I am a victim of Agent Orange

Thanks for your story on AO in Okinawa ("Evidence for Agent Orange on Okinawa" by Jon Mitchell, Zeit Gist, April 12).

Just like those of us stationed and exposed to AO on Johnston Island after all the AO was sent there in April 1972 from Vietnam, we also get nothing but "turndowns" from VA (the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs). Like Okinawa vets, there have been a few approvals from the VA Appeals Court, but the VA Regional Offices continue to deny until we die!

I have been fighting since 2002 with VA and I just found out that my case was approved to go to the VA Appeals Court (after they sat on it for 18 months). Now I have possibly another two- to three-year wait before I get to court.