96°F
weather icon Partly Cloudy

Health registries available at VA

Most Americans (the adults, anyway) are aware that in the 1960s and early 70s the U.S. military doused service people in Vietnam and environs with poison chemicals that caused many illnesses and death.

Some of those ill effects are still being processed and even today, many who served in the Army, Marines and Navy in those days are just now coming down with latent diagnoses. In addition, military veterans who served in later wars in the Middle East and elsewhere were exposed to a different variety of toxic chemicals that have caused illness and death among those individuals. In the last few years, the government has worked to identify those chemicals, those illnesses and those veterans, in an attempt to help all concerned.

Locally, they are encouraged to enroll in the Veterans Administration (VA) clinic and seek treatment, and if eligible to file for additional benefits. Over and above medical treatment, the VA has established environmental health registries that offer free, voluntary medical assessments for veterans who may have been exposed to environmental toxins during military service.

In addition to Agent Orange, the toxins include airborne hazardous/open burn pits during the Gulf War; ionizing radiation; depleted uranium and toxic embedded fragments.

Veterans can report their military history and obtain physical exams with what the VA says is “special attention” to symptoms and concerns related to exposures. Evaluations alert veterans to possible long-term health problems that may be related to toxic exposures.

According to local Environmental Health Registry Coordinator Matthew A. Boles, the information will help the VA to understand and respond to health problems. Boles was part of a town hall gathering on Sept. 14 at the VA medical center in North Las Vegas where he explained the program and encouraged veterans to enroll in the health registry program.

Boles went into some detail about exposures. He pointed out that there are several types of possible exposures or hazards veterans may have experienced during military service, including air pollutants such as oil well fires, sulfur fire, sand, dust and particulates. Chemicals include pesticides, depleted uranium, chromium and industrial solvents; radiation from nuclear weapons testing, X-rays or depleted uranium. Nerve agents, mustard gas, herbicide tests and storage of these items. And occupational hazards such as asbestos, lead, fuels, industrial solvents, vibration, noise, special paint on military vehicles and some coolants or insulating fluids.

Boles presented a comprehensive listing of airborne hazardous/open burn pit locations, too long to detail here. Some of the more familiar locations include Bahrain, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Syria and airspace above those areas. A list of presumptive illnesses was also discussed. Some of those include chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, kidney cancer, melanoma and many others.

Boles is dedicated to helping veterans sign up for the registries and can answer questions. He can be reached at (702) 791-9013. If you are a veteran, or know of a veteran who you feel should register, give him a call.

MOST READ
THE LATEST
Trimming keeps trees healthy, property safe

Oh, how we love the cooling shade from a glorious tree, especially during this exceptionally hot Indian summer. With deciduous (leaf dropping) trees well through their growing season, it’s now that we find overgrown branches hanging over or hitting houses, encroaching on neighbors’ property, entangling power/cable lines, etc.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

“When I think about where we were with breast cancer 30 years ago and where we are now, the advances have just been remarkable: better diagnostics, better medical therapy, better surgical therapy, better radiation therapy, and most important, a better understanding of the disease,” said Dr. Larry Norton, founding member, Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Eight inducted into Hall of Fame

Boulder City High School has had a long history of success when it comes to its sports programs and athletes, as evident by the somewhat-new Eagle sign entering town, which touts the school’s 134 team state championships.

King’s enrollment lower than expected this year

Each year, the Clark County School District’s Department of Demographics and Zoning creates an enrollment projection for each school. The money that schools use to hire new teachers and purchase supplies over the summer is based on that student enrollment projection.

Best BMX in the Silver State

Photos courtesy Anabel Smith

Garrett offers exciting new programs, opportunities

Garrett Junior High School is off to an incredible start this year, with exciting new programs, expanded opportunities for learning, and a dedicated team ready to support our students.

Soaring like an Eagle

By Abby Francis

Mind over matter

“You have the power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” – Marcus Aurelius

Cool down your home with hot-weather tips

It’s that time of year again when triple digits fill the week’s weather forecast. We know with rising temperatures come rising utility bills (often accompanied by rising blood pressure, yikes).