The One Controversial Scientist Behind VA’s Refusal To Cover Agent Orange-Related Sickness
Alvin Young's nickname is Dr. Orange and he thinks veterans who complain about sickness that they think is related to a toxic herbicide used in the Vietnam War are simply “freeloaders,” making up ailments to “cash in” on the VA’s compensation system. And he's also the one expert the military relies on to decide whether to compensate veterans.
ProPublica:
Dr. Orange: The Secret Nemesis Of Sick Vets
Anyone who set foot in Vietnam during the war is eligible for compensation if they become ill with one of 14 cancers or other ailments linked to Agent Orange. But vets with an array of other illnesses where the connection is less well established continue to push for benefits. And those vets who believe they were exposed while serving elsewhere must prove it — often finding themselves stymied.It’s not just the vets. Some of their children now contend their parents’ exposure has led to their own health problems, and they, too, are filing claims. (Ornstein and Hixenbaugh, 10/26)
ProPublica:
After Cancer Diagnosis, Vet Refutes Government’s Agent Orange Expert — And Wins
For years, the U.S. military and Department of Veterans Affairs have used the work of a Wyoming-based herbicide expert to flatly reject the claims of groups of veterans who believe Agent Orange made them sick. But occasionally, individual veterans have fought back — and even more rarely, they have won. One of them is Air Force veteran Phil Cacioppo. (Ornstein, 10/26)
