untitledAGENT ORANGE INFO

Some Brief Descriptions Of Diseases

Chloracne: A skin condition that looks like common forms of acne seen in teeagers. The first sign may be excessive oiliness of the skin. This is accompanied or followed by numerous blackheads. In mild cases, the blackheads may be limited to the areas around the eyes extending to the temples. In more severe cases, blackheads may appear in many places, especially over the cheekbone and other facial areas, behind the ears, and along the arms.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: A group of malignant tumors (cancers) that affect the lymph glands and other lymphatic tissue. These tumors are relatively rare compared to other types of cancer, and although survival rates have improved during the past two decades, these diseases tend to be fatal.

Soft tissue sarcoma: A group of different types of malignant tumors (cancers) that arise from body tissues such as muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels, and connective tissues (not in hard tissue such as bone or cartilage). These cancers are in the soft tissue that occurs within and between organs.

Hodgkin's disease: A malignant lymphoma characterized by progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, and by progressive anemia.

Porphyria cutanea tarda: A disorder characterized by liver dysfunction and by thinning and blistering of the skin in sun-exposed areas.

Multiple myeloma: A cancer of specific bone marrow cells that is characterized by bone marrow tumors in various bones of the body.

Respiratory cancers: Cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus.

Prostate cancer: Cancer of the prostate; one of the most common cancers among men.

Peripheral neuropathy (transient acute or subacute): A nervous system condition that causes numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness. This condition affects only the peripheral nervous system, that is, only the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord. Only the transietn acute (short-term) and subacute forms of this condition (not the chronic persistent form) have been associated with herbicide exposure.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (regulations pending): A disease that progresses slowly with increasing production of excessive numbers of white blood cells.

Spina bifida (in the children of Vietnam veterans): A neural tube birth defect that results from the failure of the bony portion of the spine to close properly in the developing fetus during early pregnancy.

Diabetes mellitus: Often referred to as Type 2 diabetes; a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels resulting from the body's inability to respond properly to the hormone insulin.

Other (than spinal bifida) disabilities in the children of women Vietnam veterans: Covered birth defects include a wide range of conditions. Eighteen defects are specifically included and others not specifically excluded are covered.

VA CLAIMS SECONDARY TO DIABETES

CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

In this chronic disease, atherosclerosis narrows the coronary arteries, the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle. As the coronary arteries narrow, the chest pain called angina may be triggered. And the risk of a heart attack (myocardial infarction), which occurs when a coronary artery is blocked completely, is increased. Coronary artery disease currently affects 11 million people in the United States.

RIGHT UPPER EXTREMITY DIABETIC NEUROPATHY

LEFT UPPER EXTREMITY DIABETIC NEUROPATHY

RIGHT LOWER EXTREMITY DIABETIC NEUROPATHY

LEFT LOWER EXTREMITY DIABETIC NEUROPATHY

Examinations for diabetic neuropathy assess muscle strength, deep tendon reflexes, and sense of touch (temperature, pinprick or pressure sensation, vibratory sensation, position sense). Different functions are affected in different individuals, and symptoms may be out of proportion to the findings on examination. Diagnostic criteria are based on some combination of symptoms, focused neurologic examination, nerve conduction studies, and special quantitative sensory tests, but some tests are difficult and time consuming, and not all are ordinarily done.

RIGHT FOOT ONYCHOMYCOSIS

What are the skin complications? In addition to infections (for example, Candida, dermatophytes, and bacterial infections) and ulcers, there are several specific conditions that may affect diabetics. Onychomycosis due to Epidermophyton floccosum (Toenail Fungus)

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

The examiner reviewed the medical records, examined the veteran, and provided the diagnosis of: Diabetes Mellitus. The examiner noted conditions as being secondary to the diabetes: Erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and neuropathy. The veteran reported to the examiner that attempts to alleviate the erectile dysfunction with medication had failed.

