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Numerous individuals have written about receiving an MG diagnosis, wondering if it was caused by their previous exposure to agent orange while serving in the Vietnam War.
The exact cause of MG is unknown, but studies suggest people biologically have genes or other unknowns, which puts them at higher risk of showing MG symptoms. Something must trigger symptoms to begin appearing, but research indicates there are numerous triggers, not all known.
There is not enough investigation on the relationship between MG and agent orange. However, multiple conditions have been confirmed to possibly have been caused by the herbicide used to clear vegetation for military operations, including various cancers.
The number of people with MG and previous exposure to agent orange would appear to warrant research into this. Are you one of these individuals? What are your thoughts on this possible MG cause?
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Hi Ms. Jodi – So nice of you to think about us and asking the question.
I served in Viet Nam near the DMZ and Danang in 1970/71, and filed a VA Claim re: gMG due to Agent Orange exposure. It was denied.
I have done a bit of research on this topic and there does appear that there is not sufficient numbers reported to make gMG claimable.
I know a guy that has Parkinson’s and gMG. Because he was in Viet Nam and exposed to Agent Orange the VA presumed that the gMG was resultant and he receives disability moneys for both.
I would think if one had access to the VA health records, a sort could be made that might capture both Viet Nam service and gMG. Too simple. I wonder what a Significant Sample would produce.
The problem is, How can one prove?
I would guess that the vast majority of members of this forum that have a form of MG and served in Viet Nam are few.
I am being treated at DeBakey VA Hospital in Houston and get good care. In some ways better than many insurance companies provide.
The benefit, to me, having this disease being caused by Agent Orange would be an increase in Disability Rating and would result in a few extra dollars per month.
At the end of the day, that acknowledgement/designation/rating will not put the disease in remission.
Scott
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Hi.
I was recently diagnosed with Ocular myasthenia gravis. I served in Vietnam 1966-1968 in the central highland and was exposed to Agent Orange via spraying, and working in ranch-hand C123’s.
I have been complaining to my Ophthalmologist for more than 5 years about double vision, which would come and go, and of course never when I was at the office. He always said it was dry eye. Last summer it became so bad that I had to wear an eye patch to function. The Dr. said I needed special glasses, so after spending $$$ on glasses, which didn’t work because my eye kept changing, he finally sent me to a Neuro-Ophthalmologist (6 month wait for appointment) who thought it might be Acquired Brown Syndrome, but to be sure he had me do a blood test for MG. Sure enough it was MG. He put me on Pyridostigmine 4 times a day. After about 1 week I was able to stop wearing the patch and my eyes are functioning nearly normally. The brain is correcting for some of the shift (since it still isn’t perfect.
I submitted a disability claim to the VA and the response was “show us scientific evidence”!!!
Have found a few references to AO and other autoimmune diseases. But like so many other things the VA won’t admit that it is connected.
I am hoping I’m in the 15% that doesn’t progress to gMG.
Will fight it with VA Disability Lawyer once I get a formal denial.
John
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I am a Vietnam Vet with MG. I was lucky that my primary doc at the VA notice my eyes before I had a lot of problems, but it took several months for the final diagnosis. I made a big mistake by going to the VA for treatment (I was warned). In 2013 a memorandum was signed making VA hospitals an integral part of residency training for the nation’s physicians. All the resident doc’s (??? NG’s) rotate in and out ever few months leaving you with no continuity in service. To top that off the head of neology here is a gas-lighter. He has gone so far as to deny treatment. One of the times he said “I don’t want to waste a hundred thousand dollars.” Look up gas-lighting, medical gas-lighting and psychological warfare. It’s all the same.
The VA does counts MG as a disability if you were diagnose within ten year of getting out of service and can prove it.
The VA kind of ignores the words “Agent Orange”. They like to combine everything under “pesticide”. That includes herbicides and insecticides, plus????
Malaria pills (chloroquine) and insect repellent (DEET) may have been worse than AO. Several places in the Central highland of Vietnam are high in lithium if you were there. Diesel exhaust can cause immune system problems. I was in an armored unit.
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Hi John –
After I got my formal letter of denial from the VA, I contacted an attorney that specializes in VA Health Claims and was told that there is nothing that they can do.
I would be most interested in the response that you get after you contact an attorney.
Good luck with your MG and hope, for you, it does not turn into gMG.
Scott
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I have found a very interesting case that will probably interest our members.
Citation Nr: 1539119
Decision Date: 09/14/15 Archive Date: 09/24/15DOCKET NO. 11-05 846 ) DATE
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)On appeal from the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Cleveland, Ohio.
