Agent Orange Decision Letter.

[Buck52]

I think now or a few years ago the VA had a REGERESTRY FOR AGENT ORANGE& should still have it?...you have to put in application or ask your pcp They can schedule you for an exam for AO and put you in the regerestry!.. there's maps on AO shows areas and the % of RVN that it was used heavy but I think any veteran that was incountry in Vietnam was exposed...from Sagion on North.

prove you was in RVN Sagion & DaNang use travel orders or TDY Orders ...St Louis should have them! I was in DaNang, Sagion & Long Behin & up north DaNang the herbercides were used heavy but it should not matter all of RVN is covered under AO.

I have some skin molds dark that has come up on me I went to VAMCseen a dermatologist and she just looked at it said it was not melagant without a bio? so I need to get that checked out it looks like melanoma to me but I'm no Dr.

Edited November 30, 2014 by britton

[john999]

I would not bet my life on any DX I got from the VA. Usually a dermatologist can look at a mole and have a pretty good idea if it is a melanoma, but if there is doubt a biopsy should be done, but you see that costs money. I had one done on a mole and it was billed as surgery to medicare. It was like $800 bucks or something which I did not have to pay.

John

[Buck52]

Thanks John,

wow 800 bucks...forget it then I can't pay that...

I go see my ''new VA PCP The 4th. for check up renew meds .. there changing Docs and remodeling at my VAMC....I'll ask him/her to look at them. Last time I ask about them it took 3 months to see the dermatologist hope it don't take that long now?

I need my hand looked at I have that rare condition Dupuytren's Contracture pronounced (''doo-puh-trens'') in my right hand my fingers are closeing inward and its bothering me I can't do some simple things like wash my face put hands in pocket or shake hands.

I showed my old PCP bout 4 years ago He said live with it other wise I may lose the use of that hand/fingers they have to inject some type mixture of enzymes into the cord (ligament) 1 injection every 30 days up to 3 injections to break the cord other wise surgery and its a 60%chance losing use of the hand... been thinking about it ? ..but I don't know what to do?

So.....beings I can't hardly use my right hand as it is just thumb & first finger...I thought maybe I should take that chance...VA PCP advise me not to have the surgery but its starting to get numb and swelling you can see the cord for about 2 to 3 inches protruding through. they say there not sore but mine is sore as heck can't touch it with out being in pain.

its getting scary going to the VA for health care and trusting them. to me there just to busy and mistakes happen. but I need other meds and can't afford to see private Dr's

Edited November 30, 2014 by britton

[georgiapapa]

When I had my AO registry exam, the only diagnostic tests I received was a chest X-ray and a CBC blood test. The doctor completed a questionnaire with info I provided to her and my exam was over. I could have had several AO presumptive diseases and they never would have been detected during my agent orange registry exam which was a joke. I was disappointed because I expected an all day thorough comprehensive exam and numerous diagnostic tests to determine if I had any AO presumptive diseases. After the exam, I never heard a word from the VA although I was told I would receive a letter with the findings of my exam.

I would never depend on the VA to diagnose or treat me for any serious diseases including AO presumptive diseases.

Britton: Unfortunately melanoma is not currently an AO presumptive disease although scientists have recently stated Vietnam vets exposed to agent orange are at high risk for the disease. They stated they believed as many as 50% of Vietnam vets exposed to AO will develop melanoma. Something else for Vietnam vets to worry about.

[Chuck75]

I'd certainly get an outside specialist's opinion before doing anything of a serious nature!

Dupuytren's Contracture - A quick lookup says that it's likely inherited, but other conditions

such as diabetes, do have some sort of relation. (The jury is not in at this point.)

[john999]

I had the AO exam in 2000. This doctor actually took his job seriously. He identified three conditions that he thought were AO related. I eventually filed on all three and got SC'ed on them. However, the AO Registry Exam was not used to prove my claims. I had to get independent medical opinions. I ask myself what is the use of the AO exam except to keep tabs on us like Lab Rats. Since the VA made Parkinson's, DMII and IHD as being presumbtive I think that is about all they will do. They should just make all premature deaths of RVN vets as being presumptive AO since there are only less than 900,000 left and most will die from AO related diseases. Just make all the cancers presumptive at least. The VA decided that ALS was service connected based just on statistics. The statistics and the science say Dioxin is deadly to humans. They sprayed it all over Vietnam. What more do they need?

John