Question:
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January at a VA Hospital. I filled a VA claim for prostate cancer shortly thereafter. I was in Vietnam in 1975, as an aircraft guard during Operation Babylift, and Operation Frequent Wind (the evacuation of the embassy). I saved my aeronautical orders, and orders awarding me a Humanitarian Service Medal for those Operations, and submitted them with my claim. Should I be concerned about my relatively brief stay at Ton Son Nhut airport in Saigon and the presumptive connection with Agent Orange. I have heard both sides of the story. One is that one foot in country will do the trick, and the other that you need to show contact with Agent Orange. I am still waiting for my claim to be adjudicated, I had a C&P exam (very brief) this past week. Thank you.
Jim's Reply:
If you set foot in country you shouldn't have any issues with obtaining benefits. There is no time limit or anything like that. Good luck!