This appeal is a case that answers how to get myasthenia gravis as service related. If you can’t find it, let me know and I will send a copy. I found it on the VA website. Contact with a VSO will probably also help.
The VA is no different that the military. Certain words or phrases must be used to establish your point. This is also true in legal proceedings. For the VA, these words are:
- A Veteran is entitled to the benefit of the doubt when there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence.
- When a Veteran seeks benefits and the evidence is in relative equipoise, the Veteran prevails.
- that it was his opinion (Personal Doctor) that it was more than likely the Veteran’s myasthenia gravis was related to his military duty.
- As there is no medical evidence against the claim, and the competent medical evidence of record relates his myasthenia gravis to in service herbicide exposure.
However, these statements from the court record does not mean it would be an easy battle. Most veterans that served in the specified area are also probably eligible for other disability issues and also service-connected ratings.
I know a number of veterans that served with me or during my tour of duty, 67-68. Typical disability ratings are for PTSD, loss of hearing, wounds, high blood pressure, and several others. Check the assumed illnesses caused by Agent Orange since they have been recently updated. Working through all the disabilities you have attributed to the service and a few appeals; you can start getting some money from the VA.
I would steer clear of an attorney, especially the ones that advertise. Your best bet is a VSO, Veterans Service Officer. I don’t know about all states, but in Indian we have one in every county. Some of those are better than others and they can help you get started.
A second, and better choice, would be to use a VSO from one of the service organizations, like AmVets, VVA, or American Legion. These are free and they will take your case, and if needed, will also handle the appeals. There are the guys that know what they are doing and the VA knows it. If you are near a VA hospital you can find VSOs there too.
I think the most important thing to do is to start applying for disability and get some money coming in, if you haven’t done so already. Remember, if you win your appeal, the payments go all the way back to the date you first filed your claim. I am at 80% which qualifies me a permanently unemployable and qualifies me for 100% disability pay. There is no Agent Orange disability in my profile.
I also found many studies on herbicides like AO and their affect on gMG. Almost all studies that I read found some relationship between the studied herbicide and gMG patients.
Good luck and I hope you can get some help and some disability pay.
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My father served along the DMZ during the Vietnam war, where Agent Orange was also used in abundance. His exposures were confirmed by the VA prior to his death, which was 2 years before my MG diagnosis. I have seen research linking AO to changes in DNA as well as a strong link to autoimmune disorders, certain cancers, and cardiac birth defects in the offspring of AO veterans. Unfortunately, the VA does not recognize any conditions other than Spina Bifida in the offspring of male veterans.
When I spoke with a VA rep about the 2015/2016 Toxic Exposures Act, he recommended that those of us (children of AO veterans who have medical issues) all reach out to our congresspersons to get the VA to move forward with recognizing more conditions.
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For those who may be interested in getting a Veteran Service Officer to help file a VA claim, or appeal, here is some information to get you started. Amvets are not the only service group to offer assistance and will work much like this article. There services are free.
Lou
https://www.amvets.org/free-help-filing-va-claims
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Update – Met with my VSO today.
We will Appeal – and provide:
1. 38CFR.309 – “Disease subject to presumptive connection”. MG is listed in this document.
2. Supplying a copy of the NIH document that links Chemical Exposure like AO to MG.
3. 3 – “Citations that show evidence that the VA has acknowledged that MG, more likely than not, was caused by exposure to toxic Chemicals/Agent orange and paid Disability compensation. MG disability is rated at a minimum of 30%. A C&P Examination will determine level of disability after the Appeal has been won. This is a separate meeting. (That is my understanding)
Scott
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Update:
I just received a 30% disability rating for my Ocular MG. I submitted initial application in June 2022, and additional info August 2022), numerous technical papers showing the relationship between Dioxin/AO and Autoimmune disease and MG is an autoimmune disease. Also submitted Citation Nr: 1539119 shown above. I did all this without any outside help. I’m seeing a neuropathologist and asked him to write a nexus letter, but they approved before his letter would have been submitted. I’m out of the country and couldn’t follow up with him. (of all places I’m in Saigon for the next 6 months).
So it is possible to get the rating!!!!
Still waiting on AO disability for my peripheral neuropathy.
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Hi John –
Glad to hear that you got your rating.
I believe what has changed is that the doc. 38 CFR 3.309, Revised in Nov. 2022 now shows MG as linked as a chronic disease.
§ 3.309 Disease subject to presumptive service connection.
