[Kirstin Born]

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.”

[Kirstin Born]

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.

[Kirstin Born]

Figure skating, be it singles, pairs, or ice dancing.  My aunt was nationally-ranked in the early 60s, my daughter competed until she went to college, and I skated in the local club spring show until MG entered my life.  Watching lets me still feel the ice under my feet.

[Kirstin Born]

I am the daughter of a veteran who had multiple Agent Orange exposures prior to my conception.  He passed due to his AO-related illnesses a few years prior to my MG diagnosis.

There is mounting evidence showing that AO causes a number of medical conditions in the offspring of those exposed.  And based upon information shared on several AO FB groups, many of us have auto-immune disorders.

The Toxic Exposures Act of 2015 directed the VA to collect data about health conditions of the offspring of servicemembers exposed to AO in order to find commonalities and eventually provide support.   To add to the list if you are the child or grandchild of a servicemember exposed to Agent Orange, please contact the VA.

In the meantime, I would love to see the MGFA conduct research into a connection between MG and chemical exposure from farms, industrial use, and Agent Orange.

[Kirstin Born]

Thank you Paul- I had hoped that the PACT Act would extend coverage to the offspring of AO-affected service members, like me.  Unfortunately it does not.  There is hope under the Toxic Exposures Act of 2015 and 2016.  But, we need lawmakers to update it to specifically include us.

I developed MG (MuSK variant) 8 years ago, 2 after AO took my dad.  It would have killed him to imagine that his service to the country caused me to develop MG.

[Kirstin Born]

My dad was stationed along the DMZ from 67-68 at Camp Kaiser, which was prior to my conception. He only learned of the AO exposure after he had become ill (not MG). He has since passed. He did apply for VA AO benefits before he passed. There is a bill that will be introduced to the House this session which expands coverage to the biological children of male servicemembers with certain conditions. I filed a claim a few years ago, piggybacking on Dad’s claim. It was denied because currently the VA only recognizes Spina Bifida in the offspring of male servicemembers. The bill, if passed, may likely change it. If you do file a claim, hopefully it will go smoothly for you.