Prostate Cancer

Jim,

I SERVE BETWEEN 1964--1966 IN THE U.S. ARMY AT FORT BRAGG, N.C IN AN ARTILERY UNIT NEXT TO THE 82ND AIRBORNE UNIT. I WAS DIAGNOSE WITH PROSTATE CANCER IN 1999 AND HAD SURGERY THAT SAME YEAR. I TRIED TO GET V.A. DISABILTY THAT SAME YEAR BUT THEY TOLD ME AT THE V.A CLINIC NOT TO APPLY BECAUSE I DIDN'T QUALIFY BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH I SERVE DURING THE VIETNAM ERA I DIDN.T SERVE THERE. CAN YOU HELP ME. THANK YOU.

Reply:

To receive benefits for prostate cancer generally requires evidence that you were exposed to Agent Orange. Further proof that the exposure caused the cancer is then required.

All veterans who had boots on the ground service in Vietnam are presumed to have had exposure to Agent Orange and they are all eligible for benefits on a "presumptive" basis for a number of conditions. Military service during the Vietnam era does not make a veteran eligible for presumptive benefits unless he or she had "boots on the ground" in the RVN.If you believe that you were exposed to Agent Orange or any other substance that may have caused or contributed to a health condition later in your life, you are allowed to file an application for disability benefits at any time. The people at the VA clinic should not discourage you from filing if you believe that your service caused any harm to you. However, you must understand that you will have to provide proof positive that anything you may allege is factual. You can read more about Agent Orange at my web site here http://www.vawatchdogtoday.org/Agent_Orange.html