“(a) Chronic diseases. The following diseases shall be granted service connection although not otherwise
established as incurred in or aggravated by service if manifested to a compensable degree within the
applicable time limits under § 3.307 following service in a period of war or following peacetime service on
or after January 1, 1947, provided the rebuttable presumption provisions of § 3.307 are also satisfied.”I mailed of my document set this morning and am hoping for a 100% Rating – we shall see.
Scott
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Hi all-
Someone recently shared that HR 3518 is seeking to expand benefits to those affected by AO, including the offspring of male servicemembers like me. Here’s the link: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/hr3518/summary.
Here’s an excerpt, “HHS must (1) make grants to public health organizations and Vietnamese American organizations to conduct a broad health assessment of Vietnamese Americans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange and their descendants; and (2) establish centers in U.S. locations where large populations of Vietnamese Americans reside to provide assessment, counseling, and treatment for conditions related to Agent Orange exposure.”
My guess is that most on this thread are veterans, but I hope this information proves helpful to you and your families.
Under the bill, certain benefits will be made available to the children of male Vietnam veterans who are affected by certain birth defects. Currently, these benefits are only available to the children of women Vietnam veterans. The VA shall require any health care provider with whom the VA enters into a contract for the provision of health care to such children to provide the VA access to their medical records for research into the intergenerational effects of Agent Orange exposure.”
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Had my C&P Mental Health Exam today.
Evidently my first C&P examiner listed some mental stuff in his report so had my 2nd today.
Exam went well.
We shall see.
Scott
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Update –
Got my 2nd Denial Letter yesterday.
My VSO said that it was denied because I do not have a letter from a Medical Doctor saying that ” it was more likely that not” that I got this disease due to my Vietnam exposure to herbicides.
It is interesting that the VA shows that MG is on the presumptive list but still requires a doctor’s letter. I did supply documents from NIH that states that herbicide exposure does cause neurological disorders but to no avail. I do not understand. Neither does the VSO but says that a letter is required.
Sooooo….
My VSO said I should sign up for the Agent Orange Registry. They might provide the letter. More tests and exams. ARGH
I have contacted my local VA Environmental Health Coordinator, who controls the Agent Orange Registry to find out what I need to do next.
I also contacted my VA Neuro and he is not sure whether or not he can write such a letter. I meet with him next week during my monthly IVIG and will try to get clarification from him.
I have also contacted the VFW asking for help/guidance in this matter.
In the meantime I’m discouraged and depressed but am continuing to move along. Such a hassle.
How can anyone say: “More likely than not”? How does one find a Dr. that might pen such a letter?
My next step may be to contact an attorney that specializes in VA Disability Claims for assistance.
Scott
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MG is not on the presumptive list for Agent Orange. It is presumptive only if it manifest within 1 year of separation.
Certain chronic diseases, such as Myasthenia Gravis (an organic disease of the nervous system, are subject to presumptive service connection if manifest to a compensable degree within one year from separation from service even though there is no evidence of such disease during the period of service. This presumption is rebuttable by affirmative evidence to the contrary. 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 1112, 1113; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.307(a)(3), 3.309(a).
John
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Talked with a Law Firm today. One of two that I have contacted.
The Lawyer that we spoke with will take our case and feels confident that we will win. They will appeal the previous decision and file for 100% service connected disability. If we don’t get 100% they will file again based on TDIU for 100%.
He understands the situation and says he has won like cases. They have numerous relationships with medical professionals that can write a Nexus Letter if they feel it’s necessary.
I have one more firm to hear from before we make our decision as to representation.
The attorney that we talked to answered all of our questions and understood the process.
Their fee: 20%.
Scott
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“Nexus Letters are letters written by medical professionals detailing the connections … List (exposure to radiation, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune water, etc.) …”
These letters are somewhat hard to come by. They can be purchased on line from $400.00 to $2000+. Most Medical Doctors do not want to write them as they have to say…the person “more likely than not” got the disease from exposure to Agent Orange. Most Drs. are not aware of the studies and cases, so they can not make “the” statement in good conscience. Neither my VA PCP or Neurologist was willing to make that statement.
These letters are supposed to be written by professionals/experts after a complete review of the medical records and the patient.
In my case the Appeal was Denied because I did not have this letter. I supplied a couple of studies from the NIH that showed linkage between herbicide exposure and gMG, but the Regional Office did not accept them because a Dr. did not say…”More likely than not this patient got gMG due to the Agent Orange exposure”.
Scott
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