These cookies collect information about how you use our website. "I think you have to see it as an admission that Agent Orange, or at least some sort of herbicide, was used on Guam," said attorneyJohn Wells, a retired U.S. Navy commander and chairman ofMilitary-Veterans Advocacy Inc. What is certain is that the components of Agent Orange were used on Guam. "Hopefully. On this episode of the Veterans Legal Lowdown, pod host Robert Chisholm and guest Nicholas Briggs discuss the use of Agent Orange and other herbicides on the island of Guam. These are just a few of t Read moreEvery day should be Mothers Day, As we close out yet another April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Bureau of Womens Affairs is launching Dont Be That Guy, a one-min Read moreDont be that guy. Lonnie Kilpatrick Central Pacific Relief Act. Agent Orange was approved in 1962 after John F. Kennedy gave his final approval to eliminate the growth of the Vietnam forests. However, it could not yet report any specific actions that were being implemented or provide any documentation regarding the groups efforts. When you visit web sites, they may store or retrieve data in your web browser. This exposure includes dioxin-containing herbicides other than Agent Orange, meaning the exposure is notlimited toAgent Orange. DoD spokesman Chuck Prichard said the new list was "the result of DoD's thorough review of the records for use, storage and testing of Agent Orange and other tactical herbicides outside of Vietnam.". White People Were Kept Out of Prison During COVID. Available documentation indicated that at least one vessel carrying Agent Orange passed through Guam on its route to Vietnam, but such information is incomplete. After a brief stop in Canadian politics and the non-profit world, she's happy to be back at the news desk on Guam. I think you have to see it as an admission that Agent Orange, or at least some sort of herbicide, was used on Guam," said attorneyJohn Wells, a retired U.S. Navy commander and chairman ofMilitary-Veterans Advocacy Inc. What is certain is that the components of Agent Orange were used on Guam. Guam May be Another Source of Agent Orange Exposure In early May 2020, two veterans advocacy groups published a white paper indicating Veterans who served in Guam from 1962 through 1975 were likely exposed to Agent Orange or some other dioxin containing herbicides https://www.nvlsp.org/images/uploads/2020.05.08_-_NVLSP-VLSC_White_Paper.pdf . Whether the new paper will have any impact on the VA's Agent Orange-related claims processes for this population of veterans remains to be seen. While this chemical is generally associated with Vietnam, there have been questions raised about its use in Guam and its effect on Guam veterans. Brooklyn, NY: 300 Cadman Plaza West, One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 Furthermore, as to case summaries, reports of past results, individual lawyer biographies, news posts and other information pertaining to past and present cases, these descriptions are meant only to provide information to the public about the activities and experience of our law firm. The signing of the federal law follows many years of harmful effects on veterans on the island and overseas who were exposed to the toxin. Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 Michael San Nicolas. In the white paper, the VLSC and NVLSP stated that servicemembers who were in Guam between 1962 and 1975 were likely exposed to Agent Orange. tactical or just as a weed killer is really irrelevant. Parkinsons disease is a very debilitating disease as it is a degenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system. Hustle Culture: Is This the End of Rise-and-Grind? Initial soil sample testing was conducted by the U.S. EPAs Superfund team in November 2018. During the Vietnam War, the United States sprayed millions of gallons of herbicides across Vietnam to destroy enemy cover and to interrupt the enemys food supply. It follows a research report released by two veteran advocacy groups in May of this year which concluded that the weight of the evidence shows veterans during that time were exposed to Agent Orange and other dioxin-containing herbicides. yet assertive representation for our clients. H.R. More than three-quarters of all US B-52 aircrafts that were available for operations were based in Guam. In this blog post, well look at the reports that have urged the VA to reconsider as well as the diseases that might be caused by Agent Orange. Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 While DoD and VA each have methods for communicating information to veterans and the public about Agent Orange, they do not have a formal process for communicating the most accurate available information to veterans about potential locations where they could have been exposed to Agent Orange. Relatively recent attention on Agent Orange in Guam culminated in a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, which determined there was no evidence Agent Orange was offloaded here. This information is not a substitute for legal advice. The House report accompanying a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 included a provision that the GAO review the governments handling of Agent Orange on Guam. None of these Guam veterans with the exception of the late Leroy Foster and Lonnie Kilpatrick received any compensation for their injuries due to toxic chemical exposure," he added. President Joe Biden, on Thursday local time,signed theSergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, or PACT, Act. Quinata introduces bill to stimulate investment activity, Community First promotes two officer trainees, Gibson, Jackson, Seo