USMCVetWife

I am going through his service records now. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to re-request some information as none of the medical records were included. Here's what I know so far. He was stationed on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt He served in the US Naval Support Activity, Saigon He served as a River Boat Captain attached to River Division 573 He was stationed on the USS Valley Forge He was stationed on the USS Lake Champlain He was awarded a Bronze Star and a Gold Star (in lieu of a second Bronze Star) for injuries sustained while captaining "river boat patrols acting as escorts to two dredges" and a "river boat patrol which was providing base security." He was also awarded a purple heart, but I haven't found the information on exactly what it was awarded for. Still researching. :)

I live in Jacksonville, Florida. The nearest regional office is in St. Petersburg. I've already started the paperwork to begin the claim. Just working on getting dr reports and all of that together. I'm pretty comfortable dealing with the VA, this is just a new area for me. My husband is a Beruit era vet with arthritis and Chronic Adjustment Disorder. AO is a new field for me to delve into so I appreciate any help and direction I can get. :) As to the skin condition, I don't believe he was treated during his service time. It's only on his hand and it gets dry and scaly at times and is always rough. Not sure exactly what it is. I'm just now getting his service records from St. Louis to review.

I am trying to help a friend with his AO claim. He said he filed before but was denied. As near as I can tell the prior filing was for a rash on his hand. He did 4 or 5 tours in Vietnam. He is classified as a "brown water vet" as he was in the Navy stationed on the rivers. He was recently diagnosed and treated for lung cancer. A portion of his lung was removed and he began chemo treatments. He was unable to tolerate the chemo treatments and they were stopped. Here's what I'm trying to figure out for him. 1. As I understand it, there is no longer a 20 year time limit on AO claims for respiratory cancers. Correct? 2. If he was a smoker will this impact his claim? Will that impact change if he began smoking with the cigarettes provided in his rations? 3. Are there rashes or skin irritations associated with AO? I think that's all I have for now, but I'm sure I'll have more as I get further into this claim. This is a whole new area for me, but he and his wife are very dear friends and I'd really like to help them. Thanks!