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Agent Orange Vietnam Vets Parkinson's Disease

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Parkinson's Disease
Do you have agent orange and parkinson's?
Yes - 47.2% - 42 votes
No - 10.1% - 9 votes
Yes and I also have Type II Diabetes - 7.9% - 7 votes
Yes and I also have High Blood Pressure - 24.7% - 22 votes
Yes and I also have Type II Diabetes and High Blood presssure. - 10.1% - 9 votes
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Posted 10/5/2007 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
My name is Alan. I am a Vietnam Vet and I have Parkinson's. Are you a Vietnam Vet or have you had exposure to Agent Orange and do you have Parkinson's Disease. I would love to have you contact me. A group of over 60 Vets joined together to help Vets with Parkinson's. We have a wealth of information for you. Just contact me. We are not looking to raise funds or have any commerical or profit motivation. Our assoication is working to get the Veterans Administration to accept Parkinson's as Agent Orange Related. Please pass this information on to anyone who was exposed to Agent Orange and have them Contact me. My Email is oldvet at aol dot com. I hope it is ok to post my email address.

(I fixed your email address so it can't be read by spambots, only humans.)

Post Edited By Moderator (Jeannie143) : 10/7/2008 12:07:51 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/12/2007 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
Alan,

My name is Michael. I am a Vietnam vet who served in-country during 1971-72. I served 26 years in the Navy and retired in 1988. During my tour in Vietnam, I was exposed to Agent Orange which led me to be diagnosed with type II diabetes and hypertension in 1998. I filed a claim for VA disability benefits in 2005 and ultimately was given a 40% disability rating by the VA due to periferal neuropathy in both feet. Late last year, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's. I just filed a claim for additional VA benefits for the PD, which, I believe, was caused by exposure to Agent Orange. I figured I wasn't alone. I found you after a simple, on-line search. I would love to see PD and hypertension added to the VA's presumptive list and I am looking forward to joining the campaign to make that happen.

Michael S. Flanagan, USN-RET

mflanagancla at yahoo dot com

(I've amended your email address to protect it from spambots. I've removed your contact information because of rule:
15. Do not post offline personal contact information (ie. your home address, phone numbers etc.) and do not ask for personal information from others. Modify your member profile in the Control Panel (VIEW IMAGE) at the top left corner of the forum to set privacy settings for your account. Use of full names (your first and last name) is allowed but strongly discouraged. This is to protect your security and identity.)

Post Edited By Moderator (Jeannie143) : 10/7/2008 12:19:24 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 1/16/2008 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Alan,

I am sorry to hear that you have Parkinson's Disease. I am writing on behalf of my father. He served in Vietnam from 69-70. He was diagnosed with Parkinsons when he was 46 and is currently 59 and now residing in a Nursing Home in Long Island. For 3 years my Mother and my family have tried to get the VA to acknowledge the link between Agent Orange and Parkinsons with no success. My email is matthewcoggin at aol dot com, please email me with any info you have.

Post Edited By Moderator (Jeannie143) : 10/7/2008 12:20:17 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 1/17/2008 6:07 AM (GMT 0)
Alan,
I am a grassroots volunteer for THE national advocacy organization for Parkinson's disease, Parkinson's Action Network (PAN). There are some folks involved with PAN who are Veterans and who were attempting to organize a group of Vets with PD. It is not a PAN-sponsored organization, but a separate group. Perhaps it's the same group you are involved with.

Anyhow, you could check with PAN to get contact info for this Veteran's group. PAN's website is www.parkinsonsaction.org If the PAN folks can't help, send me an email and I can put you in touch with someone who knows.

Hope this helps!
lizzy4451
lizzy4450 at yahoo dot com (yes, 4450 and not 4451 on the email)

Post Edited By Moderator (Jeannie143) : 10/7/2008 12:22:43 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/10/2008 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Alan -

My name is Emery Eno. I am a Viet Nam veteran and I have Parkinson's disease. I served as a Hospital Corpsman with the Third Marine Division in the Nothern I corps of the Republic of Vietnam. I was exposed sveral time to Agent Orange. I am applying for increased benefits as I am 61 years old and unable to work. Feel free to contact me..

