I have parkinson's disease diagnosed at the young age of 52. My research
shows that the progression of this can begin decades before diagnosis
and as there is no family history of this it is most likely due to
environmental exposure to Herbicides/pesticides.
I enlisted in the USAF and served my country with pride during the
Vietnam war. I have been informed that service members who become
afflicted with Parkinson's and served in the country of Vietnam are
PRESUMED to have this as a result of exposure to herbicides that were
used by US military to control growth of vegetation. Those veterans who
served in Vietnam are compensated for their disability. To receive
this compensation the veteran need only show that they served "Boots on
the ground" in country even if only for a day.
These same herbicides were also used in many other countries for the
same purpose. Among those other countries is Thailand which is where I
served my tour of duty in Takhli,Thailand 1972/73. As I suspected that
my disease was due to herbicide exposure and the only time in my
life that I was exposed was during my military service I applied to the
VA for the compensation that I feel is due. Approximately 1 yr later I
received my answer. NO. They stated that these herbicides were
never used or stored in Thailand. Of course this statement was easily
proven false. I then reapplied and again the answer is NO. I must
show when and where exposure took place and these herbicides were
only used near the base perimeter. So I need to show when and where
was I near the perimeter? As an aircraft tech I worked on the flight
line which is pretty close.
What exactly is near the perimeter I ask? 100 yards? 50 feet? Near
the perimeter is very vague. So the question I have is this: Is my
disease somehow different than that of the service member who served in
Vietnam? Were the chemicals used in Thailand not disbursed by the wind
as they were in Vietnam?
If it can be assumed that a vet serving in Vietnam is entitled to
disability compensation simply by being there It should also be assumed
that the vet serving in other areas where the same chemicals were used
are also entitled to the same treatment. I am now 100 percent disabled
and the cost of treating this disease continues to rise. help would be
a good thing . Many of my fellow Thailand vets also would appreciate
what can best be described as equal treatment Thank you.
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