In an exciting development for Vietnam Veterans, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gen.Eric K. Shinseki announced today that the National Institute of Health has identified 3 new diseases with presumptive ties to the defoliant know as Agent Orange. Exposure to Agent Blue has been determined to be a causative factor as well. All three are slated for inclusion in 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e) in the new bill before Congress. This is welcome news as the NIH has toyed with the idea of including them since the Nehmer II decision in 1998.Of the three diseases, Joo-Joo eyeball has been identified as the most debilitating. Severe arthritic conditions of the eye as well as the eyelid muscles have been reported. Advanced cases of this reveal eyes that appear to be “bugged out”.

Walrus gumboot is reputed to cause feet down below the knees. This has not been confirmed by medical testing, but doctors have described “vestigial feet” protruding in the loose flesh around the upper tibia in Vets with documented herbicide exposure.  VA orthopedic surgeons stated it may yet turn out to be nothing more than harmless acute genetic defects in spite of their remarkable resemblance to human feet. Extensive testing is slated for later this year.

    Certainly of most concern to AO presumptive Vets is Monkey finger. Doctors have described witnessing the  apparent exudation of what has been described as Coca Cola directly from the ends of the fingers much like a squirt gun. Vets have described it as being very painful as well.

     Secretary Shinseki said he was confident the diseases would be approved as many Veterans of the Vietnam era are Congressmen and are very familiar with them. We will keep you informed of any developments as we hear them.