Aircraft General Foreman (retired)

[Dennis G. Cochrane]

I was in the Navy from Oct. 1965 to Oct. 1969.  My question is........................  I am a bi-lateral amputee due to poor circulation to my legs and could this have been caused from Agent Orange exposure?  I am NOT diabetic.  Dennis G. Cochrane

[Berta]

What do the doctors attribute the circulation problems to?

This link contains the list of Agent Orange Presumptives:

https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/agent-orange/

It also contains the Blue Water Navy Agent Orange info-

You would have to prove exposure to AO in the Navy and have a disability on the list of presumptives.

I am glad you don't have diabetes. An IMO doctor found my husband had PAD (peripheral arterial disease and PN from AO DMII.

I proved he had Diabetes MeIIitus  from AO -15 years after he died.It had been a malpracticed condition.It seems that diabetes is a prime cause of possible circulatory problems.But there are many other reasons.

If you worked on C 123s, as this link describes, and have an AO presumptive, you could file a claim on that basis:

https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/agent-orange/c-123-aircraft/

 

 

Edited December 9, 2019 by Berta

[Berta]

In this BVA decision  a veteran was service connected for peripheral artery disease (circulation problems due to his AO IHD ( Ischemic heart disease.)

He was exposed to AO and the decision shows how much evidence he needed:

"In this case, the Veteran has submitted a medical opinion from Dr. H.S. in support of his claim. In an August 2016 letter, Dr. H.S., a physician with a family practice and previous emergency room experience, indicated that he reviewed the Veteran’s complete claims file, and concluded that the Veteran’s service-connected IHD and the PAD had a common etiology of the Veteran’s exposure to Agent Orange. Dr. H.S. explained that IHD is often referred to as “hardening of the arteries,” which was caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries within the heart. The plaque buildup resulted in the heart not getting enough oxygen, which resulted in decreased heart function and lowered blood flow to the body. Progressive narrowing of the arteries due to atherosclerosis often subsequently affected many areas of the body. One such complication is PAD and/or vascular disease, which is a narrowing of arteries in the lower extremities due to atherosclerosis. Dr. H.S. noted that the March 2014 VA examination report indicated that the Veteran had peripheral arterial and vascular diseases that had been present for many years, including a right femoral to left femoral artery bypass graft (in 2013). Dr. H.S. further explained that that there was a high prevalence of vascular disease among veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and that chemicals in Agent Orange have been shown to contribute to the development of inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis. Three journal articles were submitted as support for his contentions including one from Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology about the development of vascular inflammation and promotion of atherosclerosis in mice; one from Journal of Preventative Medicine & Public Health about Agent Orange exposure and prevalence of diseases in Korean Vietnam veterans; and results of a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2000 regarding the prevalence and risk factors for PAD in the United States. The Board finds Dr. H.S.’s opinion to be competent and credible, and as such, entitled to significant probative weight. See Gabrielson v. Brown, 7 Vet. App. 36, 39-40 (1994). The opinion was rendered based on review of the Veteran’s claims file, subject matter expertise, and citations to peer-reviewed medical literature. See Nieves-Rodriguez v. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 295, 302-04 (2008) (holding that it is the factually accurate, fully articulated, sound reasoning for the conclusion that contributes to the probative value of a medical opinion). The Board acknowledges that the March 2017 VA examiner found that the Veteran’s PAD was less likely than not related to his HID, status post coronary bypass graft. The examiner indicated that the bypass grafts were taken from areas that were not near the femoral arteries, and that it was unlikely that the femoral artery was damaged during the angioplasty. The examiner also noted that the Veteran had a number of risk factors, including being male, a smoker, hypertension, hypolipidemia, atherosclerosis, and increasing age. However, under the “benefit-of-the- doubt” rule, where there exists “an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the merits of an issue material to the determination of the matter,” the Veteran shall prevail upon the issue. Ashley v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 52, 59 (1993). In this case, the Board finds that there is “an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the merits of an issue material to the determination of the matter.” As such, this is a situation where the benefit of the doubt rule applies. Ashley, 6 Vet. App. at 59; 38 U.S.C. § 5107; 38 C.F.R. § 3.102. Resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran’s favor, the Board finds that the Veteran’s PAD of the bilateral lower extremities was caused by exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange, and the claim of entitlement to service connection for PAD of the bilateral lower extremities is granted. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107; see generally Gilbert v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 49 (1990); Ortiz v. Principi, 274 F.3d 1361 (Fed. Cir. 2001)."

https://www.va.gov/vetapp19/files4/19127582.txt

[broncovet]

Yes, it "could".  There are at least 4 possible ways you can get service connection.  

1.  Presumptive.  Berta's posts discuss this.  She did a great job explaining presumptives.    But that is not the only way!

2.  Direct.  Your doctor can provide evidence that "your" leg amputation was "at least as likely as not" due to Agent Orange exposure (or any other in service event that doctor feels caused your condition(s).  OR

3.  Secondary.  Your doctor can provide evidence that "your" leg amputation was at least as likely as not due to (a condition you are already SC for, such as maybe CAD, which is on the presumptive list).  OR

4.  1151.  Lastly, its possible (and I dont know if this happened or not), that VAMC caused your problems.  Then you would be eligible for 1151.  This would take a review of your records, as would items number 2, and 3 also.  

     Any one of the 4 methods, above, can lead to service connection, but medical evidence is necessary.  It may require an Independent medical opinion UNLESS you already have this evidence in your file.  

Edited December 9, 2019 by broncovet
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