Agent Orange & CRSC

To all: Today I received notification from Dept of Air Force that they
approved my request for CRSC.
Background:

My VA disability claim was awarded in Aug 2011, giving me a total of 40%
service connected, 30% of that for heart disease caused by exposure to
tactical chemical herbicides (AO) at Takhli. My claim for other AO related
conditions was deferred, being diabetes, high blood pressure and prostate
cancer. VA also awarded me 10% for hearing loss and 10% for tinnitus, however
the overall award was listed 40%. I receive military retiree pay, and as
the VA award was less than 50%; the amount, in my case $601 per month, was
deducted from my AF monthly retirement check. Further, the VA claimed I had
no back pay coming, as I had received that $601 per month in my retirement
pay.

I was uneducated in how this all worked, but with the advice of several
355th TFW Takhli members, and the local La. Dept of VA service officer, I
applied for CRSC - Combat Related Special Compensation- from the Dept of USAF.
I was not aware of this prior so for those who in the future will be
receiving positive results from their AO VA claims, I would like to share what
I have learned and experienced.

Anything less than 50% service connected disability, the amount is
deducted from a military retirees pay. Once the vet goes over 50% service
connected disability, that vet gets the VA check and the retiree check each month.
The only way to get both if the award was less than 50%, the vet must
apply for CRSC.

Well, today, I received word from Dept of Air Force, and they awarded me
the CRSC for the portion (30%) the VA awarded me for the exposure to
tactical chemcial herbicides, back to the filing date, Sep 2010. They were unable
to give me the other 10% (hearing loss/tinnitus), as it was not combat
related as was the heart disease, and my AFSC did not give me a presumptive on
the hearing. A review of the VA compensation chart disclosed that 30%
service connected, with a spouse, is a monthly award of $421 per month.
Therefore, I will be reimbursed that amount from 1 Sep 2010, being the backpay,
and any amounts deducted from my retirement check.

Here is a link to information regarding CRSC:

_http://v1stop.com/crsc.html_ (http://v1stop.com/crsc.html)

Form for submission of CRSC request:

_http://images.military.com/Resources/Forms/DD_2860.pdf_
(http://images.military.com/Resources/Forms/DD_2860.pdf)

I am available to assist anyone with their claims, as is my son, who has
done all the research and submissions on my claim. I don't know how many
other members of our grp have already received an award for AO exposure in
Thailand, I would assume not many. Like any other prior ground breaking, it
will be slow, it is my understanding that the DVA has been told to grant
the awards for service in Thailand if the veterans AFSC put him/her on or
near the perimeter, one major AFSC being security police dog handlers who
walked the perimeter. As those individuals receive awards, the dam will slowly
break, and all will eventually get it. I am no expert, however I believe
that everyone who was ever stationed at Takhli, or any other Thailand base,
who has medical conditions related to AO, needs to apply for disability
compensation, and to use the words EXPOSURE TO TACTICAL CHEMICAL HERBICIDES,
as the DVA doesn't wish to acknowledge it as AGENT ORANGE.
Further, that the claim, and supporting documents, statements, ect.... to
specifically mention work at, near, on, whatever, to the PERIMETER. That
stuff had to be applied by spraying, whether it be from aircraft, or hoses
from the back of pickups or tractors, whatever the case, it blew all over
the base, exposing everyone.

I recommend obtaining statements from anyone you can locate who will put
you in an area of the perimeter. Those are going to be the key elements in
future awards for those without the Security Police K9 AFSC. It will be
easier for some, but those with the hardest cases will need the help of those
who can prove working the perimeter.

Again, I am no expert on this matter, but I wanted to share my experience,
lessons learned, and let everyone know I am available to help in any way .
Lets get the word out to those who might not be on this site.

James Kinney
318-647-3013

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