close 2023 North Pacific Regional Championships with finals wins, Geckos get big win over Islanders on homecoming night, Judy Blume's 'Are You There God?' She worked at CTV News and CFRA in Canada for over 5-years, where she was a reporter, anchor and show host. The veterans disability attorneys at Hill & Ponton are available to analyze your case and help you prepare a case for disability benefits should you have one of the many related diseases caused by Agent Orange. The conclusion is based on an exhaustive review conducted over nearly two years of government, private, archival, and oral history evidence of herbicide use in Guam during the Vietnam era. But how does that fare with the PACT Act now in tow? Read moreBiden tax hikes: Road to economic decline, Ever since my childhood, April 1, or April Fools Day, was a day that people traditionally played jokes on each other, and we all got a laugh Read moreApril Fools Day 2023 contains a cruel joke, As we close out yet another April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Bureau of Womens Affairs is launching Dont Be That Guy, a one-min Read moreDont be that guy. The organization helped develop the Lonnie Kilpatrick act, which was introduced by Guam Del. We are sorry that this post was not as useful for you! Poll results are published every Monday in The Guam Daily Post. In January, the DoD released a list of locations outside Vietnam where herbicides were tested or stored, but the list omitted more than 40 previously listed exposure sites. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. One lab found trace elements of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, thereby indicating the presence of the residual form of Agent Orange in the soils tested. Less vegetation coverage meant more visibility during landings. Were excited by these new test results because they did find TCDD to be present and theyre recommending to re-test some more and dig deeper, thats one, so that they can overcome any erosion that might have taken place or degradation over the years from the topsoil. Two veterans advocacy groups published a policy paper Monday saying that veterans who served on Guam between 1962 and 1975 . Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 The Department of Defense maintained that Agent Orange was never used on Guam, despite claims by several Guam veterans who testified that they sprayed the herbicide on different areas on Guam. By using this information, you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship created by you reading or using the information contained on this website or in this newsletter, article, or blog. Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim These samples were first collected in April 2018 and sent to two labs for testing. In late 2018, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported that at least one ship carrying Agent Orange stopped at Apra Harbor en route to Vietnam more than 50 years ago. Additionally, VAs Claims Adjudication Procedures Manual section regarding Agent Orange exposure directs VA adjudicators to review the DoD list to determine whether herbicides were used and whether to concede exposure. Coach. The new testing results ultimately showed thatTCDD was found at 8 out of the 10 locations sampled. Tens of thousands of U.S. service members were assigned to Guam during the Vietnam War, where three quarters of all U.S. B-52 bombers used in the air campaign were based. The bill also expands eligibility for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans with a disability associated with exposure to certain herbicides during specified times of military service in the territories. Available records show that DoD stored and used commercialherbicides in Guam, possibly including those that contain components of Agent Orange, during the 1960s and 1970s. 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According to a new white paper released on May 8, 2020 by the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School (VLSC) and the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP), veterans who served on Guam from 1962 to 1975 satisfy the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) legal standard for exposure to Agent Orange and other dioxin-containing Those documents do not indicate the use of tacticalherbicides in Guam. They can describe them very well as to where they were sprayed, where they were stored, where they were moved around, Terlaje said. If your VA claim based on Agent Orange in Guam has been denied, contact the team at CCK today at800-544-9144. Taking Action on Agent Orange Guam Exposure, Seeking Legal Support for Your VA Disability Claim. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. And its not just a veterans issue, according to Terlaje. More research into the subject could reveal the use of Agent Orange and other herbicides in more locations on Guam. First of all, I think the veterans and the residents deserve to know whether they were exposed because then they can deal with their illnesses appropriately and they can hopefully get healthcare, medical coverage, and compensation thats going to help them to take care and ease the suffering that theyre undergoing. Evidence indicates that Agent Orange was used in the following places: This list, however, isnot exhaustive. This harmful. These businesses suggest they can provide quick turnaround times on claims and higher benefit checks than if veterans choose Copyright 2023 Military.com. I hope that HR 3967 will find equal support and be passed by the U.S. Senate, she added. Seattle, WA: 506 2nd Ave,Suite 1400,Seattle, WA 98104. