My AO exposure story

[jamescripps2]

I joined the Army in 1967 as airborne Infantry but I didn't make it to Nam. I served 1967-1970 stateside and in Germany. My AO exposure was at Fort Gordon GA. I/we were involved in finding the optimum mixture of the concentrate AO to diesel fuel. It became my duty to use up the defoliant that was left over after the testing was complete. My direct exposure, directly and hands on working with and spraying 24D-245T was every day from September 6, 1967 to March 4, 1969 whereupon I was deployed to Germany.

When I filed my first claim in 2005 the DOD and the VA were very adamant that AO had never been used in CONUS, PERIOD!

In order to Substantiate my AO exposure claim I needed, first to prove that I was an MP Game Warden in 1967-1969. I needed to prove that the spraying and testing of agent orange, 24D-245T with Picloram, at Fort Gordon actually took place in 1967. Last, but most important of all, I had to show how I was directly involved and exposed, thirty eight years after the fact.

I furnished them with the aircraft tail number. I provided the name of the firm in Texas from which the Bell G-2 helicopter used in the spraying was leased, along with the pilot's name. I proved the amounts, 450 gallons of orange alone, and the color names of herbicides that were used, orange, blue, and white. I furnished the exact location of the spraying and testing.

It was necessary to travel to the Fort Gordon area, where I obtained and provided statements from the Fort Gordon Forester and the Fort Gordon Post Engineer, who were there and working with me during the time that I served and was involved. Both wrote sworn statements on VA forms 21-4138 stating that they remembered me by name as being the Fort Gordon Game Warden, and they swore in their written statements that it would have been my job to spray those herbicides. The Forester wrote that he discovered my stash of herbicides and spray equipment in a building in the 1980s, just where I said that they would be.

I also furnished a statement written by the Fort Gordon Adjutant General who had thirty five years experience in personnel and wrote a statement in support of my claim attesting to the fact that I was the Fort Gordon Game Warden who served and was involved in the time period of 1967-1968, during the testing of AO.

My evidence had to be overwhelming and beyond doubt. Nothing was left to chance, and I covered all of my bases.

I furnished my Fort Gordon Game Warden badge number, my expired Richmond County GA. Deputy Sheriff credentials and my military drivers license. I presented a 1967 Fort Gordon phone book listing my office phone number and naming me as the Fort Gordon Game Warden.

The significance of producing my long ago expired Deputy Sheriff credentials was the fact that, as a military Game Warden, and in compliance with the "Posse Comitatus Act of 1878", which removed the military from regular civil law enforcement, It was necessary that I be appointed as a Deputy Sheriff in order to have the authority to carry my weapon off post and to be able to stop and/or pursue civilians on and off post. Only MP Game Wardens carried such credentials.

The significance of the military drivers license, that expired many years ago, was the fact that only MP Game Wardens, and only MP Game Wardens, were issued a license to drive a Ford four wheel drive Bronco. Of note, there were only two Game Wardens at that time and fort Gordon only had two Ford Broncos, each of those was assigned to a Game warden.

I testified before the BVA Judge the fact that I defoliated around the Fort Gordon Controlled lakes and then often caught and ate fish from those lakes, within hours of the spraying operation. I furnished my wife's and my original 1967 Fort Gordon Hunting and fishing license along with the documented set of orders as proof that I was on separate rations at the time to back up that statement.

I furnished a statement written for me by a Doctor who was involved in AO research and employed by the CDC in Atlanta GA in support of my exposure. I submitted a statement from the Georgia State Agriculture Director as to the name and chemical designation of the herbicide that I sprayed. That being 24D-245T.

My most overwhelming proof of AO exposure was the fact that I had Chloracne, first diagnosed on my ETS medical exam and there were many diagnosis post service including VA and civilian doctors. I had thirteen Medical opinions that concurred in the fact that the only cause of Chloracne is Dioxin exposure, Dioxin being the contaminant in AO and the other rainbow herbicides.

Following my AO grant in 2009 by the BVA, there have been many more claims filed, but few have prevailed.

See more at

vatheredneckway.wordpress,com

[jamescripps2]

John, The link below should give you all that you need to know to determine your eligibility. The sticky part is making the VHA adjudicators honor your qualifications and abide by the regulations that guide the program. Contrary to VA policy the VHA has been looking at applications with the attitude of "What can I do to deny this veteran". The long standing policy and  attitude of the VA is, "What can I do to grant entitlement into the program to this veteran".

For the PCAFC program to ever achieve the success that Congress envisioned there will need to be a general attitude adjustment and retraining of the involved social workers, CEAT TEAMS and VISIONS. Honestly, the buck stops with the Secretary of The Department of Veterans Affairs who is in the midst of trying to overhaul the program as we speak.

If you think that you meet the qualifications, apply. If you are denied, appeal through one of the appeal choices, HLR, Supplemental Claim, or Board revue. My personal experience tells me to suggest that you kick your appeal over to the VBA for adjudication, and take the BVA route in order to find justice and avoid another arbitrary VHA denial.

 

https://www.caregiver.va.gov/CAREGIVER/pdfs/FactSheets/CSP_Eligibility_Criteria_Factsheet.pdf

[Marine Corp 69/70]

 Jamescripps  I was talking about the VHA Hisa Grant did the work and they are giving me a hard time about paying me would let to talk to you about it if I could call you and get your take on it thanks 

[jamescripps2]

Work to be preformed under the HISA grant needs to be pre approved with prosthetics. Once approved they give you 1/2 of the money up front ($3400.00). When the work is finished and the inspection done, they send the second half of the payment to you.

In my case I had to feature them on a local tv investigative report in order to get the second half of the money to pay the contractor. Check it out at the link below. You got to do what you got to do!

 https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/disabled-veteran-says-va-abused-his-contractor

[Marine Corp 69/70]

  jamescripps In 2017 The VHA changes the HISA Grant and the VHA doesn’t pay the contractors you have to pay them, them the VHA pays you that’s the problem VHA isn’t paying  me for the work that was done to my bathroom need help. The head of prosthetics keeps come up with different reasons not to pay me why give out Grants when you don’t pay up, another game the VHA plays.

 

[jamescripps2]

Call the white house hot line and complain. 1-855 948 2311

Read the HISA grant rules and make Shure that you followed all of the rules and the work was pre approved.

https://www.prosthetics.va.gov/psas/HISA2.asp

[Marine Corp 69/70]

Jamescrippe2  call the White House hot line they complain to prosthetics and that all they can do, nobody at the VHA hospital can help because they are afraid of what the head of prosthetics can do. Did a HLR review and it when back to the same VHA hospital who denied me for a different reason its like they do and say what ever they want and nobody wants to help you I thought they were supposed to be for the veteran stupid me. Need help if you can, going in front of a BVA Judge will take years and they know that.thank for listen is it worth fighting for.