ptsd Blue Water Navy Update

[Berta]

Blue Water Navy update:

Carol Olzenacki wanted me to post this email ,to Congressman Gibson because she wants all to know how close the BWN legislation is ,to hopefully having a Positive result:

"
"Thank You to Representative Chris Gibson

Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans would like to say "Thank You" to Representative Chris Gibson.
He introduced the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2015 (HR969) on February 13, 2015 along with
131 co-sponsors. With a lot of hard work and the support of his staff, we have now reached 237 co-sponsors.

We would like to say "Thank You" to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for introducing a companion bill
in the Senate. (S681) This bill will be going for Committee mark up on July 14, 2015.

For the sake of our Blue Water Navy and Fleet Marine Veterans, who lost their benefits in 2002, we are hoping for a successful outcome of the upcoming Senate Review Committee.

John Rossie Susan Belanger Carol Olszanecki "

Please contact your Senator and ask for their support for this important issue.--

_____________________________________________________________________________

------Carol had her own major battle with VA when her USN husband died due to AO illnesses and she succeeded and has been a relentless Blue Water Navy Advocate ever since....and even continues her aggressive work for veterans , after a recent devastating tragedy.

Her son , a veteran, died in May due to PTSD from his service. ............even with that heartbreak, she still continues the fight for Blue Water Navy Vets .exposed to Agent Orange.. to be properly compensated by the VA.

Edited July 10, 2015 by Berta

[Buck52]

Good Post Ms berta

I hope July 14th 2015 will be a great day for all Blue Water Veterans.

................Buck

[georgiapapa]

Berta,

This does sound positive. I have a brother in law who is a blue water veteran. Thanks for keeping us updated.

Georgiapapa

[Pete53]

My brother was blue water but he did set foot on the ground in Viet Nam. He suffers from skin cancer so far five operations and new stuff popping up. Even with a History like this and a Pension Veteran the VA would not make regular checkup for skin cancer part of his medical profile.

[Berta]

Many Vietnams vets ( and we had a Navy vet here too who succeeded with similar claim) have had their skin cancer service connected.

"FINDINGS OF FACT

There is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence as to whether the Veteran's current basal cell carcinoma to the face, back, and neck is due to in-service sun exposure.


CONCLUSION OF LAW

Resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran, his basal cell carcinoma to the face, back, and neck was caused by in-service sun exposure. 38 U.S.C.A. § 1110, 1116, 1131, 5103, 5103A, 5107 (West 2002 & Supp. 2010); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.159, 3.303, 3.304 (2011)."

http://www.va.gov/vetapp12/Files5/1236203.txt


FINDING OF FACT

There is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran's skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, squamous acanthoma) is the result of a disease, injury or event in service.


CONCLUSION OF LAW

Resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran, his current skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, squamous acanthoma) was the result of active duty service. 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 1110, 5103, 5103A, 5107 (West 2002 & Supp. 2011); C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.159, 3.303, 3.304 (2011).

http://www.va.gov/vetapp12/Files1/1203867.txt (He was a USN vet)

Over 37 thousand BVA decisions have the words skin cancer and Vietnam in them

About 1,900 had skin cancer Navy in them.

It depends on the MOS ,the weather conditions and times of service,(both Vietnam and the Pacific had plenty of sunlight) and type of skin cancer the veteran has.

Has he formally filed and was he denied?

"Even with a History like this and a Pension Veteran the VA would not make regular checkup for skin cancer part of his medical profile."

He might have basis under 1151.as well as direct SC.