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allan

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  1. They are going to want you to prove a history of symptoms. This is what patients inform their care providers of how their feeling. If you've had no recorded spinal complaints since injury, regardless of your separation exam, it's difficult to prove your claim. I'd like to add that DDD showed up on my x rays at age 27. I was injured at age 19 in service.
  2. Carlie, the last several C&P's I had last yr, the VA sent a letter of the dates to attend and a notice not to bring any records, that "THEY" would supply the Dr with"EVERTHING". Don't believe it. I took service records and current health records specific to my injuries. No service records or current health records were sent by the VARO. Every examiner thanked me for it and was very interested in what I brought. Im sure it helped the ratings I recieved so far. I would narrow it down to just the cream and leave the rest home.
  3. It can take up to 14 yrs before DDD, DJD of the spine developes after injury. You need a Dr's statement that your diagnosed DDD is caused by your inservice injuries. You can expect the VA to just get another IMO to shoot down any favorable medical opinion you submit as evidence. They sent me to a C&P for the same claim and the Dr said it was service connected. The RO claimed they never recieved it, then ordered another IMO and of cource it came back unfavorable. So I went to a Dr I saw for a decade not long after I was discharged. Since he was still in practice, I had him examine me and look at my c-file records and the records he had on file. His opinion was completely favorable. The VARO then ordered an IMO from a Dr in New Jersey, all the way at the opposite end of the country, to give an opinion without an examination. Their contract Dr's opinion wasn't favorable again. This time I hired a well known Dr that does IMO's. He theroughly went through my records twice. Once when I sent him a copy of my records and again after the BVA sent him a copy of my c-file. They stated the records had to come from them before they would except his opinion. His opinion was still the same and they still denied his favorable opinion. The claim has now been remanded by the Court. My attorney says I should be hearing something by 2013. We'll see. If you don't have an attorney? Get one is all I can say before you go through all of this. My reopened claim start date is 1997, taking an average two yrs for any SOC by the VA.
  4. Retiredat44, Try giving the Patient Advocate a call to help you get this set up. Not saying it will change anything, but it might be worth a try if these people arn't capable of getting their act together. After that, file a complaint at the VA internet site if they still can't do it. Sometimes you just have to get enough heat under their butt to get it done.
  5. To: Veteran Issues by Colonel Dan <VeteranIssues@yahoogroups.com> Subject: NOT TRUE FW: [VeteranIssues] Walgreens Remains in TRICARE Network Date: Sep 9, 2011 12:11 PM Bad Info…agreement has not been reached…Walgreen will be dropped at end of this year… From: VeteranIssues@yahoogroups.com [mailto:VeteranIssues@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Colonel Dan Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 10:02 AM To: Veteran Issues by Colonel Dan Subject: [VeteranIssues] Walgreens Remains in TRICARE Network Walgreens Remains in TRICARE Network This week Express Scripts Inc. (ESI) also announced that Walgreens drug store chain and ESI have reached an agreement and ESI is no longer terminating them from the network as reported. ESI is in the process of advising those beneficiaries who received letters announcing the termination of Walgreens from the network. ESI is a Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) Company that processes TRICARE pharmacy claims and manages TRICARE’s Mail Order Pharmacy Program (TMOP). Look for an announcement soon Also Walgreens (NYSE:WAG) (NASDAQ:WAG) plans to offer electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at approximately 800 locations across the country by the end of the year, making it the nation’s largest retail host. The company’s neighborhood stores will provide convenient locations for EV drivers to recharge near home or work. __._,_.___ "Keep on, Keepin' on" Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL "Colonel Dan" See my web site at: http://www.angelfire.com/il2/VeteranIssues/ http://www.facebook.com/dan.cedusky