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make to give you better functionality and personal features. More so, the lack of information makes it challenging to distinguish between small-scale and large-scale testing. Philsan Isaak 25 and Shyamala Ramakrishna 24 have received Soros Fellowships to support their graduate studies. These cookies are also used to let affiliates know if you came to one of our websites from an affiliate and if your visit resulted in the use or purchase of a product or service from us, including details of the product or service purchased. You have permission to edit this article. It's the chemical composition that has harmed and killed people," Wells said. Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 Do You Qualify for Long Term Disability Benefits? his whole tactical/commercial thing is a red herring. Military News Report Claims Vietnam-Era Veterans Were Exposed to Agent Orange on Guam A U.S. Huey helicopter sprays Agent Orange over Vietnam. How Does the 2021 Updated Report Impact Veterans? In May 2020, the National Veterans Legal Services program, as well as the veterans legal services clinic at Yale Law School, published their initial report indicating that veterans who served in Guam from 1962 to 1975 were at least as likely as not exposed to herbicides during their service. This legislation will finally treat toxic exposure as a cost of war by addressing the full range of issues impacting toxic-exposed veterans including access to earned benefits and healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs, Takano said in a statement. Countless veterans served in Guam during the Vietnam War era and, with the findings in this new updated report, those veterans may be eligible to be awarded benefits for the exposure they faced during their service. Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 This white paper confirms the reports of countless veterans who served on Guam but whose claims the VA has wrongly rejected, said Bart Stichman, Executive Director of NVLSP. We recommend the following MLA -formatted citation when using the information you see here in academic work: "S. 3446 116th Congress: Expedite Agent Orange Coverage Act of 2020." www.GovTrack.us. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. By Mar-Vic Cagurangan The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed the veteran healthcare expansion bill, which would facilitate the compensation of benefits claims sought by retired service members who were exposed to Agent Orange while stationed on Guam, American Samoa and Johnston Atoll. It is the chemical composition that is critical. These herbicides have caused a slew of health conditions in veterans who were exposed to them. The use of the herbicide i.e. Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 This article may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. File photo. More recently, in July of 2018, a DoD official noted that the group was working to identify the appropriate steps to take. However, the report did acknowledge that Agent Orange components 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T were used on island in commercial herbicides. we represent clients nationwide. Guam EPA considered the investigation ongoing at the time, but the COVID-19 pandemic made its way to the island the following year. These two specific herbicide agents have a relatively short half-life, meaning that they are only at detectable levels in the soil for days or months at a time after the herbicides are used, depending on the volume with which they were used. Yet since it is published multiple places on the VA website, veterans take this list to be complete and factual. you viewed to avoid repetition. At the time of that May White Paper, Guam Attorney Mike Phillips said hes already contemplating legal action over the impact on Guams civilian community. These cases have been evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 3368, titled the "Lonnie Kilpatrick Central Pacific Relief Act" named after the late veteran who led the fight for recognition of Agent Orange use on Guam. Military-Veterans Advocacy praised the enactment of the PACT Act. Service members have said for years that they sprayed Agent Orange and other toxic herbicides all across Guam, said Brian Moyer, a Marine veteran who served in Guam from 197476 and leads the group Agent Orange Survivors of Guam, a section of Military Veterans Advocacy. In 2018, Brian Moyer, founder of Agent Orange Survivors of Guam, came back to Guam to assist a team from the Environmental Protection Agency in identifying the areas where veterans said they sprayed herbicides. Updated: July 12, 2020. Soil testing initiatives have since taken place. By continuing to use our website, you agree to these updates. In these instances, VA counts the in-service exposure as the event. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. As of this writing, the territory of Guam is still pending, though theres reason to believe that the VA will eventually include members who served there during certain time frames. Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 Finally, we invite you to contact us and we welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. The reports author found that its probable that TCDD dioxins detected in the soil are associated with chlorinated herbicides. San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. Community First Guam Federal Credit Union has promoted Neo Christian Pangilinan and Nathaniel Dela Cruz after they successfully completed a 20-month postgraduate officer training program, the credit union announced in a press release issued Monday. 