The Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) has recently reversed course and awarded benefits to an Air Force veteran that piloted an airplane carrying the toxic defoliant, Agent Orange. The pilot, Paul Bailey, was awarded full benefits for his service during and after Vietnam flying a C-123 plane carrying Agent Orange. Veteran Paul Bailey is now suffering with cancer that has been caused by the toxic defoliant. His story has been outlined in two Washington Post articles found here and here.
Traditionally, these claims have been denied by the VA because the VA limited Agent Orange claims to just a few service members that served, primarily, in Vietnam. However, the VA has slowly opened up to allow benefits to those who served in other areas and now allow benefits for veterans that served in Vietnam, Korea, Thailand, crew members of C-123 planes that carried Agent Orange and even for veterans that were part of tests or otherwise contributed to the use or destruction of Agent Orange. A breakdown of some of the possible claims considered by the VA can be found on the VA website.
This news could have an important impact on your VA claim. While the VA claims process is time consuming and difficult, these new findings could make your claim easier. Therefore, if you are a Gulf Coast veteran that served during the Vietnam War or otherwise has been in contact with Agent Orange and you are suffering with medical conditions that could have been caused by your contact with Agent Orange, please call the experienced attorneys at Gardberg & Kemmerly, P.C., to have your claim reviewed.