  6. To: Veteran Issues by Colonel Dan <VeteranIssues@yahoogroups.com> Subject: [VeteranIssues] House committee passes jobs bill for veterans Date: Sep 9, 2011 11:40 AM House committee passes jobs bill for veterans http://www.armytimes...eterans-090811/ By Rick Maze - Staff writer Posted : Thursday Sep 8, 2011 12:03:29 EDT Partial reeprint A key House committee approved a $1.5 billion veterans' employment bill Thursday that promises a new job retraining program for veterans aged 35 and older who have been out of work for at least 26 weeks as well as improvements in transition assistance, job placement and professional licensing initiatives for all veterans. The House Veterans' Affairs Committee passed the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act, HR 2433, on a 17-5 vote, with opposition coming from some Democrats opposed to how the employment programs would be funded. The bill would reduce pensions for some low-income veterans in nursing homes and delays previously planned reductions in fees on veterans' home loans. Rep. Bob Filner of California, the committee's ranking Democrat, said using home loan fees to pay for employment aid is "strange, hypocritical and even tragic." __._,_.___ "Keep on, Keepin' on" Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL "Colonel Dan" See my web site at: http://www.angelfire.../VeteranIssues/ http://www.facebook.com/dan.cedusky
  7. To: Veteran Issues by Colonel Dan <VeteranIssues@yahoogroups.com> Subject: [VeteranIssues] Iraq/Afghanistan War Lung Injury Is Common Date: Sep 8, 2011 8:22 AM http://networkedblogs.com/mFgl6 A new report reveals that respiratory illness is common among soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The study was reported in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine that respiratory symptoms of returning soldiers are high necessitating testing. The chief medical investigator, Dr. A.M. Szema had previously reported an on-set of asthma in returning soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan. "Deployment to Iraq was associated with a significantly higher risk of asthma compared with stateside soldiers (6.6% versus 4.3%; with a crude odds ratio, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.18, 2.11)." The new report states that, "... Twenty-five percent of 7151 troops went to Iraq/Afghanistan and 75% went elsewhere, with more smokers in the Iraq/Afghanistan group (16.1% vs 3.3%). Rates of symptoms and spirometry were 14.5% and 1.8%, for Iraq/Afghanistan, versus troops deployed elsewhere, respectively. Both groups had similar forced expired volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity ratios (78%)." It concluded that, "New-onset Iraq/Afghanistan war lung injury is common and rates of symptoms leading to a diagnosis requiring spirometry are high." A lawsuit was filed alleging that KRB, Inc.
(NYSE KRB) endangered the health and safety of American soldiers in
Iraq and Afghanistan by exposing them to huge quantities of toxic 
dust, fumes and other air pollution by burning unsorted waste in vast 
open-air pits without any safety controls.

 Click here to read more about burn pit claims for benefits and lawsuits. Call Jon L. Gelman at 973.696.7900 or e-mail jon@gelmans.com **************** http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21866049 Respiratory Symptoms Necessitating Spirometry Among Soldiers With Iraq/Afghanistan War Lung Injury. Szema AM, Salihi W, Savary K, Chen JJ. Source From the Allergy Section, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, New York (Drs Szema and Salihi and Mr Savary); and Departments of Medicine (Drs Szema and Salihi) and Preventive Medicine (Dr Chen), and M.D. with Recognition in Research Program (Mr Savary), SUNY Stony Brook School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York. Abstract OBJECTIVE: New-onset asthma rates are higher among US soldiers deployed to Iraq/Afghanistan than stateside, but overall respiratory symptom and spirometry rates among soldiers returning from Iraq/Afghanistan have not yet been addressed. We determined these rates in soldiers deployed to Iraq/Afghanistan versus troops stationed elsewhere. METHODS: Retrospective review of active-duty soldiers (2004 to 2010) registered at Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, New York, with Long Island/New York City zip codes. Subjects were examined by physicians or physicians' assistants. We counted number of spirometries, which required respiratory symptoms, and the provider was required to submit a diagnosis as part of the request process. RESULTS: Twenty-five percent of 7151 troops went to Iraq/Afghanistan (n = 1816) and 75% went elsewhere (n = 5335), with more smokers in the Iraq/Afghanistan group (16.1% vs 3.3%). Rates of symptoms and spirometry were 14.5% and 1.8%, for Iraq/Afghanistan, versus troops deployed elsewhere, respectively (P < 0.001). Both groups had similar forced expired volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity ratios (78%). CONCLUSIONS: New-onset Iraq/Afghanistan war lung injury is common and rates of symptoms leading to a diagnosis requiring spirometry are high __._,_.___ "Keep on, Keepin' on" Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL "Colonel Dan" See my web site at: http://www.angelfire.com/il2/VeteranIssues/ http://www.facebook.com/dan.cedusky