ANALYSIS: Entitlement to special monthly compensation is warranted in this case because criteria regarding loss of use of a creative organ were met from This case has been reviewed pursuant to the class action Nehmer v. United States Veterans Administration, Civil Action No. C86-6 160 TEll (N.D.). An effective date of 04-30-0 1 has been assigned. This is the date on which the VA received the claim that resulted in the grant of compensation. The rule stated in 38 USC 5110(g) and 38 CFR 3.114 that an award based on liberalizing law may not be effective earlier than the effective date of the new law does not apply to Nehmer cases.

RENAL DISEASE

You need to have your doctor request regular 24 hour urine protein tests. They give you a plastic jug and you take it home, follow the directions and fill it up over 24 hours and then return it to the lab. They should also do a creatine test. The lab report will tell you the amount of microalbumin present. Creatin tests will also give an indication of the amount of renal damage and the efficiency of your kidneys. In order to be valid or acceptable to the VA there needs to be several 24 hour tests over a period.

DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

impairment or loss of vision due to damage to the blood vessels of the retina.

CATARACT

clouding or opaqueness of the lens of the eye.

GLAUCOMA

Increased fluid pressure in the eye. Causes loss of visual fields due to optic nerve damage.

Types of Cancer

1. Cancer of the Bronchus

2. Cancer of the Larynx

3. Lung Cancer

4. Cancer of the Trachea

5. Prostate Cancer

6. Hodgkin's Disease

7. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

8. Multiple Myeloma

9. Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Soft Tissue Sarcomas***

1. Adult Fibrosarcoma

2. Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma

3. Angiosarcoma

4. Clear Cell Sarcoma of Apaneuroses

5. Clear Cell Sarcoma of Tendons

6. Congenital Fibrosarcoma

7. Dermotofibrosarcoma Protuberans

8. Ectomesenchymoma

9. Epithelioid Malignant

10. Leiomyosarcoma

11. Epithelioid Malignant Schwannoma

12. Epithelioid Sarcoma

13. Extraskeletal Ewing's Sarcoma

14. Hemangiosarcoma

15. Infantile Fibrosarcoma

16. Leiomyosarcoma

17. Liposarcoma

18. Lymphangiosarcoma

19. Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma

20. Malignant Ganglioneuroma

21. Malignant Giant Cell Tumor of the Tendon Sheath

22. Malignant Glandular Schwannoma

23. Malignant Glomus Tumor

24. Malignant Granular cell Tumor

25. Malignant Hemangiopericytoma

26. Malignant Schwannoma with Rhabdomyoblastic differentiation

27. Proliferationg (Systemic)

28. Angiendotheliomatosis

29. Rhabdomyosarcoma

30. Synovial Sarcoma

Other Conditions

1. Chloracne

2. Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

3. Diabetes Mellitus, Type II and all related complications

4. Spina Bifida in children of male Vietnam Veterans

5. Birth Defects in children of female Vietnam Veterans

6. Any other cancer that can be linked to the chemicals contained in the

herbicide known as "Agent Orange" by a creditable source, i.e.: Doctor, Scientists, etc.

7. Residuals (Secondary conditions attributed to the primary condition) of

all of the above

*Surviving Spouses and Dependent Children may qualify for benefits

**8-16-06 federal court ordered VA to include Blue Water Navy, VA has created

STAY of decisions

*** Other than: Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, or mesothelioma

BIRTH DEFECT DEFINITIONS

Some definitions below of those that are not obvious of the defect name itself for your reference.

Achondroplasia = A child with achondroplasia has a relatively normal torso and short arms and legs. The upper arms and thighs are more shortened than the forearms and lower legs. Generally, the head is large, the forehead is prominent, and the nose is flat at the bridge. Sometimes, the large head size reflects hydrocephalus (excess fluid in the brain), and requires surgery.

Esophageal and intestinal atresia = The absence or closure of a normal body orifice or tubular passage such as the anus, intestine, esophagus, or external ear canal.

