Navy Veteran Wins Claim for Parkinson's Tied to Agent Orange...In New Zealand

Navy veteran who won compensation battle after linking his Parkinson's to chemical exposure speaks out for first time

NZ Herald

Kurt Bayer

December 5, 2017 (New Zealand)

A New Zealand navy veteran who won a compensation battle after successfully linking his Parkinson's disease to chemical exposure in the 1960s has spoken out for the first time about the fumes he likened to solvent abuse.

A Navy veteran has spoken out for the first time about the chemical exposure he experienced during his service. Photo / File

He says despite suffering neurological pain in the 1970s after working with toxic chemicals on assignment both here and overseas, he was told to "get on with it" and that it was all in his head.

It comes after a Herald investigation found hundreds, if not thousands, of New Zealanders may have been affected by the toxic chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) in a wide range of workplaces over several decades.

In a potentially-landmark case, Veterans Affairs' has provided the ex-serviceman, who wants to remain anonymous, with an entitlement to disability compensation for Parkinson's, a condition attributed to his operational service on a Royal New Zealand Navy ship during the 1948-1960 Malayan Emergency.

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Vietnam War-era Marine who fought for veterans' rights passed away

Lane Evans Legislator, veteran, 63
Philly.com
November 10, 2014

Former Illinois Rep. Lane Evans, 63, a Vietnam War-era Marine who fought for veterans' rights during his 24 years in the U.S. House, died Wednesday in East Moline, Ill., after a long fight with Parkinson's disease.

"In the early days of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Lane was one of the first members of Congress to take on issues like PTSD and TBI," said Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America CEO Paul Rieckhoff, referring to stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. "He helped put our issues on the map."

Mr. Evans joined the Marines at age 17 and had orders for Vietnam. But he served in Okinawa, Japan, as a security guard because his older brother was already deployed in the war.
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Orlando hospital pioneers latest deep-brain-stimulation device for Parkinson's

Orlando hospital pioneers latest deep-brain-stimulation device for Parkinson's patients
Parkinson's disease left Michel Medina Gonzalez unable to walk, talk or feed himself. But a cutting-edge treatment he received in Orlando helped fix that.
By Fernando Quintero Sentinel Staff Writer
June 25, 2009

Michel Medina Gonzalez shook violently in his chair inside a patient room at Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was fitted earlier this month with a brain implant to control his symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Using a wireless device slightly larger than a PDA, Dr. Alex Gonzalez, a neurologist with Orlando Health, remotely adjusted the electronic implant with a stylus.

After a few adjustments, Michel's trembling left leg, which had been causing his foot to constantly tap on the floor, stopped moving.

Orlando Health is among the first hospitals in the nation to offer the new, implantable deep-brain-stimulation device that gives Parkinson's patients greater control of their movements
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Orlando hospital pioneers latest deep-brain-stimulation device

The Wall That Heals in Johnson City TN

The Wall That Heals
Bristol Herald Courier - Bristol,TN,USA
By Mac McLean
Reporter / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: June 3, 2009

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Support for Parkinson’s disease sufferers blended perfectly with a desire to honor America’s veterans Tuesday as 300 motorcycles escorted The Wall That Heals to Freedom Hall’s Liberty Bell track.

Among the bikers was Mike Johnston of Bristol, Tenn., a veteran who has Parkinson’s and, as a member of the Northeast Tennessee Parkinson’s Disease Support Group has traveled more than 23,000 miles on his bike to champion efforts to find a cure.

“There’s a lot of days I can’t ride because the tremors are so bad, but other days I can ride as good as I ever could,” Johnston said. And being a part of Tuesday’s procession was a good day, he could ride and champion both of his causes: his fellow veterans and his desire to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

The Wall That Heals is a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial that sits on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The half-scale version travels the country, giving people a chance to pay their respects to those who died in the Vietnam War, said Richard “Gunny” Lyons with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

“This is for people who can’t get to Washington,” Lyons said, adding that The Wall That Heals can attract crowds of 4,000 to 10,000 people when it is on display.

It also brings large escorts of motorcycle riders organized by veteran’s support groups, including Rolling Thunder.
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