The Virginian-Pilot
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U.S. Sen. Jim Webb is challenging the Veterans Administration's desire to cover treatment for coronary heart disease, B-cell leukemia and Parkinson's disease in Vietnam War veterans who may have been exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange.
The Virginia Democrat said the VA hasn't fully explained to Congress why it presumes those three ailments are linked to service in Vietnam.
The financial stakes are high - treating the veterans could cost at least $42 billion over 10 years, Webb wrote in a June 4 letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki.
Webb successfully added an amendment to a House spending bill that, if passed, would block the new benefit for at least 60 days so that Congress can determine if it is necessary. The spending bill is headed to a House-Senate conference committee.
If approved, about 86,000 veterans or their survivors, who had been denied coverage for the three ailments, would be eligible for retroactive payments of about $12.2 billion, and about 67,400 new claims would require payments of more than $1 billion, according to the VA.
"This is not in any way an issue as to whether we support our veterans," said Webb, a former Navy secretary and a decorated Vietnam veteran, when he introduced the amendment in late May. "I take a back seat to no one in my concern for our veterans."
Congress needs the VA to more clearly explain why it has decided include the three ailments, he said.
The assumption when considering such benefits, Webb said, is that everyone who served in Vietnam was exposed to Agent Orange, meaning a large pool of former service members can be affected.
The 1991 Agent Orange Act was enacted to care for "relatively rare conditions with a positive association between exposure and the disease," Webb wrote in his letter.
Over time the list of ailments has been expanded to include "common diseases of aging," he wrote. Prostate cancer was added in 1996 and Type 2 diabetes in 2001.
By 2009, more than 263,000 veterans - about 10 percent of those who served in Vietnam - were getting disability compensation for diabetes, he wrote. Adding that heart disease would dramatically expand that number, he said.
Dave Autry, a spokesman for Disabled American Veterans, said the group is not taking sides in the issue and wants the VA and Congress to work out their differences. "We sort of have an ambiguous view of the issue," Autry said, adding that he is not aware of any outcry from veterans for coverage of those diseases.
A spokesperson for the VA said Monday that agency officials are in contact with Webb's office and hopes to work out their differences.
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All, in all, what Senator Webb is trying to accomplish is not only shocking, but disgusting. We have served our country, followed our leaders, and are now being left to rot. Does this seem fair? When these very people were the ones to send us over, and then infect us with Agent Orange? One wonders if Senator Webb was infected or being affected by A.O. if his tune would be a little different within Congress. Or maybe it wouldn't matter as long as his pockets were still being lined, and he could afford his own health-care. Whatever the reason, wrong is wrong. And what he is trying to accomplish isn't right. Period.
Senator Webb is a JOKE
How can Webb get up in the morning and look in the mirror after his recent stance on Viet Nam Veterans benefits. How can one man have all that power and control in the quality of life me, and other individuals like me, have left.
I find it hard to believe that Webbs' motives have any merit at all. Maybe we should send all our money to other countries for their benefits and let them take care of their Veterans. I was in Viet Nam during the Tet Offense in 1968 so my tour was no different than Webbs.
This move by Senator Webb is madness, but ingenious at the same time; let us (The Government) wait a few more years and most of us (The Vets) will be gone. Virginia, as a state, needs direction in its' electoral process. If this is what the democrats do while in office, then let’s put a republican in and stop the madness that is Senator Webb.
I'm on permanent Social Security Disability and have ischemic heart disease, along with Diabetes and the onset of what appears to be Parkinson’s disease.
All, in all, what Senator Webb is trying to accomplish is not only shocking, but disgusting. We have served our country, followed our leaders, and are now being l
heart disease and parkinson disease
Hi all,
This is my first post. I happen to have both of the diseases and I have been counting on the extra monies to help out with my caregiving while I'm still around. I think this thing with Senator Webb is political. I can't understand why he would do this being a Vietnam Vet himself. It just does'nt make sense.
$300 Mln Tagged For Agent Orange Cleanup
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HANOI, Vietnam -- Thirty-five years after the Vietnam War, a $300 million price tag has been placed on the most contentious legacy still tainting U.S.-Vietnam relations: Agent Orange.
An action plan released Wednesday called for the first time on the U.S. government and other donors to provide an estimated $30 million annually over 10 years to clean up sites still contaminated by dioxin, a toxic chemical used in the defoliant.
The funding would also be used to treat Vietnamese suffering from disabilities, including those believed linked to Agent Orange exposure.
Washington has been slow to address the issue, quibbling for years with its former foe over the need for more scientific research to show that the herbicide sprayed by U.S. aircraft during the war caused health problems and birth defects among Vietnamese.
"We are talking about something that is a major legacy of the Vietnam War, a major irritant in this important relationship," said Walter Isaacson, co-chair of the joint U.S.-Vietnam working group that released the report. "The cleanup of our mess from the Vietnam War will be far less costly than the Gulf oil spill t
Vets Benefits
Did I read this story right? Webb wants to BLOCK benefits of veterans exposed to Agent Orange, just to save the government a few bucks? Something sounds fishy...
you are wrong
You did not red the story right. Sen Webb want the government to delay adding payment for 3 diseases, attributed more to aging, than agent orange to the long list of diseases already allowed for payment. There are 12 currently considered caused by agent orange and are considered a service connected disability, including diabetes. Sen Web just want to somehow separate heart disease caused by agent orange and heart disease caused by aging.
diseases caused by agent orange
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/diseases.asp
How is it possible to
How is it possible to separate heart disease caused by agent orange and heart disease caused by aging? The whole idea of presumptive is they can't tell exactly what caused it but there is a connection between it and herbicide exposure. Rather than deny someone who's heart disease was actually caused by herbicide exposure all boots on ground Vietnam vets are covered under the presumption.
This amendment has to do with money. Come election time Sen. Webb can boast how he is saving the tax payer billions, So what if the Vietnam vets are dying at the rate of 300+ a day.