  8. To: Veteran Issues by Colonel Dan <VeteranIssues@yahoogroups.com> Subject: [VeteranIssues] Seizure Disorder Diagnosed Later in Veterans Than Civilians: Study Date: Sep 8, 2011 8:29 AM http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=656523 Seizure Disorder Diagnosed Later in Veterans Than Civilians: Study Vets with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures may go 5 years without diagnosis, researchers say TUESDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthDay News) – Veterans who suffer emotion-related seizures that are not caused by epilepsy can go undiagnosed for much longer than civilians with the condition, according to a new study. This condition -- known as psychogenic non-epileptic seizure -- is believed to have a psychological origin and is different from epilepsy, but diagnosis can be difficult because the two types of seizures are similar in appearance, explained Dr. Martin Salinsky, of the Portland VA Medical Center and Oregon Health and Sciences University. He and his colleagues reviewed the medical records of 50 veterans and 50 civilians who were diagnosed with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. It took an average of five years from the start of symptoms for veterans to be diagnosed, compared with about one year for civilians. In nearly 60 percent of the veterans, the seizures had been attributed to traumatic brain injury, which can lead to epilepsy. The study is published in the Sept. 6 issue of Neurology. Why accurate diagnosis is delayed among veterans is unclear, but one reason may be the limited number of epilepsy monitoring units in VA medical centers, Salinsky suggested. He said a delay in diagnosis can prolong a patient's disability and also noted that many of the veterans received epilepsy drugs before they were finally diagnosed with psychogenic non-epileptic seizure. Epilepsy drugs won't help and may cause serious, unwanted side effects, Salinsky added in a journal news release. More information HealthLink BC has more about non-epileptic seizures. __._,_.___ "Keep on, Keepin' on" Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL "Colonel Dan" See my web site at: http://www.angelfire.com/il2/VeteranIssues/ http://www.facebook.com/dan.cedusky
  9. From: VA Media Relations <va.media.relations@VA.GOV> To: VANEWS-L@WWW.LISTSERV.VA.GOV Subject: VA Streamlines Online Applications for Health Benefits Renewal Date: Sep 8, 2011 10:19 AM Attachments: 10-10EZR 11-0016 NR FINAL.docx Recent VA News Releases To view and download VA news releases, please visit the followingInternet address: http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel <http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel> VA Streamlines Online Applications for Health Benefits Renewal Automated 10-10EZR Form Simplifies Updates WASHINGTON (September 8, 2011) - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)has automated its online Health Benefits Renewal (10-10EZR) form as partof its ongoing effort to streamline access to benefits. "This action dramatically reduces the time it will take for enrolledVeterans to submit updates to their demographic information and furtherreduces access barriers to needed care for Veterans," said Secretary ofVeterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.Previously, Veterans filling out the online 10-10EZR were required toprint a copy, sign it and send it to their local medical center beforeupdates to their personal, insurance or financial information couldoccur. Veterans may now submit these updates online.For additional information, go to www.va.gov/healtheligibility or callVA's toll-free number at 1-877-222-VETS (8387). The online form isavailable at https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/Form/1010ezr.pdf. # # #
  10. Last I checked, you don't even have to be a US citizen to recieve SSI. It's a needs bases program. If you served during war time, you may be able to use some of your military time and credits to help obtain SSDI. It helped me get mine. Also, check out "Non Service Connected Pension" to see if your eligible since your only recieving $581 a month.
