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Veterans Raise Health Concerns over Agent Orange Residing on Planes

Veterans assigned on C-123 Provider aircrafts have recently had serious concerns regarding their own health due to their exposure to leftover quantities of Agent Orange on the planes surfaces, according to an article on The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Many veterans who have been exposed to Agent Orange in the slightest manner have suffered enough health problems to qualify as veterans with disabilities.

Crew members aboard C-123s "reported smelling strong odors," but were likely written off as being "associated with aircraft" as the contaminating agent (TCDD) in Agent Orange doesn't have a scent. Considering TCDD sticks to surfaces the Air Force took test samples from C-123s, which enabled the VA to determine no health threats and concluded that even if crew members did have dried Agent Orange remains enter their body it wouldn't have been a great enough amount to cause harm.

The Air Force used C-123s to scatter Agent Orange over jungles in Vietnam to expose enemy soldiers. Once spraying ended in 1971, those same aircrafts were assigned to reserve force units to help with medical evacuations and moving cargo for the next decade.

Exposure to Agent Orange on airplanes can be different from exposure of direct contact due to the fact that dried Agent Orange cannot be breathed in, absorbed through the skin, and would be hard to swallow. Nevertheless, exposure isn't impossible, and crew members may still qualify for veterans benefits.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.