By Joel Spears

ROGERSVILLE — The Department of Veterans Affairs has decided not to add hypertension to a list of possible illnesses linked to Vietnam veterans' exposure to the chemical Agent Orange.

Following recommendations made by a task force created to review previously filed medical findings, VA representatives recently announced there "is no evidence at this time to support the establishment of presumption of service connection" between hypertension (high blood pressure) and Agent Orange.

Based on the decision, a stay on processing claims by Vietnam veterans in regard to any connection of hypertension because of exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam has been lifted.  All pending claims will be resolved.

While hypertension will not be include, a rare condition known as primary AL Amyloidosis will be.

According to the University of Tennessee's Graduate School of Medicine Web site, Amyloidosis "is an abnormal condition in which protein substances are deposited within the body's tissues in the form of microscopic fibers called fibrils. It is not a single disease — at least 20 different forms have been recognized. Each is associated with the deposition of a certain protein and, in fact, the designation of a particular kind of amyloid is based on the type of protein involved.

Most often, these components are found normally throughout the body or are produced locally by endocrine glands or other organs. Depending on where they are formed or deposited, some of the organs that can be affected by amyloid are kidney, heart, liver, spleen, nerves, pancreas, or brain. Notably, there are multiple diseases associated with this process; certain of these are acquired while others are inherited. Examples of amyloid-related disorders include Alzheimer's disease, the adult form of diabetes, multiple myeloma and related conditions, chronic infections, and the aging process."

With the addition of this disease to a list of those presumed to be associated with Agent Orange exposure, there are a total of 12 disorders for which Vietnam veterans may file claims and possibly receive disability compensation.

Others include: Chloracne or other acneform disease similar to chloracne, porphyria cutanea tards, soft-tissue sarcoma, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, respiratory cancers, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, prostate cancer, acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy, diabetes Type 2, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Danny Breeding, Veterans Service Officer for Hawkins County, said, "Hopefully Hawkins County veterans will respond because some might not know they are eligible unless they are looking for this type of information.”

    If you are a veteran and want to learn more about filing a claim, call the Veterans Service Office at (423) 272-5077, or E-mail veteransservice@charter.net.