen@tn.gov

__________________________________________________________________

PS The following is correspondence that took place in the heat of the battle, just before they went over the edge of the cliff.

(1) What is the disposition of my claim at this time? (2) Is there enough sci...

Discussion Thread

Response (Department of Veterans Affairs) 02/13/2008 03:14 PM

Dear Mr. Cripps:

Again, we have not denied you a VA exam. If we see that a VA exam is nessary one will be requested. We are processing your claim as promptly and accuratly as possible. Once a final decision or even if a VA exam is determed to be needed we will inform you of that decision. You are more than welcome to have the VA Medical Center evaluate you at any time you feel you need treatment; however, if it's not service connected you may be billed for the service.

Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message. If at some future time we can help you on a different subject, you may submit a new inquiry at https://iris.va.gov, call us toll free at 1-800-827-1000, or visit our web site at www.va.gov.

Sincerely yours,

Jerry W. Mitchell

Manager, Veterans Service Center

E-mail us at https://iris.va.gov

320/218/cal

Veteran/Inquirer 02/11/2008 02:58 AM

(1) I have provided enough evidence to the VA so as to trigger VA's duty to provide a C&P examination. Duenas v. Principi, 18 Vet. App. 512 (2004) If the case is not decided in my favor and is sent to the BVA without a C&P exam it will be remanded.

(2) Again I ask what reasons or basis am I being denied a C&P exam?

(3) VA has developed specific procedures to determine whether a

veteran was exposed to herbicides in locations other than Vietnam or along the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Korea. VA's

Adjudication Procedure Manual, M21-1MR, Part VI, Subpart ii,

2.C.10n., directs the RO to send a detailed statement of the

veteran's claimed herbicide exposure to the Compensation and

Pension (C&P) Service via e-mail and request a review of

DoD's inventory of herbicide operations to determine whether

herbicides were used or tested as alleged. If such review

does not confirm the exposure, a request should then be sent

to the U.S. Army and Joint Services Research Center (JSRRC)

for verification. Prior to any further adjudication of the

claim, the veteran's allegations of Agent Orange exposure should be investigated and developed as prescribed in M21-1MR.

(4) Is my case in compliance with the above VA directive with at this time?

(5) I respectfully request that a copy of this correspondence be placed in my C file. 26 455 135

Response (Department of Veterans Affairs) 02/08/2008 10:01 AM

Dear Mr. Cripps:

Currently, we are still in the process of reviewing your case and a final decision has not yet been made. Once we have finished reviewing your claim we will make a decision and inform you if their is enough medical evidence of record to grant in your favor or not. If we see that a VA exam is nessary based on a review of your Service Treatment Records and a review of your current conditions we will possibly set up an exam or not.

Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message. If at some future time we can help you on a different subject, you may submit a new inquiry at https://iris.va.gov, call us toll free at 1-800-827-1000, or visit our web site at www.va.gov.

Sincerely yours,

Jerry W. Mitchell

Manager, Veterans Service Center

E-mail us at https://iris.va.gov

320/218/cal

Veteran/Inquirer 02/05/2008 04:20 AM

(1) What is the disposition of my claim at this time?

(2) Is there enough scientific and medical evidence of record at this time to establish the etiology of my chloracne and to provide a nexus?

(3) Upon what reasons or basis have I been denied a C&P exam in order to help me prove my case?

This is an IRIS. I expect an answer within the allowed time frame. This Iris is to Jerry W. Mitchell, Manager, Veterans Service Center, who signed, and who is therefore the responsible party for the answers to my two most recent IRIS. As the VA claims process is dependent upon a certian level of competence and integrety being maintained by the person and the agency involved. The afore mentioned empowerment by the Secretary Of The Department Of Veterans Affairs seems to need some tidying up. As I mentioned before, I have fired a shot across your bow. Now I am ranging.

(1) What, may I ask, is your education level?

(2) Did you pass your Civil Service Exam on your own, or did you have points added to your score due to Affirmative Action or Veterans Preference?

(3) Is it that you just can't spell, or is it that you just do not possess adequate work ethics and enough professional pride to use a spell checker. Could it be due to the fact that you do not respect the veteran, for whom you work?

(4) Did you happen to be personally involved in my most recent decision?

Jamec M. Cripps.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Delicious ideas to please the pickiest eaters. Watch the video on AOL Living.

[jamescripps2]

Mr. Keys,

Commissioner, Tennessee Department Of Veterans Affairs.

As you should know by now, I have won the first claim of Agent Orange exposure inside CONUS. I won the claim with the help of Steve Jones. I do not think that there exist another VSO anywhere who possesses the ability and expertise of Mr. Jones. He is the best that there is and a true advocate for all veterans. Steve's ability is defined by the victory in my own and other cases won. To us veterans he is not only our advocate and VSO, but our hope.

I do not know what the infraction was that caused Steve to lose his job but I do know that he is vital to our efforts as far as claims development goes. Please give consideration for PTSD and veterans preference in the case of the man and judge him for what he has accomplished, especially in my own landmark case. Without Stephen jones our local veteran population will suffer, please do not tax us in this way and show some compassion for our needs. I do know that there were political and other internal issues involved, and that is an internal situation that can't be resolved by letting go the best that you have, or should I rephrase that to, " the best that we have, and have ever seen."

