More veterans sought for special health registries.Many veterans in our nation suffer from the disabiling effects of environmental health dangers while in the military but may not know how the VA can help. A special Health Registry Examination Program has been set up for veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange, depleted uranium Depleted Uranium (DU) is uranium remaining after removal of the isotope uranium-235. It is primarily composed of the isotope uranium-238. In the past it was called by the names Q-metal, depletalloy, and D-38, but these have fallen into disuse. , ionizing radiation i·on·i·zing radiation n. High-energy radiation capable of producing ionization in substances through which it passes. Ionizing radiation as well as environmental hazards in the Gulf War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The program is growing, but the VA wants more veterans to take advantage of it. "This is an excellent program to determine the health status of these veterans," said National Adjutant ADJUTANT. A military officer, attached to every battalion of a regiment. It is his duty to superintend, under his superiors, all matters relating to the ordinary routine of discipline in the regiment. Arthur H. Wilson. "The VA will be able to determine if any of these veterans are suffering from the health effects caused by environmental exposures." Through the health registry veterans receive a comprehensive medical examination which includes blood work, urinalysis and, where medically indicated, a chest X-ray chest x-ray, n an examination of the chest using x-rays. Routinely performed in patients complaining of chest pain to rule out respiratory or heart disease. chest X-ray Chest film, see there and EKG EKG: see electrocardiography. . The exam is available to all eligible veterans with no co-payment required by the VA. The registry examination is not part of the process for VA benefits or compensation, nor is a filed claim required to register. The Agent Orange registry includes veterans and others exposed to herbicides used throughout Vietnam during the course of the war and at other military locations. Veterans who served in Korea during 1968 or 1969 also are included. The Ionizing Radiation registry covers veterans who participated in nuclear tests
pertaining to the nasal and pharyngeal cavities. nasopharyngeal meatus see nasopharyngeal meatus. nasopharyngeal spasm see reverse sneeze. (nose and throat) radium radium (rā`dēəm) [Lat. radius=ray], radioactive metallic chemical element; symbol Ra; at. no. 88; at. wt. 226.0254; m.p. 700°C;; b.p. 1,140°C;; sp. gr. about 6.0; valence +2. Radium is a lustrous white radioactive metal. irradiation treatments. Gulf War and Iraq War Iraq War: see under Persian Gulf Wars. Iraq War or Second Persian Gulf War Brief conflict in 2003 between Iraq and a combined force of troops largely from the U.S. and Great Britain; and a subsequent U.S. veterans make up a separate special registry. It includes any veteran who served on active duty in Southwest Asia Southwest Asia or Southwestern Asia (largely overlapping with the Middle East) is the southwestern portion of Asia. The term Western Asia is sometimes used in writings about the archeology and the late prehistory of the region, and in the United States subregion during the Gulf War, which began in 1990 and continues to cover those in the current war. Southwest Asia includes Iraq, the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates, federation of sheikhdoms (2005 est. pop. 2,563,000), c.30,000 sq mi (77,700 sq km), SE Arabia, on the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. , Oman, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden or the waters of the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea and Red Sea. It is estimated than at least 150,000 veterans now suffer from Gulf War illnesses. "This program involves an extensive number of our nation's 25 million veterans," said Washington Headquarters Executive Director David W. Gorman. "Vietnam veterans make up the largest percentage of living veterans. The inclusion of Gulf War veterans, the veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and those exposed to depleted uranium and ionizing radiation will mean that the VA's special health registry may cover millions more." Veterans eligible for the Depleted Uranium registry includes those who were exposed during the 1991 Gulf War, Bosnia and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Veterans who are concerned about potential exposure will be offered a depleted uranium evaluation. The registries include personal details, exposures, reported symptoms and diagnoses in a computerized index kept at the VA's Automation Center in Austin, Tex. "These health registries are an important way VA can track the special health concerns of veterans," said Gorman. "So far, 524,000 veterans have received health registry examinations." "All eligible veterans who want to be included in a VA health registry can get an examination at just about any VA facility and performed by a VA environmental health clinician," Gorman said. "Health examination by a private physician may also be accepted as long as the VA registry examination protocol is followed." "Eligible veterans will receive a free specialized and comprehensive health examination, but most importantly answers to their questions about any environmental exposures," said Gorman. "Veterans will be given the results of the physical exam and laboratory tests both in person and in a follow-up letter. The results of the health registry examination are kept in the veteran's health record." Information about the program is available by called 1-800-749-8387. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion