"Vietnam vets only got 1/2 of the disability approvals they should have had. Korean vets should have had the same, plus the others they did get approved. Gulf war vets have no Presumptive list , sadly; not even ALS which they have higher incidence of (most exposure to 2-butoxyethanol is what I think)"
by DaveBarker:
ALS can be related to Persian Gulf War veterans. The very first service connected ALS case approved was one of my clients. We won the case in an appeal in an in person BVA hearing.
Korean veterans who were exposed to herbicides are given the same consideation as those in Vietnam. Herbicide use in Korea was limited to a short period 1967-69 and in the DMZ area.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion. However service connection of exposure to a disease is more than just opinion. The condition must be scientifically linked to exposure and the studies must be strong enough to convince the politicians to approve the scientific results. That is not easy to do.
I have been working on Agent Orange (and other chemical) issues since 1977. Many thousands of veterans have been interviewed by me (as their service officer) when they applied for compensation. In 1983 my Agent Orange articles began to be published. After a few years they were formed into a book which has been revised many times. The first several chapters have not seen modification, however chapters were added as needed.
My work uses several sources, including the National Academy of Sciences book "VETERANS AND AGENT ORANGE" as well as the UPDATES which have been about every 2 years.
The problem is the acceptance of science by the politicians. After the scientists and physicians give their opinions, the results are then reviewed by VA lawyers. Their opinions are then reviewed and either accepted, or rejected by the political administration in power at the time.
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Dear Maggie:
Doctors for WWII vets are really stumped, because they want to look in the direction of Agent Orange for the ailments these came down with ... & of course it is not a choice for them.
Congratulations on helping your ALS 'gulf war syndrome' vet for getting disability approved. Must have been very hard to appear in person with that aillment ...
Sadly, it is not a presumptively approved disability for this group ... even with the 'stand out' harm in that category ... or in any of the 'higher incidences' reported by this group.
I still contend that the common chemical of harm for the 30s - present day is 2-butoxyethanol ... and a stronger version of it probably from the male tanks of WWI & other war periods.
For those who will look at the bigger picture, the pattern is there in all these groups. Simply put, you are looking for the CFIDS biomarkers, and doctors, to date, do not know what the fatigue is (AIHA or approaching AIHA is what this chemical would cause - New term is Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia)
Too bad Korean Vets' disability approval is limited to any times they were around Dioxin. I noticed that. The list, I firmly believe, is unfairly limited. It should be expanded.
Why do our health-damaged soldiers have to fight so? I think it is a blight on our Nation.
Approve them all, that's what I think!
How hard is this for the ailments that show up during service: they were healthy before they entered; not well during their service? These, at the very least, should be easily approved.
For others, they will definitely remember a serious FLU, or multilple bouts of diarrhea and flu-like symptoms. I did a 'chemical profile' regarding possible exposure to this chemical for one of our Citizens a few months ago. I suspect his being in Korea was one of them. Our Jeff
Today's soldier says, "I need help"
As to 'gulf war syndrome'
Why I think the USA can't find the real cause
I'm just a nobody who stumbled onto the fatigue of CFIDS ... & want to do my part to help my country & the service people who have fought for our freedom
Help your doctors out, but giving them a little more info
What's different on my opinion, is that it is based on recognizing the signs of 2-butoxyethanol poisoning. Spent 4 years on it. Recognize it. Not unlike the NASA man did in his field one day.
These Issues? should be the presumptive list for everyone in military service + MORE
Korean Vets Presumptive Approvals *
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Thanks Maggie a big A&W Root 
DaveBarker
Children of Vietnam War Veterans Affected by Agent Orange
http://forums.military.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=78919038&f=739197221&m=6331984331&r=1930091890001#1930091890001