Give us some hope and reconsider the situation. The veteran population depends on you Sir, and this situation and injustice happened on your watch!

You will begin to receve Email, phone calls, and letters respectfully asking for your reconsideration. There will also be some political pressure, not to force anything, but meerly to voice our concerns and wishes with respect to our own best intrest. We are asking you, not only to please re-employ MR. Jones, but to please place him in the position of Director OF Claims. I understand that here may be some lack of qulification isues, but he can be educated to suffice. We know that you are capable of working out the kinks, and we as honorable veterans we will do whatever is ask of us to help make this thing happen. Please give us the voice that we deserve in our own government representation.

I will be involved in National TV and radio broadcast in the near and forseeable future. I would like to be able that there is a chance that we might get reconsideration. I also posess the skills needed to bring together large groops to rally for our single cause. There will be not only local interest but as the decision in my claim was landmark, there will be national attention. I am formitable and up to the task at hand. You Sir have the chance to play the part of the hero, or you can be the villan, I don't think your popularity will withstand the latter. If you would like to discuss the matter any further, you have my contact information. How can we avoid this thing? Can you name a replacement with equal talent? We await word from you Sir.

Yours in faith

James M. Cripps.

3070 Petway Rd.

Ashland City TN. 37015

615-952-3213 home

615-417-0730

jamescripps9@aol.com

Write, Email, call better yet, do all three!

Department of Veterans Affairs

215 Rosa L. Parks Avenue

Nashville, TN 37243

615-741-2931

TN.Veterans@tn.gov

John A. Keys

Commissioner

__________________________________________________________________

Governor's Office

Tennessee State Capitol

Nashville, TN 37243-0001

Phone: 615.741.2001

Fax: 615.532.9711

Email: Phil.Bredesen@tn.gov

[Berta]

Jim-this link might contain the wrongful termination laws that might also cover the state Steven is in:

http://labor-employment-law.lawyers.com/bl...yment-Laws.html

It is hard to project why this VSO was fired.

I know he must take some action right away- and I think his best bet is to get a lawyer.

Here in NY the local VA fired their own Medical Director years ago.

I had dealings with him- not pleasant -but he seemed to be one of the few doctors there in administrative position who knew what he was doing.

He got lawyer and fought to get his job back and when they offered it back to him- he settled for cash instead.

This VSO might be protected under EEOC regulations and/or 28 USC 2012-2014.(Affirmative Action for veterans to include disabled vets)

He could have been discriminated against and this caused the firing.

He needs to follow any internal procedures available-to begin to fight this -don't know if he is in union or not-

and when the time comes he could call witnesses to his work abilities.

He should definitely seek legal assistance if he believes he can prove the termination was wrongful or based on discrimination.

[Wings]

x

x

x

Since Steven Jones, VSO or "veterans claims specialist", registered and posted here at Hadit, then he is more than capable of soliciting our support or advice regarding his removal from office. I'm certain if he wanted to share that information with all of us, he could do just that. I would not want top write letters of support without his consent. I will wait for his say so. ~Wings

[jamescripps2]

Wings, you are missing the whole point here. The reason for my wanting Steve Jones to return to his job is a selfish one. First of all Steve was on my six, and now I have his six.1 We need Steve to represent us veterans. If the commissioner accepts the proposal I might have to sell Steve on the idea as well. You commented on his brilliance, and that is the kind of talent needed on our side, to help veterans win their claims. We had it but now it is slipping through our fingers. I don't know just what Mr. Jones infraction was that caused him to loose his job, and I don't care. What I do care about is the veteran community's loss of such a powerful resource of advocacy. Steve is driven to work for veterans and our cause. Can you imagine the repercussions if he were hired by the VBA to work against us? We have too many of Steve's caliber already working against us, and that is the problem

[jamescripps2]

that is ok guys, I have always worked alone, even as a game warden at Fort Gordon.

In a message dated 11/12/2009 5:00:12 AM Central Standard Time, wamoom2@peoplepc.com writes:

With just one voice…

For years he got the runaround

His story was denied

He was called a liar and much worse

So many times he got shot down

But he bounced back inside

He knew he had to fight ‘til he was heard

With just one voice

Speaking up for others

Broken lives are healed

As the truth’s revealed

With just one voice

Sisters and brothers

Reach out a helping hand

Rise up and take a stand

And it all began

With just one voice

For all who served and sacrificed

He’d do his best, he vowed

They deserved to get what they were due

He’d bare his soul, he’d risk his life

And he would not back down

For what was right and true, he followed through

With just one voice

Speaking up for others

Broken lives are healed

As the truth’s revealed

With just one voice

Sisters and brothers

Reach out a helping hand

Rise up and take a stand

And it all began

With just one voice

He’ll keep speaking out for all prisoners of this war

To claim those rights they’ve fought and fallen for

With just one voice

Speaking up for others

Broken lives are healed

As the truth’s revealed

With just one voice

Sisters and brothers

Reach out a helping hand

Rise up and take a stand

And it all began

With just one voice…

© r.moomaw