SAN FRANCISCO A class of more than 100,000 veterans can pursue nonmonetary claims against the Veterans Administration, the Department of Defense, the CIA and other government agencies for failing to warn them of exposure to toxic biological weapons during the Vietnam War, a federal judge in Oakland ruled late Sunday.
The veterans, and deceased veterans survivors, allege that the government violated its duty to warn when it refused to contact and notify soldiers who had participated in secret studies of biological weapons, chemicals and drugs, including LSD, that the toxic agents could have harmful side effects. The plaintiffs also claim that the government has failed to provide medical treatment to veterans suffering ill effects.
