OUR COUNTY

D. Gary Davis

County Mayor

With Veterans Day this week, I wanted to give some information that may be helpful to local veterans who are in need of assistance with health care. Veterans have earned and deserve the support and assistance from the federal government, and I would like to encourage veterans to take advantage of these services.

The Bradley County Veterans Service Office assists veterans in obtaining Veterans Affairs (VA) health care. Also, a number of Vietnam veterans are eligible for compensation based upon diagnosed diseases that were the result of exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Although there are many veterans organizations represented locally, there are veterans who are still not aware that they are eligible for VA benefits.

Many Vietnam veterans have medical problems related to Agent Orange. Agent Orange was an herbicide, or defoliant, used in Vietnam to kill plant life that would provide cover for the enemy. Agent Orange received its name from the orange stripe on the 55 gallon drums in which the chemical was stored. The spraying of herbicides covered more that 3.5 million acres in all of the four military zones in Vietnam.

Veterans can receive treatment for and/or obtain disability compensation for Agent Orange illnesses. Section 102, Public Law 104-262, the Veterans’ Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996, provides that VA is required to furnish hospital care and medical services, and possibly furnish nursing home care to veterans exposed to herbicides in Vietnam.

The following diseases are considered presumptive regarding service connection for Vietnam veterans based on exposure to Agent Orange: chloracne (a skin disorder), porphyria cutaniea tarda, acute or subacute transient peripheral neuropathy (a nerve disorder), Type 2 diabetes, numerous cancers, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Diseases that have onset after a diagnosis of diabetes such as certain heart diseases or strokes may also be considered service related.

Veterans should contact the Bradley County Veterans Service Office to file for compensation and enroll in the VA health care system if they have one of the diseases mentioned as presumptive to Agent Orange exposure. Also, if a Vietnam veteran has died as the result of one of the aforementioned diseases, the widow or minor child should also file for compensation. This compensation may also be paid in addition to Social Security benefits.

I urge all Vietnam veterans who have not already done so to contact the local Veterans Service Office to set up an Agent Orange medical examination by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Director Gary Benefield and Service Officer Travis Harwood will explain the compensation program in detail. Also, Gary and Travis can assist veterans (or widows) who need help in applying for compensation.

Gary and Travis can be reached at 728-7100. Their office is located in the Bradley County Court House Annex at 155 Broad Street, NW, Cleveland, TN 37311. Veterans may also call the VA toll free at 1.800.827.1000 for additional assistance.

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Veterans Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice (later changed to Veterans) Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…" I invite everyone to join me this Saturday at Johnston Park at 11:00 for the Bradley County Veterans Day Service.