Study Finds Agent-Orange-Contaminated Planes May Have Injured Veterans After Vietnam War
Feb 24, 2015
Legal Help for Veterans is a law firm helping veterans get the benefits they deserve.
Northville, MI (Law Firm Newswire) February 24, 2015 – A new study by the Institute of Medicine found that veterans who worked on aircraft contaminated by Agent Orange after the Vietnam War were exposed to potentially hazardous levels of the chemical, which is known to have long-term health effects.
The findings come in contrast to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) long-time position that it is unlikely that veterans were harmed by postwar exposure to the herbicide.
“Unfortunately, many veterans who were harmed by Agent Orange continue to face difficulties in getting compensation for their injuries,” said Jim Fausone, a veterans attorney in Michigan.
About 11 million gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed in the forests of southern Vietnam from 1962 to 1971. The herbicide was used to eliminate vegetative cover used by Viet Cong fighters.
The aircraft used in these missions were decommissioned in 1972, but they were used for medical evacuation and cargo missions for the next decade. The planes were never decontaminated or tested. About 1,500 Air Force reservists worked on these planes during that time.
The dioxin present in Agent Orange is responsible for the health problems associated with the chemical. Leukemia, Parkinson’s disease, birth defects, laryngeal cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer have all been linked to exposure.
For years, exposed veterans have fought to receive compensation for injuries they believe are related to postwar Agent Orange exposure. Although the study’s authors did not make policy recommendations, veterans and veterans advocates are hopeful that the study could lead to a change in policy.
Learn more at http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com
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Northville, MI 48168
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