  11. I filed an NOD with Seattle VARO back in March 2010. They failed to rate loss of range of motion for the left shoulder and denied my claim for MS again. One month prior to filing the NOD I was sent to a C&P for the MS claim. The Seattle rater asked the C&P examiner to perform a prostate exam and neuro tests for the MS claim. The examiners results were positive for a neurological disorder. I declined to have a prostate exam, since I couldn't figure out what the heck it had to do with MS. Neither could the examiner. The MS claim was again denied without any evidence that I don't have it, or comment why they didn't request the examiner to determine if I have a current diagnoses of MS. A clear refusal to read and except the medical opinion Dr Bash provided nearly 7 years ago. The range of motion for the left arm was brought up in a medical opinion the BVA aquired back in 2009 and is included in the remand the BVA sent to the Seattle VARO to rate along with the shoulder arthritis, tendon and muscle damage. They only awarded 10%. I've been waiting since March 2010 and get the same runaround answer from my NSO ive gottin before. He claims the rater is unclear as to what my NOD is for since they rated me all they can for the shoulder arthritis. They completely ignor the evidence i've sent, the BVA has sent and the examiner has sent in. Soooooooo, i've requested a local hearing to present the evidence in person, underlined, highlighted, in large BOLD print, and have it read into the record, "UNDER OATH". Because.............only evidence entered into the record under oath is evidence they have to consider, some point in time. That may be 15 yrs later when the CAVC points it out, that they cant get away with blowing it off any more and they "MUST" provide a comment why they REFUSE to acknolledge it or give it weight. The name of the game is stall, stall, stall until you give up or die. Thats the Seattle VARO I know.
  12. Guilty Verdict in Case of Agent Orange http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/08/31/the-guilty-verdict-in-the-case-of-agent-orange/
  13. Obama Draws Line On Possible Cuts To Veterans Programs. New York Times President Obama, in a “somber” speech at the American Legion national convention, “vowed…that he would not allow cuts in programs for veterans as Congress and the administration look for ways to balance the budget.” The Times adds that the President “repeated his assertion of earlier this summer that after a decade of war, it was time to turn the country’s attention to domestic prosperity. ‘It’s time to focus on nation-building here at home,’ Mr. Obama told 6,000 members of the country’s largest veterans group, who clapped politely.” AP ”Obama said the Americans who have worn the uniform since Sept. 11 have put the nation in a position of strength and have earned their place among the greatest of generations. ‘Every day for the past 10 years, these men and women have succeeded together as one American team,’ Obama said.” The AP says that “since taking office, Obama has set a course for drawing down both wars after a decade of continuous conflict,” and he “spoke of ending, not of winning, the Afghanistan war. ‘As our mission transitions from combat to support, Afghans will take responsibility for their own security, and the longest war in American history will come to a responsible end,’ he said.” Source: http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/09/01/top-10-veterans-stories-40/
  14. Questions Mount About Military and VA Use of Mental Health Drugs http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/08/22/questions-mount-about-militarysvas-use-of-mental-health-drugs/
  15. <LI>Veterans Groups Preparing For Budget Fight. San Diego Union-Tribune “After 10 years of war and expanded benefits for those who fought, veterans groups now are girding to battle against takeaways, as Congress considers sweeping budget cuts over the next four months.” The Union-Tribune adds, “The $130 billion VA budget will probably top the list of programs facing cuts, according to veterans advocates. With a pen stroke, Congress could nip here and dice there – without appearing to do much – and end up costing veterans who use the VA, said” Tim Tetz, the American Legion’s legislative director. SOURCE: http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/08/31/top-10-veterans-stories-39/
