walt

Thank you Hoppy. Unless the Dr. on Ro request has looked at my SMR's all he used was VA treatment records because he would not look at the smr's I took to the exam.When the RO sent me for second CP exam for Panic disorder they asked him for an addendum on the copd and High Blood Pressure.Best I can find out he is a Dr.in pactice for himself and does Contract exams for VA.Specialty is Something about the Larnyx?or Pharnyx?. Here are three SMR's I have and have more when I can find them.(Not good I know) One is dated 26 Jan. 79 chest x ray report...(compare to 9-12-77) no change slight Basilar emphysemator (change Hyperlucent) otherwise WNL - Other is 31 May 79 Radiographic report..Chest:Multiple Ca??Granulomas normal size heart ,lungs clear...Third one is dated 30 Aug.83 and says ..There is a calcified nodule in the right lower lung field. These all ,along with others are during service and were submitted with my claim.Thank you Hoppy .I will find all the others from during service and let you know.God Bless you and everyone else for helping others. Walt

Thank you sir. I was stationed at 2nd Medical Bn. 2nd. Infantry Division Village of pob-won-ni. (Mickey Mouse Corner) About six miles south of DMZ I think. Near RC#1 and Yong ju gol.(not sure of spelling) I wasTDY to DMZ twice. Once as ambulance support for Eng. that were building the fence across DMZ and once to a school for three weeks at Camp Sitman.acta..advanced combat training academy. Injin Scout. I do not know the dates. I arrived in Nov.66 and left in Nov. 67.Thank you Kindly. Walt

Berta I do have prostate cancer.I know the presumptive date is 1 April 68 and I left in November of 67 But agent orange and one or two other herbicides was tested on 80 acres in nine locations in late 67.I believe I was in the covered area.I know there have been some serviced connected for this testing.I was stationed six miles South of Dmz and Tdy to it twice. Just not sure about time frame.Depends on what they find in archives I guess. Thank you very Kindly again.

Thank you Sir. What I am trying to find out is what Percentage I would get.I have applied for tdiu hoping for it if not 100 %. I reopened this claim when I was denied on the Neimer review.I still do not understand why they did it knowing I was in Korea and not Viet Nam.

Thank you Berta.

Good Morning everyone and Thank you. My claim has been in decision twice and has been sent back to gathering of evidence.the regional office has asked St.Louis DOD For this."request herbicide exposure documents" I understand they are checking the archives for documents from korean service. I have some questions please.First I have three cp exams with what I think is positive.One is for panic disorder from a va Phychiatrist saying ,"The condition/dissability panic disorder is most likely caused by or a result of military service. The other two are for copd and high blood pressure,both saying, the condition/dissability" is as likely as not (greater than 50/50 probability} caused by or a result of military service.Am I correct in thinking it is still up to the rater whether I get anything or not?The copd and high blood pressure were written as an addendum at the time I went for the cp exam for the panic disorder.I had a cp exam by the same Dr. that gave these two opinions and he was no help at all on the conditions he examined me for then. Also these three conditions are three of four I was denied for in 2000.The denial letter stated in the analysis...service connection is denied since the condition neither occurred in nor was caused by service. Yet directly above in the facts paragraph it says...The veteran has submitted evidence showing he was diagnosed with mild copd in 1979(I was in service at that time)Treatment records from va medical center in Murfreesboro Tennessee show he was treated for copd in Feb. 2000. It says basically the same thing for anxiety and high blood pressure. In the evidence it says...Notice from nprc that they forwarded the veterans service medical records to Montgomery Regional office on August 4 2000 These records have not been received....medical evidence from the veteran....treatment records from va medical center in Murfreesboro TN. for the period of May 26 1992 to May 23,2000. They now have all this plus va records from Two other va medical centers.At the time they did not have two of my four dd 214's.They do now. Thet stated in denial that if records were subsquently received claim will be reconsidered with date of claim protection. I pointed this out to them in my present claim.I guess they only got these records when I opened this claim. As to the request from DOD for herbiside exposure...The presumptive date for korea agent orange and herbicide exposure begins1 April 68 and I left there in November 67.However I have a declassified document showing it was tested at nine different locations on 80 acres during Sept.,Oct.,Nov.and I think Dec.1977 I was TDY twice to the DMZ and was stationed six miles south.I have not found out the locations it was tested except The south border tape to civilian control line.Thre have been some granted Service connection for this.I am trying to get all info I can come up with. I know some of this is repetative of my previous post but I tried to give all I could so you would be able to advise and/or comment. Thank you all very,very much.Too I noticed for first time im my va records..prognosses advanced emphysema.

