4 Ways To Find Military Exposures A O/ G W S

[pacmanx1]

Years ago when I was doing my own research on my medical health, I contacted the Institute of Medicine (IOM) for as much information they could help me with and this is what they sent me. I was just cleaning my PC and thought that this may help other veterans. Of course there is a lot more on the site but I think this is a good start.

http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/

http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/vaccinations-medications.asp

http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/sources/vaccinations.asp

Hope this helps

Edited February 15, 2015 by pacmanx1

[Guest]

ArNG11

Pete excellent points, however, the VA is quick to give the symptoms a diagnosis and then do not pass go and do not collect $200. It irritates and frustrates me to no end because they, the VA, gets this easy way out. In my case and most others one a diagnosis is given,done. If not in your active duty records and while in service, done. Never mind if you have private medical records documenting the symptoms, diagnosis attributable to a specific disease done. Is there a better way to fight this VA conundrum regarding undiagnosed illness or "Gulf war syndrome" I've been having a daisy of time trying to do it and still don't have a way in. Also this is also with VA raters attributing some health problems due to GWI, such as IBS, GERD, and Hypothyroidism, but not Sleep apnea, chronic pain, and chronic fatigue. It's very difficult to connect when coexisting illness and conditions overlap with similar symptoms. Im curious if they would do a study between active duty and activated guard and reserve units and see what the statistics are with service members having these very same issues. I fear that report or data would not surface. Feels a lot like Desert Storm/Desert Shield. There's a reason why that tape changes color. There's reasons why all these registries are up. Eh blah. I think I may be beating up a dead horse. Running low on happy pils. MNBSO.

I understand your frustration, but I think that it really boils down to what is in your service medical records, on your DD 214 and a medical nexus letter from a doctor that is familiar with GWI/GWS.

I am not familiar with your particular situation but I was denied GWI until a VA C & P examiner reviewed my service records. (He was an Internal Medicine Specialist) that was familiar with GWI/GWS. After that C & P exam and opinion, it seems that most of my claims were granted. Of course I had private medical records after service of multiple hospitalizations of symptoms that were diagnosed and being treated for years.

VA finally granted my claims. I thought I was going to die. There are times when I get sick, I worry about going back to the hospital. The last time I was in a lot of pain and I had a nurse with a bad attitude which didn't help my situation. All I can say is check your records, check your DD 214, get a medical doctor to review your records and write a nexus letter(IMO/IME). Most importantly, if VA deny your claims file an appeal. Their are times when the local VA will deny a veterans claim but once it at BVA, it gets approved.

Edited March 10, 2015 by pete992

[k5one]

I have been reading a lot of BVA appeals cases. It seems that to beat the VA at the "you don't have an undiagnosed illness, because the VA diagnosed you with XYZ", you have to get a vet friendly private physician/specialist. If the VA has two doctors who say your symptoms are due to an illness that you were diagnosed with, you need 3 doctors that say your problems can't be attributed to any known illness. If it is one PA/Nurse practitioner, you just need one physician to say undiagnosed.

I have been studying this and it seems that if you get a primary physician and a rheumatologist to give you a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and/or Fibromyalgia, you should be able to get the benefits. Study up on the symptoms, look at the DBQ's and make sure you understand your symptoms. My biggest problem with my claim was not knowing, what I was doing. I found a private physician who was willing to take the time and explain my symptoms, and why I was having problems. I spent 5 hours with my physician's PA at one appointment, where we went through the DBQ's line by line. He basically cleared his schedule for the day, and explained CFS, FM, and several other problems I am having. This is unusual, but there are private physicians willing to help.