  16. From: VA Media Relations <va.media.relations@VA.GOV To: VANEWS-L@WWW.LISTSERV.VA.GOV Subject: Over $2.2 Billion in Retroactive Agent Orange Benefits Paid to 89,000 Vietnam Veterans and Survivors for Presumptive Conditions Date: Aug 31, 2011 12:48 PMRecent VA News Releases To view and download VA news releases, please visit the followingInternet address: http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel <http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel> Over $2.2 Billion in Retroactive Agent Orange Benefits Paid to 89,000Vietnam Veterans and Survivors for Presumptive Conditions WASHINGTON (August 31, 2011)- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.Shinseki announced today that more than $2.2 billion in retroactivebenefits has already been paid to approximately 89,000 Vietnam Veteransand their survivors who filed claims related to one of three new AgentOrange presumptive conditions. On August 31, 2010, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amended itsregulations to add ischemic heart disease, hairy cell leukemia and otherchronic B-cell leukemias, and Parkinson's disease to the list ofdiseases presumed to be related to exposure to Agent Orange. "As the President said to the American Legion yesterday, VA iscommitted to ensuring Veterans and their families receive the care andbenefits they have earned," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.Shinseki. "I encourage all potentially eligible Veterans to apply assoon as possible to preserve the most favorable effective date forpayments." For new claims, VA may authorize up to one year of retroactive benefitsif a Veteran can show that he or she has experienced one of thoseconditions since the date of the regulatory change.VA has reviewed, and continues to review, thousands of previously filedclaims that may qualify for retroactive benefits under a long-standingcourt order of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District ofCalifornia in Nehmer vs. U.S. Veterans Administration."VA encourages survivors of Veterans whose death may be due to one ofthe three diseases to file a claim for dependency and indemnitycompensation," added Under Secretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. Secretary Shinseki's decision to add these conditions to the list ofAgent Orange presumptive conditions was based on a study by theInstitute of Medicine, which indicated a positive association betweenexposure to certain herbicides and the subsequent development of one ormore of the three conditions. Potentially eligible Veterans include those who were exposed based onduty or visitation in Vietnam or on its inland waterways between January9, 1962, and May 7, 1975; exposed along the demilitarized zone in Koreabetween April 1, 1968, and August 31, 1971; or exposed due to herbicidetests and storage at military bases within and outside of the UnitedStates. The Agent Orange Claims Processing System website located athttps://www.fasttrac...ov/AOFastTrack/ may be used to submit claimsrelated to the three new presumptive conditions. The website makes it easy to electronically file a claim and allowsVeterans and their physicians to upload evidence supporting the claim.It also permits online viewing of claim status. Beyond the three new presumptive disabilities, Veterans may file onlineat VA's My-eBenefits web site at:https://www.ebenefit...benefits.portal. Theycan check the status of their claim with a premium account (confirmingtheir identity), and use a growing number of online services. Servicemembers may enroll in My-eBenefits by using their Common AccessCard at anytime during their military service, or before they leaveduring their Transition Assistance Program briefings. Veterans may also enroll through their myPay or MyHealtheVet accounts byvisiting their local VA regional office or Veteran Service Organization,or by calling 1-800-827-1000. For more information about Agent Orange presumptives and disabilitycompensation, go tohttp://www.publichea...es/agentorange/. For questionsabout Agent Orange, Veterans may call VA's Special Issues Helpline at1-800-749-8387 and press 3. # # #
  17. Subject: [VeteranIssues] FW: Herbicides in coastal water Date: Aug 26, 2011 12:07 PM From: R. L. Conley [mailto:amcsconley@yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, August 26, 2011 1:35 AM To: Colonel Dan Subject: Herbicides in coastal water Colonel Dan FYI I always thought Agent Orange/Herbicides did not reach the South China Sea until I read the following reports about dumping Herbicides in coastal water. 1. HERBS files, Stellman et al. (2003) 2. MACV Fixed Wing Aircraft Herbicide Incidents. 