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Agent Orange Poisoning in the CNMI

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Agent Orange Claims in the CNMI

The CNMI was a dumping ground for toxic chemicals by the US Military in the 50s and 60s. Dioxin and PCBs were the main problem on Saipan. However, in April 2000, the US EPA agreed to sample groundwater in the Northern Marianas to check if it was contaminated with Agent Orange. The sampling work focused on wells located within one golf course in northern Saipan. Containers of Agent Orange had been buried on the island after the Vietnam War and the US government wanted to determine whether the chemical had migrated into the groundwater, assuming they had been buried where the golf course now was.

The survey did not establish contamination as to the one golf course area, but it also did not address the suspected use of Agent Orange by the military around the island of Saipan.

A larger issue is Tinian. There are high cancer rates on Tinian, and they could be linked to toxins used by the military that leaked into the ground water. Agent Orange is an effective defoliant, and the jungle grows quick in the Marianas Islands. It is foreseeable the military used Agent Orange on Tinian to beat the jungle back, and unknowingly poisoned the population.

Are you eligible for

Agent Orange Claims in the CNMI?

Agent Orange, a defoliant, was used by the US military in the Vietnam War and in Guam. Agent Orange has been linked to more than a dozen serious illnesses, but many military veterans do not know that their medical condition was presumptively caused by Agent Orange.

The locations and inclusive dates during which veterans may have been exposed to Agent Orange are as follows:

Vietnam
January 6, 1962 – May 7, 1975

South Korea (DMZ)
September 1, 1967 – August 31, 1971

Thailand
January 9, 1962 – June 30, 1976

Laos
December 1, 1965 – September 30, 1969

Cambodia
April 16, 1969 – April 30, 1969

Guam
January 9, 1962 – July 31, 1980

American Samoa
January 9, 1962 – July 31, 1980

Johnston Atoll
January 1, 1972 – September 30, 1977

Medical conditions that are linked to

Agent Orange Exposure

Under the Honoring Our Pact ACT, the following medical conditions and disabilities are eligible for presumptive disability compensation as a result of toxic exposure to Agent Orange or another herbicide during qualified military service:

  • AL amyloidosis: A rare disease when an abnormal protein, amyloid, enters tissues or organs.
  • Chronic B-cell leukemia: A type of cancer which affects white blood cells.
  • Chloracne: A skin condition that occurs soon after exposure to chemicals looks like common forms of acne seen in teenagers. Per VA’s rating regulation, it must be at least 10 percent disabling within one year of exposure to a herbicide.
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus: a disease characterized by high blood sugar levels resulting from the body’s inability to respond properly to the hormone insulin.
  • Hodgkin’s disease: A malignant lymphoma (cancer) characterized by progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, and by progressive anemia.
  • Ischemic heart disease: A disease characterized by a reduced supply of blood to the heart that leads to chest pain.
  • Multiple myeloma: A cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cells in bone marrow.
  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: A group of cancers that affect the lymph glands and other lymphatic tissues.
  • Parkinson’s disease: A progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects muscle movement.
  • Early-onset peripheral neuropathy (if it became at least 10 percent disabling within one year of herbicide-agent exposure): A nervous system condition that causes numbness, tingling, and motor weakness. Per VA’s rating regulation, it must be at least 10 percent disabling within 1 year of exposure to herbicide.
  • Porphyria cutanea trade (if it became at least 10 percent disabling within one year of herbicide-agent exposure): A disorder characterized by liver dysfunction and by thinning and blistering of the skin in sun- exposed areas. Per VA’s rating regulation, it must be at least 10 percent disabling within 1 year of exposure to a herbicide.
  • Prostate cancer: Cancer of the prostate; one of the most common cancers among men.
  • Lung cancer: Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs.
  • Respiratory cancers (including cancer of the larynx, trachea, and bronchus): Cancers of the lungs, larynx, trachea, and bronchus.
  • Soft tissue sarcoma (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or mesothelioma): A group of different types of cancers in body tissues such as muscle, fat, blood, and lymph vessels, and connective tissues.
  • Hypothyroidism: Too little thyroid hormone. Symptoms include weight gain, constipation, dry skin, and sensitivity to the cold.
  • Parkinsonism: A condition with Parkinson’s-like symptoms including muscle stiffness, tremor, slow movement, and impaired speech

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Other Locations of Toxic Exposure

Burn Pit Locations

On or after August 2, 1990:
Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia

On or after September 11, 2001:
Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Uzbekistan

Presumptive Conditions for Burn Pits

Radiation Exposure Locations

1977-1980: Eniwetok Atoll (cleanup)
1966: Palomares, Spain
1966: Thule, Greenland

Camp LeJeune

From August 1, 1953 to December 31, 1987, provided they lived for at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune.

Diseases Associated with Exposure to Water Supply Contaminants at Camp Lejeune

Learn More

Agent Orange Resources

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NVLSP And VLSC White Paper Confirming That Veterans Who Served in Guam from 1958-1980 Were Likely Exposed to Dioxin-Containing Herbicide Agents Including Agent Orange

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The Long-Term Health Impact of Agent
Orange: Evidence from the Vietnam War

How do I know if I am a

Potential Victim of Agent Orange Exposure?

For many, the nature of a veteran’s military service will lead to the Department of Veterans Affairs to recognize that the veteran’s current disability is likely service connected. The VA will approve a veteran’s claim for disability benefits simply because the VA presumes that specific disabilities diagnosed in certain veterans were caused or made worse by their military service.

There are seven groups of veterans who qualify for the presumption:

  • Those who were prisoners of war;
  • Vietnam veterans;
  • Gulf War veterans;
  • “Atomic Veterans” (those involved with certain bomb drops or testing);
  • For ALS – veterans with at least 90 days of consecutive service;
  • Veterans exposed to radiation; and
  • Veterans exposed to toxic drinking water at Camp Lejeune.

How Do I make a Claim for my

Medical Condition Due to Agent Orange Exposure?

Veterans can make a claim directly through the VA. There are three ways to apply for VA disability benefits based on Agent Orange exposure:

  1. Online, using the VA.gov website.
  2. Over the phone, with the help of a VA representative or agent.
  3. In person at a regional VA office.

The process is not necessarily overly complicated, but an attorney can make sure the claim is correctly made. A lawyer can help you complete your application and gather the supporting documentation you will need to present the best claim.

Why Choose a Local Attorney to

Assist You with your Claim?

There are plenty of attorneys advertising their services on the Internet, seeking to represent victims of Agent Orange. These law firms are often very good, but they are based on the mainland. The Berman Law Group is in Agana, in the Bank of Guam Building. The Dotts Law Office is on Saipan, on Middle Road. You can actually come into our offices and sit down with us and go over your documentation in person.

Getting all the documentation and medical records can be frustrating. It is important to fill out the claim forms correctly. We are here on Guam and Saipan to help. For veterans in the FSM, we know the islands and go there too.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

CNMI and the Dotts Law Office

The Dotts Law Office has represented many plaintiffs in actions for injuries in cases involving bad medications to injuries that resulted from medical malpractice. The jury trial is the ultimate test of an attorney. Michael Dotts obtained a jury verdict in a personal injury case that involved an accident on a construction site case of $3 Million and in an arbitration obtained an award of over $5 Million. He also tried to a jury in Federal Court a land compensation case that resulted in significant award of damages to his client and he tried to a judge a land compensation case that resulted in a judgment of over $19 Million. The Dotts Law Office also has experience with class action lawsuits and product liability cases.

The Dotts Law Office is located on the Second Floor of the DHL Building in Chalan Kiya, Saipan. You can reach the Dotts Law Office at (670) 234-1600 and through their website.

Contact us for a free case evaluation with our legal team

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