VA defends Agent Orange, heart disease links

VA defends Agent Orange, heart disease links

I'm sorry but I believe this article leads people to believe that the science used to determine the 3 new presumptive illnesses was somehow wrong and the outcome of the hearing was inconclusive. When in fact it accomplished it's task which was to provide oversight to the entire process of adding new diseases to the presumptive list.

I listened to the hearing. I believe the panel answered all of the Senators questions and resolved any questions they might have had. Most of the committee acknowledged that the cost was not at issue. That caring for veterans who answered the call to serve was a moral obligation. It has been a long time coming and is long overdue for Vietnam veterans suffering from exposure to agent orange.

Yet the author of this article would have the reader believe just the opposite. Although Secretary Shinseki did mention the inability to control for risk factors such as lifestyle smoking, and diet. The panel made it clear that lifestyle choices do not cause ischemic heart disease.

Dr. Robert Jesse answered Senator Tester more than sufficiently.

Senator Tester asked "Can, can overuse of tobacco and alcohol create Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD). The Dr. said and I quote "well they don't, they don't cause Ischemic Heart Disease the risk factors and in particularly when you get multiple risk factors can contribute to it's progression."

Senator Tester said "So if they served in Vietnam, they got it (IHD), regardless of their lifestyle, it's an agent orange problem."

"Yes, because we can't parch that out." said Dr. Jesse, VA’s principal deputy undersecretary for health.

Sharon L. Perry
Founder
Agent Orange Legacy
Children of Vietnam Veterans