15 October 1981 3. Report of Trip to Republic of Vietnam, 15 August - 2 September 1969 1. “ The Army also verified that some herbicide was jettisoned over water near the Vietnamese coast (Department of the Army, 1981).” http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=13026&page=52 On the basis of the revised HERBS files, Stellman et al. (2003) reported that 42 missions, totaling about 120,000 L of herbicide, are known to have resulted in emergency herbicide dumps. Stellman et al. noted that “aborted missions may not represent the significant source of exposure.” Only a few of the 42 missions that dumped herbicides appear to have been near the coast of South Vietnam (Jeanne Stellman, Columbia University, personal communication, November 1, 2010). The Army also verified that some herbicide was jettisoned over water near the Vietnamese coast (Department of the Army, 1981). The committee did not attempt to identify where each aborted or jettisoned missions occurred; this information may be contained in an uncorrected version of the HERBS file, known as the Map Book 2. Item ID Number: 00139 Author: Department of the Army, Office of the Adjutant General Alexandria, VA Title:' Table MACV Fixed Wing Aircraft Herbicide Incidents. 15 October 1981 J - Jettison of Herbicide Location unknown INCIDRNT CODE J 3.Item ID Number 00207 Darrow, Robert A. Corporate Author Report/Article Title Typescript: Report of Trip to Republic of Vietnam, 15 August - 2 September 1969 Page 17 (b) Direct application of herbicide caused by emergency dumps of chemical from UC-123 while in flight. Under extreme situations such as engine failure due to enemy fire or other alfunctioning, emergency dumping of the entire 1000-gallon tankload may be required for the safety of the plane and crew. Examination of Chemical Operations Division files at MACV showed that five such emergency dumps from RANCH HAND planes had occurred in the period since 1 December 1968. One of these dumps had been made at a location 10 kilometers offshore over the South China Sea,south of Bac Lieu Province. The remaining four were within a general radius of 20 to 25 kilometers from Bien Hoa and had been made from elevations of 2000 to 3500 feet. V/R Richard L. Conley amcsconley@yahoo.com __._,_.___ "Keep on, Keepin' on" Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL "Colonel Dan" See my web site at: http://www.angelfire.com/il2/VeteranIssues/ http://www.facebook.com/dan.cedusky
  18. Subject: [VeteranIssues] FW: Studies Seek Combat Vets With Lung Trouble Date: Aug 23, 2011 6:13 PM http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/08/army-studies-seek-vets-with-lung-problems-082211w/ -----Original Message----- From: health.mil- Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 10:13 AM To: Subject: [HEALTH.MIL] Studies Seek Combat Vets With Lung Trouble Studies Seek Combat Vets With Lung Trouble By Michelle Tan - Staff writer Posted : Monday Aug 22, 2011 9:48:37 EDT SAN ANTONIO - If you are a combat veteran experiencing shortness of breath or other pulmonary problems, the Army wants to hear from you. Recent reports about Iraq and Afghanistan veterans afflicted with constrictive bronchiolitis, a rare and severe lung disease caused by scarring and inflammation of the lungs' smallest airways, may be exaggerated, officials said, but work is underway to determine the impact of repeat deployments on troops. The Army has launched studies that officials hope will help them better treat those who get sick with pulmonary illnesses. Officials also are looking at a case series, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, in which experts at Vanderbilt University Medical Center diagnosed 38 soldiers from Fort Campbell, Ky., with constrictive bronchiolitis, which can be diagnosed only through open-lung biopsy surgery. Army doctors say symptoms would have to be severe before they would perform this biopsy. Of those soldiers identified by Vanderbilt, 28 had been exposed to a sulfur fire in Iraq in 2003. "Because of deployment, there are going to be soldiers with pulmonary problems," said Col. (Dr.) Lisa Zacher, pulmonary consultant to the Army surgeon general and chief of the department of medicine at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. "We want to see them and evaluate them and better define what's going on." Troops with shortness of breath usually are diagnosed with asthma or vocal cord dysfunction, said Dr. Michael Morris, a pulmonologist here. Reports of lung problems among returning troops led to the creation of a working group including representatives from each service, the Veterans Affairs Department and civilian counterparts, Morris said. The Army is leading several studies to determine the problem's extent and how best to prevent or treat pulmonary diseases, he said. Some of the key efforts: . The Army has launched a study to evaluate troops who have returned from a deployment within the last six months and are experiencing shortness of breath. They undergo pulmonary function tests, a CT scan and a bronchoscopy, which allows doctors to visualize the patient's airway for abnormalities and extract specimens for further testing. Thirty service members have enrolled; experts are seeking 50. To enroll, talk to your health care