Hallerman-Streiff syndrome = Hallerman-Streiff syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by a peculiar bird facies, mandibular and maxillary hypoplasia, dyscephaly, cataracts, microphtalmia, hypotrichosis, skin atrophy, and short stature. Dental abnormalities are present in 80 percent of the cases and include malocclusion, crowding, severe caries, supernumerary and neonatal teeth, enamel hypoplasia, hypodontia, premature eruption of primary dentition, agenesis of permanent teeth, and anterior displacement or absence of condyles

Hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis = Hydrocephalus comes from the Greek: "hydro" means water, "cephalus" means head. Hydrocephalus is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within cavities called ventricles inside the brain.

Aqueductal stenosis is the enlargement of the lateral and 3rd ventricles with a normal 4th ventricle.

Hypospadias = Hypospadias is a birth defect found in boys in which the urinary tract opening is not at the tip of the penis.

Imperforate anus = Imperforate anus is a congenital absence or obstruction of the anal opening.

Neural tube defects (including spina bifida, encephalocele, and anencephaly)

An encephalocele is the herniation of the brain through a congenital or traumatic opening in the cranium. Alterations and distortions of the surrounding facial structures, such as deformities of the naso-orbital skeleton due to an absence or separation of bone in the midline of the face, are complications of encephaloceles due to their position and size.

An anencephaly is the neural tube is a narrow sheath that folds and closes between the 3rd and 4th wks of pregnancy (roughly 21 to 28 days after conception) to form the brain and spinal cord. When the cephalic or head end of the tube fails to close properly, it results in the absence of the major portion of the brain, skull and at times scalp. Infants are born without a fore-brain (the thinking and coordinating area) and are usually blind, deaf, and unconscious and are unable to feel pain. Infants may exhibit reflex actions, such as respiration and responses to touch and sound.

Poland syndrome =Poland syndrome consists of a deficiency of subcutaneous fat and muscles on one side of the body. It may include underdevelopment of the arm, hand, and fingers on the same side, and may be associated with other conditions such as Moebius syndrome or Klippel-Feil syndrome. The right side of the body is affected twice as often as the left.

Poland syndrome does seem to affect males more commonly than females.

Symptoms:

Poland syndrome has several distinctive symptoms:

Chest muscle deformities - absence of the pectoralis minor and the breastbone part of the pectoralis major

Underdevelopment or absence of breast or nipple on the affected side

Patchy absence of hair under the arm on the affected side

Additional symptoms on the affected side may include:

Underdeveloped or missing ribs

Underdeveloped arm, hand, and fingers

Abnormally short, webbed fingers

Small, elevated scapula (shoulder bone), called Sprengel deformity

Pyloric stenosis = Pyloric stenosis is the narrowing of part of the stomach (the pylorus).

Tracheoesophageal fistula = A fistula is a connection between two tubes. The breathing tube that connects the nose and mouth with the lungs is called the trachea. The esophagus is the swallowing tube. The breathing tube and the swallowing tube aren't supposed to be connected. However, when a child has a tracheoesophageal fistula, the fistula connects the two tubes. This means that food or milk in the stomach can get into the lungs. This can cause breathing problems and even pneumonia.

Williams syndrome = Many people with Williams Syndrome exhibit autistic behaviors. This includes: developmental and language delays, problems in gross motor skills, hypersensitivity to sounds, being picky eaters, and perseverating.

These individuals differ from the typical autistic individual because they also have cardiovascular abnormalities, high blood pressure, elevated calcium levels, and are very sociable. They also have unique pixie-like facial features--almond shaped eyes, oval ears, full lips, small chins, narrow faces, and broad mouths.

Many of these conditions and symptoms seemed to overlap in many symptoms and severity and I would assume there is some gold standard amongst the symptoms that some predetermined two or three characteristics make a confirmed diagnosis of one or the other. Similar to the differential of which autoimmune disease is being diagnosed. Otherwise, it was just be a doctor’s opinion of what the disorder is related.

Dandy Walker Syndrome

(The Board of Veterans Appeals approved Dandy Walker Syndrome for some paternal exposures and then denied some of the others.)

Neurologic conditions including lissencephaly, microgyria and agenesis of the corpus callosum are also mentioned as related to Dandy Walker cysts and thus within the spectrum of neural tube defects.