Agent Orange Town Hall to Explain Veteran Benefits

Vietnam veterans and their families are invited to attend a town hall on Saturday, July 22 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Leominster to receive information on the impact of the chemical Agent Orange and benefits and services available for veterans who were exposed to the chemical. The town hall will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at the hotel and is open to all veterans. Agent Orange, named for the orange band around the storage barrel, was a herbicide widely used by the U.S. military from 1962-75. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the military sprayed millions of gallons of Agent Orange and other herbicides on trees and vegetation during the Vietnam War. Veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange include those in Vietnam, the Korean Demilitarized Zone, on Thai Air Force bases, and aircrews who flew or worked on C-123 aircraft. Concerns about the health effects from these chemicals, including dioxin, a byproduct of Agent Orange production, continue, the VA reports. Staff of VA and local veteran service organizations will be on hand to schedule appointments to assist veterans in determining their eligibility to file claims with the federal Veterans Benefits Administration. Speakers will explain the history of Agent Orange, its related diseases, and the benefits and VA claims process for seeking service-connected disability. “There are many veterans in our region, including many of their spouses and family members, who don’t know about the benefits they’re eligible for in regards to illnesses and diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides during military service in Vietnam, Thailand and Korea” said Rick Voutour, director of the City of Leominster Veterans Center, which provides assistance to veterans in Leominster, Lancaster and Sterling. Voutour said it is particularly important to inform family members of Vietnam veterans, specifically spouses, because benefits can be significant for a spouse if a veteran passes away. For example, if a Vietnam veteran files for a service-connected disability from exposure to Agent Orange and then passes away, spouses could receive significant tax-free compensation, plus other state and federal benefit. There are more than 40 “presumptive” illnesses and diseases recognized by VA as connected to Agent Orange herbicide exposure, including bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinson’s like symptoms. The town hall is hosted by the City of Leominster Veterans Center, with support from the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System, which oversees VA outpatient clinics in Fitchburg and Worcester. Although the number of veterans exposed to Agent Orange is undetermined, about 120,000 veterans, or about 30% of the more than 350,000 veterans, who live in Massachusetts are Vietnam veterans. There are approximately 13,500 Vietnam veterans in Worcester County, according to VA and U.S. Census Bureau numbers. Representatives from the Veterans Administration will be at the town hall to provide information on VA health care treatment for Agent Orange related diseases and on Hepatitis C. Veterans are encouraged to bring a copy of their DD Form 214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”) to assist benefit counselors and enrollment coordinators in determining eligibility for VA health care and other programs. (http://www.leominsterchamp.com July 21)