AO Okinawa granted

[Berta]

We had a poster mention Okinawa here recently-and I found some more  recent BVA awards that I might have missed posting here in the past, granted due to proven AO exposure in Okinawa.

https://www.va.gov/vetapp16/files5/1635277.txt

https://www.va.gov/vetapp17/files6/1731591.txt

https://www.va.gov/vetapp17/files4/1721360.txt

https://www.va.gov/vetapp17/files8/1744297.txt

Note –in this case the veteran had been in Laos and also TDY in Vietnam as well as Okinawa.

JSRRC  failed to confirm he had been in Vietnam and the RO denied.

However: (from above link in part)

“Evidence against the claim includes an October 2016 Administrative Decision which indicated that the Joint Services for Records and Research Center (JSRRC) concluded that the Veteran did not have any exposure to Agent Orange in Laos for the calendar year 1962 and that the evidence did not support did not show in-country RVN service.

 

In reviewing the evidence of record, the Board finds that the evidence of record indicates that the Veteran was in the RVN.  Although no one piece of evidence is dispositive in this case, the Veteran's contention of having landed and disembarked in the RVN while on TDY en route to Laos is consistent with the information contained in his military personnel records.  The Veteran's credibility is bolstered by the accompanying evidence of record.  As explained above, the Veteran's military personnel records confirm that he traveled from Okinawa, Japan to Vientiane, Laos from August 12, 1961 to January 30, 1961 and June 4, 1962 to June 6, 1962.  These records also confirm that the Veteran served on TDY to Laos from January 1962 to June 1962.  More importantly, copies of the Veteran's passports on TDY to Southeast Asia reflect that he was in Saigon, RVN en route to Vientiane, Laos on April 2, 1962. 

 

In light of the Veteran's consistent and credible statements and copy of his passport reflecting that he was in Saigon, RVN en route to Vientiane, Laos on April 2, 1962, the Board finds that the Veteran's military service involved visitation or duty in the RVN for VA purposes under 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.307 and 3.309.  He was therefore exposed to an herbicide agent within the meaning of VA law.  As noted previously, the medical evidence shows that the Veteran has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type II, a disease subject to the presumption of service connection under 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.307 and 3.309.  Therefore, service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is granted.

ORDER

 

Service connection for diabetes type II as due to Agent Orange exposure is granted.

Someone at JSRRC was messing up Thailand claims so time ago and it looks like someone is dropping the ball on some Okinawa claims as well.They sure did on this one.

 

This is why I  often  suggest that a veteran should write to JSRRC themselves and give as many details as possible, with the closest dates they can remember. I know of cases whereby VA said JSRRC could not confirm a stressor or something, and the veteran’s C file revealed they (VA)didn’t even try to contact JSRRC.

 

There are at least 2 widow’s claims at BVA in 2017 denied because the widow had not proven exposure of the deceased ,to AO in Okinawa.

It appeared the widows had done nothing significant to try to prove their cases.

 

Unfortunately (as I well know as a Gold Star wife),widows must take the bull by the horns and be Very Proactive in trying to support their DIC claims.

 

None of us claimants can really depend on the VA to do,  what we ourselves need to do.