provider or call the Brooke (Army Medical Center) pulmonary clinic at 210-916-1136. . The Army just received approval to determine the feasibility of doing baseline spirometry tests on all active-duty troops. Spirometry is a commonly used series of pulmonary function tests. Morris and his team will seek 1,200 volunteers from soldiers who are at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, for combat medic training. . Thousands of volunteers are needed for the Study of Active-Duty Military for Pulmonary Disease Related to Environmental Dust Exposure, also known as STAMPEDE, which monitors their symptoms for 10 years. The study's registry will accept volunteers for the next five years. Most names being added are coming from pulmonologists at Army hospitals across the country, Morris said. About 50 people are in the registry; researchers are seeking about 3,000. The registry, at Brooke, compiles in one place data on all active-duty troops who've been treated or evaluated at a military facility for a lung disease caused or exacerbated by deployment. The troops who volunteer to be in the database agree to be contacted once a year for 10 years so researchers can monitor their progress, Morris said. "This will help us get a better idea of the diseases soldiers are having," Morris said. "It's important to know how long the symptoms persist, and do they develop more symptoms." . Morris and his team have received permission to look at every active-duty service member diagnosed with a chronic lung disease to see if there are any specific diseases either emerging from or unique to deployments. So far, experts have found that acute eosinophilic pneumonia may affect heavy smokers who deploy. Eosinophilic pneumonia is caused when a certain type of white blood cell accumulates in the lung, causing coughing, fever, difficulty breathing and sweating at night. In severe cases, patients can become dependent on a ventilator. The Army became aware of this issue when about 90 patients coming through Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and from the war zones had this form of pneumonia. . Morris and his team recently submitted a proposal to go to Fort Hood, Texas, to test 1,400 soldiers preparing to deploy. They would conduct a questionnaire, spirometry and chest X-rays, and the tests would be done again when the soldiers redeploy. "We want to know what diseases are emerging," Morris said. NOTE: To comment on this article, please go to http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/08/army-studies-seek-vets-with-lung-probl ems- 082211w/ or access the article via the Army Stand-To! Newsletter at http://www.army.mil/standto/ ------ SOURCE: Army Times article via Army Stand-To! Newsletter, 23 August 2011 __._,_.___ "Keep on, Keepin' on" Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL "Colonel Dan" See my web site at: http://www.angelfire.com/il2/VeteranIssues/ http://www.facebook.com/dan.cedusky
  19. CAVC site apparently won't save a specific search. So you'll have to enter 38 C.F.R 4.114 in the search window.
  20. Here's a few cases to sift through.............. BVA Cases: http://www.index.va....0&ET=&UA=Search CAVC Cases: http://search.uscourts.cavc.gov/search/
  21. Agent Orange Relief for Vietnam? H.R. 2634, which was authored for Representative Filner by the Vietnam Relief and Responsibility Campaign, many of whose members are U.S. veterans of the war, authorizes the creation of programs throughout Vietnam to deliver an appropriate level of medical assistance to the victims, and provide much needed home, respite and daycare services as well. One component of the bill, moreover, would authorize “assistance to repair and rebuild substandard homes in Vietnam for covered individuals,” as well as proposed funding for the long overdue clean-up of “those areas in Vietnam that continue to contain high levels of dioxin,” a program of critical importance to public health issues associated with on-going exposure to these deadly toxins. http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/08/03/agent-orange-relief-for-vietnam/
  22. This isn't news to me. There have been several advocating these cuts on hadit.com for at least a decade. Looks like the big plan is coming together. Since veterans benefits are up for review each year, I would expect this to be funds that are constantly tapped once they start.
  23. Under debt deal, military pay, veterans programs in play for cuts http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0811/080311bb1.htm?rss=workforce
  24. VA, SSDI, SSI, Disability Reviews, Cuts, Terminations! http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/08/05/va-ssdi-ssi-disability-reviews-cuts-terminations/
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