mr. bergman here. could you tell us about when you decided to engage in counsel and how that has help you to get to where we are today in this process? because like you just alluded to, there's many other people in the same situation. >> that's just it. after his death, that was forever in front of my mind, so i per -- proceeded without any help, without any direction. i started researching the chemicals in vietnam. i read an article in a newspaper. it was talking about agent orange, and i filed a claim in 1990. most of these were just, as i said, stumbling in the dark, grasping, but as i went along, the more i learned, and the more i felt it was something that i had to do because my husband told me about this on his death bed for a reason, which at the time i did not understand. >> can you give a little insight, though, on how counsel -- >> after 20 years groping in the darkness and dealing with the va and all their errors, i prayed. i asked for help, and one day, i received a call from the vietnam ve

mr. bergman said, failure to apply the law correctly, complete disregard of medical evidence provided, most specifically from civilian providers. that is very high on the list. and the third one i missed rides to the top pretty regularly is the almost complete and under disregard for anything that is considered a policy rule, regulation or law. completely incapable of rudimentary reading of their own warrants of a policy. i have a very specific one in my case. the secretary sent down a policy change and order directly to the regional offices with regard to those of us to expose in iraq and afghanistan. april 6 to 2010. that application of that law -- that policy change has to the best of my knowledge not been addressed once in the almost 5000 victims i know personally. >> thank you both for your testimony. they're very courageous to come and appreciate your willingness to share your stories. we don't want to see anybody else have to go through what you appeals were each case that comes down from the court as language guiding to the law section 7112 that says this case will be giving expedit

mr. bergman said, failure to apply the law correctly, complete disregard of medical evidence provided, most specifically from civilian providers. that is very high on the list. and the third one i missed rides to the top pretty regularly is the almost complete and under disregard for anything that is considered a policy rule, regulation or law. completely incapable of rudimentary reading of their own warrants of a policy. i have a very specific one in my case. the secretary sent down a policy change and order directly to the regional offices with regard to those of us to expose in iraq and afghanistan. april 6 to 2010. that application of that law -- that policy change has to the best of my knowledge not been addressed once in the almost 5000 victims i know personally. >> thank you both for your testimony. they're very courageous to come and appreciate your willingness to share your stories. we don't want to see anybody else have to go through what you appeals were each case that comes down from the court as language guiding to the law section 7112 that says this case will be giving expedit