NEWS FROM….

CONGRESSMAN LANE EVANS

RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

    U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Washington, DC – "The possible connection veterans have suspected between Agent Orange and diabetes has been acknowledged by a committee of the prestigious Institute of Medicine," said Congressman Lane Evans, the Ranking Democratic Member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. "The scientific experts have recognized that Vietnam veterans are at an increased risk for diabetes. Today I have introduced legislation, H.R. 5438, to compensate diabetic Vietnam veterans. But I am also calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA] to issue new regulations as quickly as possible."

Evans applauded the report released today by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences indicating that a review of the available scientific evidence on diabetes and Agent Orange concludes "there is limited/suggested evidence of an association between exposure to the herbicides used in Vietnam or the contaminant dioxin and Type 2 [adult-onset] diabetes."

"Vietnam veterans have had their cause heard by the scientific community. They have won another tragic victory," Evans said. "Now the road to compensation for this serious illness is open. This significant step should put disabled Vietnam veterans closer to care and compensation for another medical condition associated with the use of herbicides during the Vietnam War.

"I have pressed for swift action," Evans said. "Now that IOM acknowledges diabetes as a condition associated with exposure to Agent Orange, VA has 60 days to determine whether a presumption of service connection is warranted. I hope that prompt action by the VA will make legislation unnecessary. If needed, H.R. 5438 would add adult-onset diabetes to the list of conditions VA must compensate. The presumption of service connection allows both health care and compensation for disabled veterans.

Evans has also written to Acting Secretary Hershel Gober that VA should issue interim final regulations to compensate affected Vietnam veterans. "VA has both the authority and the evidence it needs to take action, and Secretary Gober is a man who makes decisions," he said. "I have asked him to resolve this quickly."

The Illinois congressman has forced the tempo for action on the Agent Orange-diabetes connection. Last year, Evans prodded VA to request that the IOM conduct an expedited review of scientific literature on diabetes. That review was to be completed in May. Then on March 29, the Air Force Ranch Hand study reported on additional evidence of links between exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam and diabetes. Evans called Ranch Hand’s findings "very significant." In response, the VA wrote IOM asking that the Ranch Hand report be included in the expedited review reported today.

Some 18 million gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed in Vietnam, beginning in 1962, to destroy jungle hiding places and enemy crops. Having served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam era, Evans has led the struggle for health care and compensation of Vietnam veterans affected by Agent Orange. Due to Evans’ persistent pressure, Congress enacted the Agent Orange Act of 1991, giving the Department of Veterans Affairs authority to provide service-connected disability compensation to veterans based on research findings.

-text of letter to VA follows-

October 11, 2000

The Honorable Hershel Gober
Acting Secretary
Department of Veterans Affairs
Washington, DC 20420

Dear Secretary Gober:

With the release today by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of its report linking Agent Orange exposure and diabetes, the connection veterans have suspected has been acknowledged. The scientific experts have recognized that Vietnam veterans are at an increased risk for diabetes. I urge the Department of Veterans Affairs to move as quickly as possible to establish a presumption of service-connection to compensate disabled diabetic Vietnam veterans.

Today’s IOM report concludes "there is limited/suggestive evidence of an association between exposure to the herbicides used in Vietnam or the contaminant dioxin and Type 2 diabetes." This IOM conclusion requires VA to decide whether to compensate diabetic Vietnam veterans on a presumptive basis, in keeping with the Agent Orange Act of 1991.

As you know, VA has determined that the "limited/suggestive" standard meets the test for presumptive compensation for other conditions of disabled veterans who served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. I have greatly appreciated VA’s responsiveness this year in pressing for swift action prompting IOM to conduct an expedited review of scientific literature on diabetes, and to include the Ranch Hand report in the review published today.

Now VA has 60 days to determine whether a presumption of service-connection is warranted. Consistent with previous VA decisions on conditions with the "limited/suggested evidence of an association," I believe VA should issue interim final regulations to compensate affected Vietnam veterans as quickly as possible.

Sincerely,

LANE EVANS
Ranking Democratic Member