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Toxic Exposure at Military Bases
There has been a link between exposure to PFAS and other toxic chemicals
and diseases such as Parkinson’s and cancers like Non-Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma. Many years ago I had 8 weeks of Army Basic Training at Ft.
Campbell, Kentucky and 8 weeks of Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at
Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. High level of PFAS chemicals have been found at
these 2 bases and they have been around since the 1950s. Over 25 years
ago I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, over 20 years ago I was
diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, and 6 years ago I was diagnosed with
Parkinson’s. What are the odds? Especially since there is no family
history of cancer or Parkinson’s, and I am someone who kept physically
fit, watched my weight, etc. I especially remember being at Ft. Campbell
in July and August of 1971 when the heat and humidity was extreme, so
we all were sweating bullets and drank tons of (contaminated) water
every day. Is there any kind of compensation I would be entitled to? A
complicating factor is that I am not considered a military veteran
because I served in the Army National Guard. I’m not sure how to
proceed, if at all. Call the VA, call a Morgan & Morgan? -
7 Replies
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Hi Dave.
I’m in the process of filing a disability claim with the VA for my Parkinson’s. The USAF base I was assigned to was and still is designated as a Superfund Site, meaning there are serious toxicity issues the government is working to clean up. I’m using a company that is certified by the VA to file and represent me in this process. I served and still live in the Phoenix, AZ area. One of the Community Services reps at the Muhammed Ali Parkinson’s Center referred me to these people who now represent me. The claim was filed in December 2023 and the VA has acknowledged receipt of the paperwork. My rep informed me that it normally takes the VA 6 months on average to review the claim. In case the claim is denied (which they say is not unusual) my representative will file an appeal for further review.
Check with any Parkinson’s organizations in your area to see if they can refer you to someone like this who can evaluate your situation and file a claim for you if you would like them to.
Feel free to follow up with me if you need any help.
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Thanks for the response and offer to help, Edward. Just this morning I sent a letter (basically a modified version of my post) to my town’s Veteran Service Officer, who also happens to be my town’s Disability Access Director. I’ve previously contacted him in that capacity in order to get an accommodation for attending our Town Meetings. I’ll see if I get a response and take it from there.
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I spent 4 months at Ft McCellen Alabama in the summer of 1977 and was diagnosed in 2015 with PD. I have a suit pending with the VA for the past 3 years. Not sure if I will prevail.
Many tons of Agent Orange and other highly volatile substances like uranium and nerve gas were stored at Fort McClellan before being used extensively in the Vietnam War to wipe out vegetation and foliage, exposing thousands of service members and civilians to the chemical and causing lasting damage.
Feel free to contact me –
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Thanks Tom. I’m waiting to see if I get a response from my town’s Veteran Service Officer. My concern with regards to the VA is that, as I mentioned in my post, I am technically not considered a veteran. When you serve in the Army National Guard, unless your unit gets activated, you don’t accumulate active duty days.
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You need to file a claim with the VA under the PACT act. I was a tank mechanic for 14 years, starting in 1981, exposed to parts cleaner that had trichloroethylene in it, that is linked to PD. As are many other chemicals. I was just diagnosed 4 years ago. The PACT act was approved for veterans exposed to different chemicals, but the deadline to apply for it is coming up, I believe in August of this year. You need to apply right away. I hired a lawyer, and yes they take money but I am a rated 100% ,so it was worth it. Took almost 2 years to get approved. But it will go from date of your intent to file. Call the VA and you can do it over the phone, the intent to file. Then you have 6 months to file. GET A LAWYER! trying to get all the right forms, yo the right people, at the right times is a pain.
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Thanks Chuck. I’m waiting to see if I get a response from my Veteran Service Officer, then decide on how to proceed. I looked at the PACT Act but didn’t see my specific exposure listed there. Nonetheless, that won’t stop me from trying to push this since I have nothing to lose but a lot to gain.
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I’ve been banging on about this for years and was a member of aero toxic syndrome group which was big in the US but was debunked.I worked for an airline for 20 yrs as a ground engineer and was constantly in contact with Skydrol.At 63 I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s ,at 74 with Prostate cancer and at 75 started having seizures. Is it a coincidence that my dad worked in the same industry,doing the same job, also developed PD and prostate cancer. The Parkinson’s group I attend also has several members who were in the forces or worked for airlines. Too much of a coincidence but no one is taking any notice.
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