Cll

[john999]

Does anyone know much about treatment for CLL. It seems like a Vietnam buddy of mine was DX'ed with it recently on a routine blood work. It was a big shock.

John

[shakeyswife]

Sorry to hear about your buddy. I had a niece that had CLL she was 39 at the time of diagnosis. Because it was diagnosed in the later stages, there really wasn't much that they could do for her. They did try chemo., but needless to say she past away about 6 months after being diagnosed. Hopefully because they caught it in a routine blood test they may go after the "C" with more aggression.

[Berta]

John there are some good saites on th net that discuss CLL treatment.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/cll/patient

Still it depends on the individuals case and their physician.

CLL is an AO presumptive:

http://www.purpleheart.org/ServiceProgram/Training2011/T-2%20AO-Nehmer.pdf

He should file a claim and it wont fall under Nehmer but the VA should award it.

[Berta]

I went to the BVA web site but didnt really expect to find anything there on any CLL denials for incountry Nam vets and I found this interesting Blue Water award:

This is a BVA CLL award that surprised me when I read this statement:

“the Board finds the evidence is in equipoise with regard to the question of whether the Veteran set foot in Vietnam, and entitled to the presumption of exposure to herbicides for the purpose of establishing entitlement to service connection for CLL”
http://www.index.va.gov/search/va/view.jsp?FV=http://www.va.gov/vetapp13/Files3/1327841.txt

We have a USS Constellation vet here.....but I am sure it is still not on the VA's AO ships lists because the BVA would have awarded on that basis.

Interesting read and an award for AO CLL.

One thing the BVA notes is consistency in lay statements claimants make, as this case show.

[john999]

They say that if it is at stage 0 and you begin treatment as soon as you have symptoms you can live a long time. Most who get it are older or Vietnam vets.

Can you believe that you go in for routine blood work and come away with a possible death sentence. There were no symptoms at all. I think he should get a SECOP.

John