Best regards,

Emery Eno
Posted 7/8/2008 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
I just found this site,looks interesting. I was at Cam Ranh 1966 - 67 threre was a huge depot where they stored agent orange close to us. I was diagnosed with Parkinson about 2 years ago. Can't seem to find anything from the V A if they are related. Maybe we could put items in the service Mag. like American Legion or V F W in ther in search of areas to see if there is more of us.
Posted 9/17/2008 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
I was at Cu Chi 69-70.  I don't know if I was exposed to AO or not.  I read some stuff that says now that it is assumed that everyone in RVN was exposed.  I have just been diagnosed with PD and I had prostate cancer back in '01. 

Posted 9/24/2008 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
 My name is Stoneyboy and I served with 3rd Bn 3rd Marines Jan 67 to Feb 68 and I was diagnosed with PD by the VA last month.  I am 62 and was tested for more than a year before being diagnosed.

In 1967 I spent several weeks atop of the Rock Pile with about 24 other Marines and a Corpsman.  While there one day a C-130 was spraying Agent Orange to the North of us.  The plane stopped its spraying operation and begins to fly toward us. When the plane was about 30 feet directly over head we could see the Pilot, Co-Pilot and a third crewman start to laugh, then they sprayed Agent Orange directly on use.  Unlike thousands of Marines and Soldiers who were exposed with over spray, we were completely socked to the bone.  There was little to no vegetation on the Rock Pile and there no need to spray it.  It was a simple case of some *** ***s having a little fun; how about this story!

 

I will be filing a claim like the rest, but the VA doctor said agent orange was not recognized by the  VA as a cause of Parkinson's.

I would like to have any helpful info and if you run across anyone else being sprayed on the Rock Pile let me know. 

Posted 10/1/2008 5:14 AM (GMT 0)
I was stationed near Quang Ngai in "69-70" and as an infantryman was tromping around several square miles of land. Our fire base was cleared of vegetation for a few miles in all directions. I was diagnosed last year with Parkinson's and have had type 2 diabetes for 15 years along with high blood pressure. I too would like any information available regarding VA benefits, etc.

Ken
Posted 10/11/2008 9:10 PM (GMT 0)

Hi my name is Linda, my husband has parkinsons and it is a direct result of being exposed to agent orange.  We have been working on trying to get the VA to recognize the link between the two.  Most of this has been done my husband Bill.  Our case is now before board of appeals waiting. 

I am very new to the use of computers, in fact my daughter is typing now. But I have come to believe my children in that the internet is  or can be a good source of information.

Posted 10/18/2008 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
I have put in a claim with the VA to get service conected with Ag Or should know in about 3 mo. They said it was not conected but did not object to me going ahead and filling. will let you know how it comes out.
Larry
Posted 10/29/2008 12:02 AM (GMT 0)

Sorry, I have not posted to this forum in a while.   Just to give you an update and let you know that our group is still working on this issue.   Our legislation is not moving this year.  However, on the political front we are still are not dead.  Congressman Filner the chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee,  personally stated that he would push our legislation in Jan 2009.   We also have a commitment from a Senator to put in a companion bill in the Senate.  

We had a very good presentation to the Institute of Medicine Agent Orange Review Committee in June 2008.  Thank your Steve and Lorenzo for all you hard work.  And thanks to Dr. Chris Reid who made a effort beyond the call of duty to get to the Committee meeting and present his finding on Vietnam Veterans and Parkinson's disease.  While we will not know th final results of their review until sometime in the summer of 2009,  our presentation was well recieved and provide the Committee with alot of new information to consider and new areas to explore.   We were able to get the Committee to look at the issue of combination of chemicals in regards to Parkinson's disease.   In Oct 2008, I had the opportunity of having lunch with Dr. Paxton the Staff Director for the Agent Orange Review Committee.   She was of course unable to discuss what any of the Committees work.  She did say that the committee had added a 14th member who bring more expertise on the issue of pesticides.

