buzzard_jones

Not sure if I am, Buck -- but will call the VA monday to find out...have to call there anyway to make a podiatry appointment and ask for a second opinion on testing. THANKS

Thanks kindly GP. I feel a bit better now, knowing that there is a good chance that the nodules may be benign. As for a second opinion, I can ask my VA primary (I have no other health insurance coverage). I'm waiting to get a call from the VA to schedule the thyroid ultrasound. I will check out the Mayo website as well. DJ

Hello. I already have a 50% disability (awarded 2012). Well, a few months back, I started having back and chest pain along with coughing. I went to my local va outpatient clinic; they did a chest xray and found pleural thickening. They scheduled me for a CT Scan in Parma, Ohio where I was scanned from neck to knees. The findings on the report are that I have lung nodules and thyroid nodules; Parma did not see pleural thickening. Noted was that the lung nodules should be re-evaluated (new CT Scan) in a year, and they are scheduling me for an ultrasound on the thyroid nodules. This is scary stuff. I had a stress test last year. Next, I made an appointment with a local VA rep to inquire if I could file an Agent Orange claim for the lung nodules....he said that no, I could not unless they turn into diagnosed cancer and he hopes he doesn't see me in the future as then I would be able to file an AO claim. The lung nodules are scaring me more than anything. I was exposed to AO while serving 2 tours in Vietnam. Waiting a whole year to get another scan of them really doesn't sit well with me. I was also told that the chest and back pain have nothing to do with any nodules. Any advice? BTW, I am a former hadit member, but cannot retrieve my information (forgot my username and the email address it was connected to is no longer valid as I moved and switched internet providers). Any comments or suggestions?