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National Voice
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VA to Short-cut Some Agent Orange Rulings By Donna Miles Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki's decision, announced today, establishes a service connection for Vietnam vets stricken with hairy-cell leukemia and other B-cell leukemias, Parkinson's disease and ischemic heart disease, VA chief of staff John Gingrich told American Forces Press Service. Shinseki made the decision based on a recent report by the National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine. The report cited new scientific studies pointing to a strong connection between the illnesses and Agent Orange exposure. Shinseki determined that evidence was compelling enough to establish a presumption that affected veterans' illnesses are service-related, Gingrich said. This determination will short-cut the process for them to receive services through what Shinseki called "a world-class health care system," as well as monthly disability payments. But before the ruling takes effect, it must be published in the Federal Register and opened for final comment, Gingrich explained. He predicted that the process would be completed early next year. It's unclear exactly how many of the 2.1 million Vietnam veterans the ruling will affect, Gingrich said. If 10 percent have the presumed illnesses, that could result in some 200,000 new VA claims. Agent Orange, named for the orange-colored barrels in which it was stored, was sprayed widely during the Vietnam War to defoliate trees and remove concealment for the enemy. Veterans have long blamed the herbicide for causing a variety of illnesses, but until now, there's been no official recognition of a link. That put the burden on veterans to prove an association - a process Shinseki conceded too often has created an adversarial relationship between the VA and veterans. Shinseki, a retired Army general and a Vietnam veteran himself, lamented this situation this summer at "I have asked why, 40 years after Agent Orange was last used in Vietnam, this secretary is still adjudicating claims for presumption of service-connected disabilities tied to its toxic effects," he told attendees at the Association of the U.S. Army's Institute of Land Warfare Army Medical Symposium. Shinseki also questioned why the debilitating effects of Gulf War illnesses still are being debated 20 years after Operation Desert Storm. "Why weren't conclusive studies conducted by [the Department of Defense] and VA to render presumption of service-connected disability resulting from exposure to toxic environments associated with these operations?" Shinseki asked. "Such findings would have facilitated VA's settling of service-connected disability claims in far less time. The scientific method, and the failure to advocate for the veteran, got in the way of our processes." Veterans deserve better, he said. "We must do better reviews of illnesses that may be connected to service, and we will," he said. "Veterans who endure health problems deserve timely decisions based on solid evidence." Shinseki's decision brings to 15 the number of presumed illnesses VA recognizes. Others are: -- Acute and subacute transient peripheral neuropathy; -- AL amyloidosis; -- Chloracne; -- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; -- Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2); -- Hodgkin's disease; -- Multiple myeloma; -- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; -- Porphyria cutanea tarda; -- Prostate cancer; -- Respiratory cancers; and -- Soft-tissue sarcoma other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma or mesothelioma. Take a little break and play this Tic Tac Toe like game! Scroll down for free printable, Welcome To Florida, and Donate Blood Halloween, post cards, and Black Hole Rock Animation Check your local fuel prices. 
Missing Children
AMBER Alert Issued for 13 Year Old Florida Girl
Posted: Monday May 5, 2009 2:01 PM CT The State of Florida issued the Amber Alert Tuesday afternoon (05-09) after the girl was reportedly abducted in Homestead earlier Tuesday. Krystal Borrego a white female, 13 years old, 5' 2" tall with brown hair and brown eyes and weighs 130 pounds. The suspect is an unknown black male. The suspect vehicle is a 1990's, dark red two door Saturn. Anyone with information is asked to call the Homestead Police Department at 1-305-247-1535 or dial 911.
Allyson Corrales has been missing from her residence in Kansas City, Missouri, since March 6, 2009. She may be in the company of her father, Luis Corrales. Allyson's mother, who was found deceased on March 6, 2009, was not married to Luis Corrales. He did not have any custodian rights to Allyson and the mother had a Full Order of Protection against him
Code Amber News Service (CANS) issued this Missing Endangered person Alert after the girl disappeared from her bedroom some time after 3 AM Tuesday morning in Satsuma. Satsuma is approximately 75 miles east of Gainsville. Haleigh Cummings a white female, 3 feet tall, weighs 39 pounds and has blond hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink shirt and underwear. There are no suspects in this case at this time. However, due to the circumstances of the child's disappearance an abduction is strongly suspected. There is no suspect vehicle at this time. Anyone with information is asked to call the Putnam County Sheriff's office at (386) 329-0808 or dial 911. Download free video of missing Florida child Haleigh Cummings Email this alert to a friend in the area.
January 10, 2009 Immokalee, Florida ADJI DESIR DESCRIPTION Date of Birth: October 15, 2002 Place of Birth: Naples, Florida Sex: Male Hair: Black Height: 3'0" Eyes: Brown Weight: 45 pounds Race: Black (Haitian descent) THE DETAILS Adji Desir has been missing from outside his grandmother's residence in Immokalee, Florida, since Saturday, January 10, 2009, at approximately 5:30 p.m.. Adji reportedly went outside to play with neighborhood kids after dinner. He was reported missing a little while later and his whereabouts remain unknown. REMARKS Adji was last seen wearing a blue and yellow t-shirt, blue and yellow shorts, and black and gray sneakers. He is mentally handicapped and functions at a two-year-old level. He has very limited vocabulary and is non-verbal. REWARD The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Adji Desir. Individuals with information concerning this case should take no action themselves, but instead immediately contact the Collier County, Florida Sheriff's Office at 1-239-793-9300, the FBI's toll-free hotline at 1-866-838-1153, or the nearest FBI Office or local law enforcement agency. For any possible sighting outside the United States, contact the nearest United States Embassy or Consulate.
CANS Alert Issued for 3 Year Old Arkansas BoyPosted: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 10:22 PM AT Code Amber News Service (CANS) issued this Missing Endangered person Alert after the boy dissappered while playing behind his home Tuesday afternoon in Chidester which is in south central Arkansas. Dominick Wesley Arceneaux a white male, 3 feet tall, weighs 38 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing blue jean shorts with red stiching on the pockets. There are no suspects in this case at this time. However, officials are leaning toward the possibility Arceneaux was kidnapped because they haven't found any sign of the boy as of Thursday night. There is no suspect vehicle at this time. Anyone with information is asked to call the Ouachita County Sheriff's Office (870) 837-2200 or dial 911. **** ALERT FOLLOWS **********************Amber Alert Issued for 1 year old California GirlPosted: Saturday, February 14, 2009 3:47 PM CT
The State of California issued the Amber Alert on Saturday afternoon after the girl was reportedly abducted in San Bernardino. Lluvia Cortez is an Hispanic female, 1 year old with brown eyes and brown hair, two feet tall and weighs approximately 30 pounds. She was last seen wearing a pink shirt, red and pink pants with hearts, and black shoes. The suspect is Alejandro Cortez, an Hispanic male, 30 years old, 5' 2", approximately 220 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black sweat suit.
The suspect vehicle is a white Lexus ES300 with California tag number 5BIU118. The car has damage to one of the doors. Anyone with information is asked to call the San Bernardino Police Department at 909-384-5742 or dial 911. Unsolved Crimes
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