During Vietnam Years, the USAF conducted defoliation operations using C-123's and in the process sprayed millions of gallons of various Defoliants among which was "Agent Orange" which contains Dioxin, a chemical substance known to cause multiple types of very serious and oft times fatal illnesses.
Of all the various units and personnel that have been granted "Presumptive Exposure" Status by the US Veterans Administration, the Ranch Hands themselves have not been granted that status.
Despite their daily close contact with the Chemical in all forms they of all exposed do not get the Presumptive Status which means they have to "Prove" the link between their Illnesses to that exposure.
That results in long delays in the VA making a Decision on their Claim and delays in many cases, treatment for the illness.
This is one guy's website that is devoted to the issue and contains a great deal of information about Agent Orange, the Ranch Hands, C-123, and the VA Medical Care and Compensation system in dealing with Agent Orange related illnesses.
Tens of Thousands of us who served in Vietnam are afflicted with the results of our exposure to Agent Orange thus it is real issue and not one that is imagined.
A related issue is Gulf War Syndrome, yet another medical problem that the VA has attempted to deny every since Veterans of that Conflict reported the onset of mysterious ailments.
The VA, as in PTSD and Agent Orange, has resisted admitting the problems even existed and by doing so have denied Veterans proper care and treatment by ignoring the problem.
Major Carter's web site address is at the end of the Army Times Article
http://www.armytimes.com/article/201...-Orange-claims