3967, and thanked the many veterans across the nation and residents of Guam who have spent many years lending their voices in testimony to secure a presumption and corresponding healthcare coverage for those who suffer cancers, diabetes and other illnesses caused by exposure to Agent Orange.. The Department of Defense continues to deny the existence of Agent Orange on Guam, despite signed affidavits from veterans and overwhelming testimony from veterans and residents. "This whole tactical/commercial thing is a red herring. The legislation expands benefits and services for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances, includingherbicide exposure coverage for Vietnam War veterans who served in Guam, American Samoa, Johnston Atoll and other locations. In doing so, the GAO uncovered that the DoDs official list of herbicide use, testing, and storage locations outside of Vietnam, which is posted on the VA website, is inaccurate and incomplete. So many of us were exposed and, sadly, many have already passed away with no recognition from the VA., Official government accounts of herbicide mishandling, improper hazardous waste disposal, and high concentrations of dioxin across Guam establish exposure pathways to support claims of service connection based on herbicide exposure, said James Campbell 20, a law student in the Clinic. Counselor. November 2018 Update: GAO Report Addresses Agent Orange in Guam, Veterans Have Expressed Confusion About How to Obtain Information on Potential Exposure, Challenges Associated with Agent Orange Testing. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 It is the chemical composition that is critical. In what could be a major step forward for Vietnam-era veterans on Guam, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has publicly released the results of the Herbicides Investigation report eight months after soil sampling in October last year and the results find more clear evidence of Agent Orange in the island's soil. This new testing challenges the findings of a previous Government Accountability Office report which found that Agent Orange exposure could not be conclusively proved or disproved because of incomplete, lost and absent records and a lack of credible soil samples. The Guam and U.S. Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) collected samples from five subsites in off-base areas that were believed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. both common herbicides until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency halted all use of 2, 4, 5-T in the 1980s over toxicity concerns. These cookies do not store any personal information. Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 So the Congressional approach is definitely, were hoping, the fastest.. He said at least five Marines with whom he worked from the USS Proteus have died from Agent Orange-related illnesses in the past 10 years. If youre a U.S. military veteran who served in Guam, and you may have been exposed to herbicide agents, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits. Reporting on utilities, education and other topics. In addition to Agent Orange, Guam veterans may have also been exposed to herbicides containing dioxin, a chemical labeled as a carcinogen by the World Health . The GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, reported last month that a ship carrying drums of Agent Orange docked in Guam. Do You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage? Agent Orange is composed of equal parts2, 4-Dand2, 4, 5-T both common herbicides until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency halted all use of 2, 4, 5-T in the 1980s over toxicity concerns. VA defines herbicide agent under 38 CFR 3.307(a)(6) as 2,4-D; 2,4,5-T and its contaminant TCDD; cacodylic acid; and picloram. 3967, also known as The Honoring Our Pact Act, authored by House Committee on Veterans Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif). This harmful defoliant was deployed in the 1960s and 1970s as a way to reduce the amount of vegetation in an area. Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 However, in May of 2018, DoD and VA reportedly formed a joint Herbicide Orange Working Group to address the issues with the DoD list and identify criteria for including information on the list. The prior testing did not specifically test for dioxin and therefore the new round of testing was primarily conducted to look for TCDD specifically. Two veterans advocacy groups published a policy paper Monday saying that veterans who served on Guam between 1962 and 1975 likely were exposed to herbicides disposed of on the Pacific island or used for vegetation control. 4 min read. Most notably, the updated report expanded the time period for exposure to include those who served between1958 and 1980. Countries cant tax their way to long-term prosperity. She added: That is the way to get it done as a presumption for all as opposed to a case-by-case basis happening at the VA right now. The GAO also recognizes that this list has not been updated in over a decade, despite a significant amount of evidence and research collected regarding its shortcomings. Again, the limitations of the available documentation make it difficult to identify which specific herbicides or components were tested, as well as when and where. Other highlights of the bill are as follows: Provide Priority Group 6 health care for over 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans. This means that any veteran who served in Guam and has a condition that is not currently on the listcouldhave their condition added eventually. The fact remains that both groups of veterans were exposed to the same herbicide agents. Despite its short half-life, 245t was also seen in some of these samples. This rapid U.S. airpower buildup in Guam coupled with the unique climate conditions of the island and acute housing and water shortages created a pressing need within the islands military leadership to control fire risks and tropical growth with heavy herbicide usage. The study, from the National Veterans Legal Services Program and Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School, shows that Veterans who served in Guam from 1962 to 1975 were likely exposed to toxins, including Agent Orange. was deployed in the 1960s and 1970s as a way to reduce the amount of vegetation in an area. Loading the player. Guam EPA says theyll be writing to the Department of Defense to express their concerns with these new soil results. