Agent Orange Examination

[Papa]

I went to day for my AO Exam. Labs at 10:00, and xrays at 10:30, and then come back at 3:00PM for the doctor to exam me. Well, the doctor saw me first, and did no exam. He ask me what my medical issues were, and typed them into the computer. Then I went for the lab and xray. The doctor never examined me, and the only time he even got near was when we shook hands. I go back monday for the lab and xray resuls, but must wai a few weeks for the doctor's report. I should hold judgement until I get the reports back, but this was not was I expected.

Papa

[John46]

Papa don't give up. I've had about 8 C&P exams over the years and have gotten only 1 real exam last visit. The VA says they are there for us but they haven't convinced me of that yet.

[Dak To II ATC]

My C&P was the same. Additionally he told me that I would be scheduled for some sort of stress test. He didn't say whether it would be just a treadmill test.

That was about a month ago.

[Sgt Schmidt]

This must be par for the course with the VA. I won't say all of the VAMH's are that way but my AO exam was a joke too. Drove 200 miles round trip for lab work and a; "Hi, my name is Dr. Quack, how you doing???"

Asked a few questions and escorted me out the door and told to have a good day. My VSO pleaded with me not to go to the VAMH I went to for the exam but I didn't have a choice. At least, I don't think i did.

Jeff

[buickx]

The agent orange exam is not the c/p exam....The test is a blood sample is taken, a reviewer asking you questions, like where you were in vietnam, yrs there etc, and a

x-ray exam...In about two weeks they are supposed to send you a letter stating their findings, which your primary doctor uses the letter to refer you to specialists..

[Papa]

I may have gotten the wrong impression, but I did read a post that stated that this was the most thorough exam that you will ever receive. However, when the Xray Tech was doing my chest xray, he had a hard time taking it because he said that I had very little air in my lungs. Don't know what that means, but it does not sound good.

Papa

[john999]

I got a good exam when I got my AO exam. The doctor identified three conditions that had a correlation to exposure to AO and he listed those conditions. I filed claims on all those conditions and got SC'ed. I think it varies from VAMC to VAMC. The guys who did my exam was not an expert in chemical exposure. He was just a doctor who was interested in effects of AO. The VA does not have people who are expert in chemical exposure doing these exams. The exams themselves are really just part of a long term study of a group of people (Vietnam Vets) to show mortality and morbidity so PH.D's and MD researchers can write papers and get grant money. There is no end to the abuse of Vietnam vets, and the government will probably dig up our bones and use them in a study. Does the VA have an obligation to tell patients if they are part of a medical study? I think we are all lab rats and the government is still exploiting us even as we grow old and die.