[ArNG11]

Thanks for the info and excellent advice. The biggest hurdle I think at least in my case, and most others it is difficult to find doctors that will take the time to do so. Also to eliminate other conditions that cause the same symptoms. Say for instance fatigue or rather chronic fatigue. I have sleep apnea, hypothyroidsm, and am in constant chronic pain. The pain in part has to do with my back injury, along with nerve damage and muscles spasms. For a doctor or specialist it would be difficult to state what is causing what and what percentage of the disease is causing it. That's where you get into difficulties. Mind you this is not counting the "deny at all costs" mentality approve if you must, low ball as much as possible theories. The stance that I was healthy before service and now am not doesn't fly. Even when you have the records (mostly private) the booger of it all is getting the doctors to state it in VA speak, and that you will have a rater or board that will be objective about going through the information.

I haven't tried it all but, honestly, it wears on you. It drains you and it doesn't help when most, even the hired guns, don't want to fight the good fight. It's a big conundrum of exponential lies and traps. But I have to say, when you start something see it through even if you have to go solo. Call in the big guns and the RECON when you need to.

I've been through many tests but like most others out there, still no definitive answers. Gotta keep going if only to stay sane.

[camidonHP]

How are we supposed to know what we were exposed to? I have asked all of the doctors/specialists I have seen if they thought my issues could be related to exposure. Most of them look at me cross-eyed and/or hand me a pamphlet about burn pit registry. There seems to be a huge lack of understanding across the board, and we're the ones left to suffer.

I know we had burn pits, but we also moved into an abandoned building and sucked in a lot of dust and inside and out. I was hit by a mortar round and remember not being able to breathe from all of the dust and gunpowder. Whose responsibility is it to connect the dots?

Well, I find it's better to start with what your disability is, and work your way back. If you're Iraq/Gulf War, there's Burn Pits, Oil Well Smoke. If you were around jets and helos, there's JP jet fuel exposure, if you were electronics or mechanic you may have trichloroethylene exposure, diesel fumes, I mean there are so many exposures it's really much easier to figure out what exposure more likely than not can cause or aggravate your disability.

[camidonHP]

Thanks for the info and excellent advice. The biggest hurdle I think at least in my case, and most others it is difficult to find doctors that will take the time to do so. Also to eliminate other conditions that cause the same symptoms. Say for instance fatigue or rather chronic fatigue. I have sleep apnea, hypothyroidsm, and am in constant chronic pain. The pain in part has to do with my back injury, along with nerve damage and muscles spasms. For a doctor or specialist it would be difficult to state what is causing what and what percentage of the disease is causing it. That's where you get into difficulties. Mind you this is not counting the "deny at all costs" mentality approve if you must, low ball as much as possible theories. The stance that I was healthy before service and now am not doesn't fly. Even when you have the records (mostly private) the booger of it all is getting the doctors to state it in VA speak, and that you will have a rater or board that will be objective about going through the information.

I haven't tried it all but, honestly, it wears on you. It drains you and it doesn't help when most, even the hired guns, don't want to fight the good fight. It's a big conundrum of exponential lies and traps. But I have to say, when you start something see it through even if you have to go solo. Call in the big guns and the RECON when you need to.

I've been through many tests but like most others out there, still no definitive answers. Gotta keep going if only to stay sane.

Do you have service-connected PTSD? You may be able to claim your sleep apnea as secondary to your PTSD. There's a fairly large body of evidence that the sleep deprivation many PTSD sufferers experience can cause problems with sleep apnea. Not to mention anti-anxiety meds.

[ArNG11]

Do you have service-connected PTSD? You may be able to claim your sleep apnea as secondary to your PTSD. There's a fairly large body of evidence that the sleep deprivation many PTSD sufferers experience can cause problems with sleep apnea. Not to mention anti-anxiety meds.

Funny that you mention that why, yes I do, one by my private doc in 09-10, one for don't meet the stressor and criteria, and one recent morning be from the head board dr at the VA. Still no service connection for PTSD. MDD was the other that was annotated recently. Still trying to force the VA to FOIA the QTC DBQ. Funny part is I have digital recording of the exam. I'm just wanting the hard copy. Shenanigans.