Also in October, I met with the Vietnam Veterans of America.  This is a great organization.  They are going to work on petitioning VA on the issue of Parkinson's disease.   Thank you Rick and Tom and all the great staff at VVA.

As always we are researching and looking for supportting studies for our efforts. 

Please excuse any mistyped or spelled word.  My finger are stiff and it is hard to type tonight.

Welcome home to each of our veterans and thank you for your service.

Alan

Posted 11/18/2008 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
I am a USMC  VN vet that served with 1st Anglico sub unit #1 from Mar 70- Feb 71 attached to the 2nd Brigade ROKMC (Blue Dragon) in Hoi An. I always wondered why the vegetation was so "not present" nor any wildlife for that matter. I guess I never thought about it long to ask any questions and who would have thought at 60 years old I would regret that experience. I was diagnosed with PD this past August and just getting around to registering in the AO registry. I will be filing a claim for PTSD as I have been diagnosed with that as well. Also my hearing isn't worth a S**T  & the ringing in my ears, often interferes with my daily life. I never wanted to pursue any claims because I felt there were more deserving needs than mine, but at this juncture in my life what the hell, I am going for it.

I would appreciate hearing for "old vet" and how I may participate in the group he has spoken of.

Posted 11/26/2008 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
Oldvet, yes I have Parkinson's and Agent Orange exposure. We used to make BBQ pits out of the drums. Then I was also in Desert Storm and have PTSD. Have you received any compensation for Parkinson's. I have not as of yet.
Posted 1/12/2009 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
If you have not contacted me at my email address [email protected] please do so.  I can give you an invite to our site where we store file and information.   I will be finishing a claim by months end that I can send out to vietnam veterans who have Parkinson's, it will include all of our studies.

Bless you all and thank you for your servicee

Posted 3/13/2009 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
What a great site! Just found out yesterday that I have Parkinsons and have had Type II Diabetes for 3-4 yrs. now. Spent '67&'68 in Vietnam, wouldn't give a quarter to do it again but would't take a million dollars for the experience. BLESS ALL OF OUR TROOPS PAST AND PRESENT!!
Posted 3/17/2009 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
I am the wife of a Vietnam Veteran who served as Marine and proud to be his wife. My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease at the age of 53. I did write Congressman Filner House of Veteran Affairs Chairman regarding the PD bill. I never heard anything back but I just read that PD was put on the list? Am I correct in this? My husband has never signed up for any of the benefits that I believe is due him as he is now 100% disabled. He has agreed to do so since I ahve been doing so much research into this subject.

I am truly amazed after reading all these e-mails how many veterans are affected by this dreadful disease. I certainly pray that all of our Vietnam Veterans are taken care of and remembered and not forgotten as the have in the past.

May you all be well and I hope that you have someone truly wonderful by your side as you go through this.
Posted 4/6/2009 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi David here.  I have had prostate cancer have parkinsons and was just diagnoised with type 2 diabetes.  A nice list of AO diseases.  If the VA wasnt concerned with parkinsons being a problem then why do they have 6 centers nationwide?

Posted 4/20/2009 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
I am a female air force vet with Parkinsons. I did not serve out of country, but would like to e-mail any other female vets with Parkinsons.  This is all new to me and I have a lot to learn. Thanks.

Posted 4/21/2009 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
I was asigned to HUa Hin Thailand on temporary duty frm the U.S. Army bio labs at Ft Detrick, Maryland in 1965. We were testing defioliants on a Thai army base about 20 miles south of Hua HIn. We srayed 5 days per week, alternating between agent orange, pink, purple and other defoliants.

In 1999, I got prostate cancer, and 2 years ago i got Parkinson's disease. Ther is no doubt in my mind that agent orange caused my illness.
Posted 5/7/2009 3:32 PM (GMT 0)

Good morning: My father has been suffering from Parkinson's since 2002, and served in Vietnam from 66-67. I'm trying to get supporting documentation for filing a claim for SC compensation so we get some assistance with Home care and Respite care for my mother.  I would appreciate receiving any studies that have done that would link Parkinson's and AO Dioxin exposure. My email address is [email protected], and I'm also a Vietnam Vet that served from 72-73, and we have no family history of this aliment.