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. The original agent orange accent, if there is a herbicide that contains 2,4-D and or dioxin, its considered to be harmful. "We still perform our regulatory duties, permitting, enforcement and compliance, and once we have everything back in place, we will resume the investigation. The National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) is an independent, nonprofit veterans service organization that has served active duty military personnel and veterans since 1981. Was Your VA Disability Claim Based on Agent Orange Exposure in Guam Denied? Some veterans who served on Guam have been awarded disability claims for Agent Orange-related illnesses, but NVLSP and Yale believe all who served on Guam during the Vietnam era who have a presumptive condition should automatically qualify for VA benefits. 22 Jul 2020 Military.com | By Patricia Kime The Senate overwhelmingly approved an addition to its defense policy bill to expand the Department of Veterans Affairs ' list of diseases considered. This report calls out certain government entities for being less than honorable with the handling of the issue of Agent Orange or "commercial herbicides" on Guam," Moyer said. The National Veterans Legal Services Program and the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School collaborated to determine if and when veterans would have been exposed to Agent Orange or other harmful herbicides containing dioxins. Guardian angel. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. The groups -- the National Veterans Legal Services Program and the Jerome Frank Legal Services Organization at Yale Law School -- say their link meets the VA's legal criteria for awarding affected veterans Agent Orange-related benefits. "The PACT Act provides benefits for burn pit victims, radiation cleanup veterans and those exposed to Agent Orange in Guam, American Samoa, Johnston Island, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Among the so-called rainbow herbicides - chemicals used to clear vegetation during the Vietnam War - Agent Orange is perhaps the most well known, andhas been linked to several diseases. Copyright 2023 Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD. All Rights Reserved. In late 2018, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, t least one ship carrying Agent Orange stopped at Apra Harbor en route to Vietnam more than 50 years ago. This information is made available for educational purposes only and to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. It was introduced by Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., and includes provisions from other legislation from San Nicolas to include Guam and other Pacific territories as places where Agent Orange. Wells recommended during Tuesday's public hearing that lawmakers extend their support to theComprehensive and Overdue Support for Troops of War Act of 2021, a senate bill in the same vein as the Honoring Our PACT Act. Crossing party lines, House members voted 256-174 to pass H.R. The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA,recently added bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and Parkinsons-like symptoms to the list. "It is probable that TCDD dioxin congener concentrations detected in soils are associated with chlorinated herbicides. "We conclude that existing evidence establishes that it is, at the very least, 'as likely as not' that veterans who served in Guam from 1962 to 1975 were exposed to Agent Orange and other dioxin-containing herbicides," wrote NVLSP Executive Director Bart Stichman and several law students and attorneys. Officials stated that further results are still pending. Read moreBiden tax hikes: Road to economic decline, Doctor. Guam veterans now have an overwhelming case that will require the VA to finally recognize these meritorious claims.. The original agent orange accent, if there is a herbicide that contains 2,4-D and or dioxin, its considered to be harmful. And, even the test results, itll take a while. Recently, these organizations havepublished an updated reportwith new evidence. Specifically, the GAO analyzed the available logbooks for 152 of the 158 shipments (approximately 96 percent) of Agent Orange to Southeast Asia and found that the vessels carrying herbicides generally made stops at both foreign and U.S. ports. The federal government for years denied Agent Orange use on Guam. Agent Orange was an infamous chemical used as a tactical measure in the military during the Vietnam War. But what's known now is that its toxic components were utilized on island. But generations of ethnic. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. To reprint or license this article or any content from Military.com, please submit your request, Report Claims Vietnam-Era Veterans Were Exposed to Agent Orange on Guam, Biden, Marcos Set to Meet as Tensions Grow With China.

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