New Comer Korea 69-70

[my73vw]

Have been looking for some time for such a forum. Many of my questions have been answered in other forums but not with such in depth answers. I served in Korea from Jan 69 to Feb70. I served on the DMZ in CO B 2/72 Armor. I had done my family history back to the 1800's and with no history of diabetes on either side of the family .i was at a loss as to how i got diabetes and all the good stuff that comes with it. I am also the only to be haunted with this curse. I have filed a claim with the VA and have signed up with the Registry and am do for my medical next week. Would appreciate any helpful info on what to do next.?

[TinCanMan]

DMII is at epidemic levels in the U.S. at this time. Plenty of folks with no family history have come down with it. The vast majority have never heard of Korea or Vietnam, much less served there. If you didn't serve with one of the following organizations between April 1968 and July 1969 you cannot succeed with a presumptive AO claim for Korea.

DoD has confirmed that Agent Orange was used by ROK troops from April 1968 up through July 1969 along the DMZ.

Combat Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division
Division Reaction Force
3rd Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division
1st Battalion, 38th Infantry
4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry, Counter Agent Company
1st Battalion, 17th Infantry
2nd Battalion, 38th Infantry
1st Battalion, 31st Infantry
1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry
1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry
2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry
2nd Battalion, 10th Cavalry
3rd Battalion, 23rd Infantry
2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry
2nd Battalion, 31st Infantry
Note: Service records may show assignment to either the 2nd or the 7th Infantry Division.
2nd Battalion, 31st Infantry
Note: Service records may show assignment to either the 2nd or the 7th Infantry Division.
2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry
3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry
Note: Service records may show assignment to either the 2nd or the 7th Infantry.
3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry
Note: Service records may show assignment to either the 2nd or the 7th Infantry.
1st Battalion, 9th Infantry
2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry
1st Battalion, 72nd Armor
2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor
1st Battalion, 12th Artillery
1st Battalion, 15th Artillery
7th Battalion, 17th Artillery

Combat Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division
Division Reaction Force
3rd Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division
5th Battalion, 38th Artillery
6th Battalion, 37th Artillery

If you served with one of these units .AND. have a diagnosis of DMII, service connection should be a slam dunk. Just make sure you go to your C&P exam. There's not much to tell you. It should be a done deal.

[my73vw]

I was just made aware of this AO situation a couple of weeks ago so it is still unreal to me. DMII is not all i stress with so i need to get my stuff in order for my claim. It ranges from DMII to mini strokes to ED. My VO said the claim would include all the effects from DMII. These include TIA'S, PN,ED,High BP, broken vessels in both eyes. I am now having short term memory loss do to the TIA's that is making it very difficult to do my job as a service Tech on PC's and phone systems. At 59 years of age i find the complete package very hard to swallow.
Thanks again for your reply.
Dick

[TinCanMan]

While it's probably not an easy pill to swallow, it is part of the natural aging process. At 59 I was also diagnosed with DMII and all the crap that goes with it. I decided I wouldn't let it whip me. My mother is 97 and she was diagnosed with DMII at 56. She owned and operated her own business till she was 84 and continues to live in her own house today with some help from my sister and BIL.

I work as a network administrator and my vision has steadily gone downhill for the past 7 years. I'm now at the point where I simply cannot read hardcopy any longer. I find it increasingly hard to maintain my quals w/o be ing able to read. I depend on digital references that I can change type size but it's still tough. I expect I'll have to retire from this job and look for work in a less demanding field.

When I was first diagnosed, I took a few classes at Naval Hospital for diabetics. Everyone in the class save myself and an elderly Japanese man had given up. He and I talked a lot and we decided we weren't going to let DMII take us.

I may look for less demanding work but I intend to continue working until I'm found slumped over my desk or I can no longer do anything useful.