VA May Expand List of Ailments for Agent Orange Coverage: Shulkin

Yes it is...

SSgt Donald Libby - Let's us take the one I am most familiar with, prostate cancer, to validate my point. Same with many others. Our VA budget is the second largest of all elements of the Federal budget, unless there is some supervision of what is really considered a result of what is truly considered service connected, many of those that have lifelong combat injuries and others in need will go back to what we are currently seeing, demand out pacing demand. Most of the list you provided are considered aging diseases. I was treated for prostate cancer and long ago retired on disability from the Navy with 21 years. I qualify for service in Vietnam and only spent a few days in Saigon. To date I get nothing from the VA, and a small tax break for my disability on my retirement pay. All this to say, regardless of the cause, think about those that have made the sacrifices and ability to deliver services to our combat veterans.

PO3 Bob McCord - Yes, I should have included them as well. The Blue Water Navy issue has been hung up in the usual Washington crazy-town stalling tactics. In other words Congress failed to do their duty.

SSgt Donald Libby - If you were in Vietnam for a few days then you should qualify under "boots on the ground". “Boots on the ground” applies to veterans who were stationed on the continental land mass of Vietnam. Simply stated, “boots on the ground” requires that you show reasonable evidence that you set foot on Vietnamese soil or navigated inland waterways. You do not need to have been in Vietnam for a certain length of time or for a certain purpose." Areas adjacent to Saigon proper were sprayed with AO frequently to keep vegetation down (just as they did at Bien Hoa and Ton Son Nhut AB). In addition it is known that many of those three wheeled motorbikes that zipped around Saigon contained fuel that was stored in old AO drums thus quite possibly spewing AO residue into the air through their exhaust.

Yes, my sub is listed and I have an Armed Force Expeditionary award. (Predecessor to VN Service award).