Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 08/28/2006

Dear Sgt Shaft

I am searching for a disease called amyloidosis. I have read where some veterans had amyloidosis. I would like to know if you have any information on it.

My late husband worked at the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion plant, along with being in the Maintenance Department for HVAC. After years of exposure , and I suppose thousands of employees becoming so ill and dying, the Energy Department did indeed admit to over exposing the workers, especially in the Gaseous Diffusion plants.

Talk about WMD;s??????

I am in the middle of a claim with the Energy Employees Illness Compensation Act. He was overexposed to nuclear fuels that are documented in his medical records. My problem is amyloidosis is not a covered illness. But I will fight them till the end. He was in excellent health until he went to work there. I have read on the Veterans website, where Veterans had amyloidosis who had been in Vietnam, and of course they were denied due to some small technical error. Just wanted to see if you knew any thing about the disease. I will always believe the Vets are in the same boat with the nuclear workers. left out in the cold.

Any information will be helpful.

Thanks
Fran

Dear Fran,
According to the powers that be at the Department of Veterans Affairs, amyloidosis is a rare and potentially fatal disease that occurs when substances called amyloid proteins build up in the body's organs. Amyloid is an abnormal protein usually produced by cells in bone marrow that can be deposited in any tissue or organ. Amyloidosis frequently affects the heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. The exact cause of amyloidosis is unknown, and there's no cure for amyloidosis.

Some Vietnam veterans believe the condition is associated with Agent Orange exposure. However, VBA Adjudication Procedure Manual M21-1MR, part IV, subpart ii, chapter 2, section C, states that "Based on cumulative scientific data reported by the National Science Foundation since 1993, the Secretary has determined that there is no positive association between herbicide exposure and . . . amyloidosis." VA published a notice in the Federal Register on June 24, 2002, and May 23, 2003, under the authority granted by the Agent Orange Act of 1991, (Public Law 102-4), that a presumption of service connection based on exposure to herbicides used in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era is not warranted for amyloidosis.

The Amyloidosis Support Network is conducting a Viet Nam Era Veterans Amyloidosis Survey and veterans can register online at www.va.gov.

Shaft Notes
Americans nationwide will have the opportunity to see the talents of veterans from across the nation this fall with the first syndicated television broadcast of the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival.

The syndicated broadcast of the Festival, sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Help Hospitalized Veterans and the American Legion Auxiliary, is made possible through a partnership with South Dakota Public Broadcasting and the National Educational Telecommunications Association.

“This broadcast is an unprecedented event that will showcase the hard work of veterans and the positive impact of the creative arts in the lives of those who served in uniform,” said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “For the first time, Americans from coast to coast will be able to see rehabilitative therapy in action.”

Nicholson was joined in the announcement by Mike Lynch, executive director of Help Hospitalized Veterans; Carol Van Kirk, national president of the American Legion Auxiliary; and Bob Bosse, director of television for South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

The 2006 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival is being held in Rapid City, South Dakota beginning October 16 and will culminate in a live stage show of music, dance and drama Sunday, October 22.

Under the terms of the partnership, VA will work with South Dakota Public Broadcasting to condense the stage show into a 60-minute television presentation which will then be closed captioned and distributed through the National Educational Telecommunications Association to Public Broadcasting System stations nationwide. The target date for the broadcast on local PBS affiliates is the week of Veterans Day 2006.

“I cannot think of a more fitting Veterans Day tribute than the broadcast of this fine demonstration of talent by America’s veterans,” said Nicholson. “We are extremely grateful for the help and cooperation of South Dakota Public Broadcasting and the National Educational Telecommunications Association for making this dream a reality.”

Approximately 130 veterans will exhibit their artwork or perform musical, dance, dramatic or original writing selections in a gala variety show. A professional orchestra will accompany the performance. All veterans invited to participate are selected winners of year-long, national fine arts talent competitions at VA medical facilities across the nation.

VA medical facilities incorporate creative arts into their recreation therapy programs. This annual competition recognizes the progress and recovery made through that therapy, and raises the visibility of the creative achievements of our nation’s veterans after disease, disability or life crisis.

People wishing to receive e-mail from VA with the latest news releases and updated fact sheets can subscribe at the following Internet address:

http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/opalist_listserv.cfm

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-257-5446 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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