Thanks Carl Young

Post Edited By Moderator (yekkimo) : 5/7/2009 5:54:45 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/17/2009 9:38 PM (GMT 0)

I served at Danang from 1969 to 1970 and maintained Ranch Hand (spray birds) aircraft. I contracted both Diabetes and Parkinson's. I queried the Veterans Department and they show no link between Agent Orange and Parkinsons. My doctor (George Wang) said it was definitely linked - Agent Orange caused this disease.

I am not angry at the government, but believe we need to be compensated for giving our bodies to the war.  

Posted 6/4/2009 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
I was in Vietnam in 1967. At 61 I was diagnosed with Parkinson's and I receive my PD meds from the VA. I'm 63 now and on SS disability. I have written my congrerssman supporting HR 1428. Do you think it will pass this year? I also have high blood pressure.
Posted 6/6/2009 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
My Dad is a Vietnam veteran who flew COD 1961 to 1964. He remembers hauling AO canisters into Vietnam. He has been diagnosed with Parkinson's and is being treated at the Long Beach Veterans' hospital. He is 86 and wheelchair bound. We are trying to learn about what is happening with legislation to include Parkinson's as associated with agent orange.
Posted 7/5/2009 4:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

My grandfather had served during vietnam, my father and grandmother along with my grandfather have been pushing for the connection of Agent Orange and parkinsons disease.

I have been doing some research on it and this is what i have found out,

Injection of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) into one striatum of a rat produced a marked depression in locomotor activity and circling behaviour and an increase in dopamine metabolism (Bortolozzi et al. 2001) indicated neurotoxicity in the basal ganglia. In pregnant rats treated with a 1:1 mixture of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid there was delayed ontogeny of brain dopamine (but not noradrenaline), together with a delay in the development of certain neurobehaviour in pups (Mohammad and St Omer 1985).

Reference: http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2005/8095/supplemental.pdf



The two acids you see there, are the base of

Phenoxyl Herbicide Iso-Octyl ester, this herbicide is 'Agent Orange '

2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T).

As you can tell by the study done on the rats it had a decrease in the locomotor activity and circling behavior.

Dopamine has many functions in the brain, including important roles in behavior and cognition, voluntary movement, motivation and reward, inhibition of prolactin production (involved in lactation), sleep, mood, attention, and learning. Dopaminergic neurons (i.e., neurons whose primary neurotransmitter is dopamine) are present chiefly in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the midbrain, the substantia nigra pars compacta, and the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus.

Parkinson's disease's is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the death of dopaminergic neurons in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra. The major symptoms of Parkinson's disease include tremor, akinesia, bradykinesia, and stiffness.[26] Other symptoms include disturbances to posture, fatigue, sleep abnormalities, and depression.[27]

The cause of death of dopaminergic neurons in the pars compacta is unknown. However, some contributions to the unique susceptibility of dopaminergic neurons in the pars compacta have been identified. For one, dopaminergic neurons show abnormalities in mitochondrial complex 1, causing aggregation of alpha-synuclein. This could result in abnormal protein handling and neuron death.[28] Secondly, dopaminergic neurons in the pars compacta contain less calbindin than other dopaminergic neurons.[29] Calbindin is a protein involved in calcium ion transport within cells, and excess calcium in cells is toxic. The calbindin theory would explain the high cytotoxicity of Parkinson's in the substantia nigra compared to the ventral tegmental area. Regardless of the cause of neuronal death, the plasticity of the pars compacta is very robust; Parkinsonian symptoms do not appear until up to 50-80% of pars compacta dopaminergic neurons have died.[30] Most of this plasticity occurs at the neurochemical level; dopamine transport systems are slowed, allowing dopamine to linger for longer periods of time in the chemical synapses in the striatum.[30]

striatum. What I have somewhat put together is that if a large enough dose was taken of the Phenoxyl Herbicide, then it would increase the decrease of locomotor skils, and also afftect the dopamine. Which would in turn cause death of the dopaminergi neurons. I am currently putting a large file together, and trying to connect the dots to bring to our congress.
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