Good Morning everyone. I hope I am posting in right place.Berta I am sorry for not answering you promptly but have not felt like being on computer.Thank you for your answers.We talked about the spina bifida in children born with it and their dad being exposed to chemicals prior to 1 april 68 in korea and him not being covered but children were..tried to post link here but it was broken. Think yhe appeals cases I added at end of post explains what I was trying to show about the Spina Bifida and Vet Chemical exposure prior to presumptive date in Korea. Yes the copd and high blood pressure opinions were addendums to a prior c and p...... As to the back pain I have had i since early 70's and now at point of three 10mg hydrocodone a day. I know of no specific instance of injury except the broken pelvis from auto accident.SMR's show chronic complaints since early 70's and VA and private records until present.But no specific diagnosis. ,in 2003 xray report says ...this is va,not in service...clinical history:chronic back pains-old pelvic fractures by history.also pain when adducts or adducts hip. findings:Bones are osteopenic.there is mild anterior wedging of vertebral body L1.There is also mild spondylosis of t12-L1 with small anerior marginal spurs.there aremild osteoarthritic changes of the faucet joints of l5-s1.abdominal aorta and iliac arteries are calcified. Impression:ostenpenia,mild spondolosis of t12-L1.,mild degenerative faucet joint of L5-s1,arteriosclerotic calcifications of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries. One pcp said it may be because of the prostate cancer.The c and p Dr, said age related, Anyway ,because of my age and time it takes for a claim to be processed I have decided to go ahead and let them make a decision.I have three c and p connecting to service...copd,High blood pressure, and panic dis order.I just am not sure if they are enough to either grant the original claim or for TDIU. At present the ro has asked dod at St. Louis "Request herbicide exposure documents". It is due by 7 April 800 number said they would go ahead with making a decision. after then whether they received a reply or not. I know I need some Good IMO's but that is out of question as far as being able to get them. So what do any of you think? Do any o you have an idea as what o expect rom the three conditions.? Thank you kindly. Walt Below are 3 Board of Veterans Appeals cases wherein the government admits that between 1967 and 1969 Herbicides (agent orange) was used in Korea (with active use between 1968 and 1969). And some American forces were possibly exposed. However, there is no presumption of exposure in Korea as there is in Vietnam, nor are the conditions presumed to be caused by Agent Orange as in Vietnam. 1. If you have one of the conditions which "Agent Orange" is presumed to cause? 2. And if you have a doctor's statement that you have it, and that your exposure to herbicides while in Korea cause it, or most likely caused it? 3. And if you can show you were in Korea during the time the herbicides where being used, and that you were in a location where they were being used. Then benefits based on exposure to Agent Orange while in Korea is possible. Also Argue the "Benefit of reasonable Doubt" must be given to veterans when all evidence is equal (38 CFR 3.102, see below). The BVA cases below show service people who had buddy statements that they were along the DMZ during the time agent orange was used; they had photos of themselves standing on barren land which herbicide had been used on. And other such evidence. --- BVA case: Citation Nr: 9906724 Decision Date: 03/12/99 Archive Date: 03/18/99 DOCKET NO. 98-17 647 "An official letter from the Department of the Army to Senator John Glenn, dated in May 1996, reflects that official records show use of 21,000 gallons of Agent Orange in Korea in 1968 and 1969 in the area of the DMZ. This letter also states that Camp Casey was located in the area of the DMZ. A letter from the Director, United States Armed Services Center for Research of Unit Records (USASCRUR), (formerly the United States Army and Joint Services Environmental Support Group, ESG), to VA dated in February 1998 also confirms use of Agent Orange in Korea in 1968 and 1969, and confirms that Camp Casey was located near the DMZ. The evidence of record also includes a copy of an unidentified report, which appears to have been prepared by a service department within the Department of Defense, titled, "Vegetation Control Program CY 1968," which reflects that a program for control of vegetation near the DMZ by use of herbicide defoliants was approved in 1967. Shipment to Korea of materials necessary to accomplish the program goals began in early 1968. The report reflects that herbicides were to be applied from the Civilian Control Line in South Korea to the southern border of the DMZ, with priority applications in the vicinity of roads and tactically significant areas. " --- BVA case: Citation Nr: 0601295 Decision Date: 01/17/06 Archive Date: 01/31/06 DOCKET NO. 04-41 328 "The Board observes that the Department of Defense has confirmed that Agent Orange was used in Korea from April 1968 through July 1969 along the DMZ and that the 2nd Infantry Division had elements in affected areas at the time Agent Orange was being used, including the use of field artillery, signal and engineer troops who were supplied as support personnel to various elements of those Infantry Divisions during the time of the confirmed use of Agent Orange. However, the Board is unable to determine whether the veteran's unit, in fact, performed duties in the DMZ and observes that the U.S. Center for Unit Research and Records (CURR) has not been contacted to research whether the veteran's unit was in fact near the DMZ zone. As such, given the fact that the veteran served in the 2nd Infantry between April 1968 and May 1969 and his principal duty at that time was that of a combat construction specialist, the Board finds that such an attempt should be made in this regard. " --- BVA case: Citation Nr: 0534064 Decision Date: 12/19/05 Archive Date: 12/30/05 DOCKET NO. 02-15 232A "In February 2002, VA received a response from the U.S. Armed Services Center for Unit Records Research, indicating that herbicides were used in Korea between 1967 and 1969, and that Agent Orange was used from April 1968 to August 1968. Military records specifically note that chemical herbicides were used along the southern boundary of the DMZ during the 1967 to 1969 period by Republic of Korea Armed Forces. No United States personnel are known to have been actually involved in their application." -- 38 CFR 3.102 Reasonable doubt. "It is the defined and consistently applied policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs to administer the law under a broad interpretation, consistent, however, with the facts shown in every case. When, after careful consideration of all procurable and assembled data, a reasonable doubt arises regarding service origin, the degree of disability, or any other point, such doubt will be resolved in favor of the claimant. By reasonable doubt is meant one, which exists because of an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence, which does not satisfactorily prove or disprove the claim. It is a substantial doubt and one within the range of probability as distinguished from pure speculation or remote possibility. It is not a means of reconciling actual conflict or a contradiction in the evidence. Mere suspicion or doubt as to the truth of any statements submitted, as distinguished from impeachment or contradiction by evidence or known facts, is not justifiable basis for denying the application of the reasonable doubt doctrine if the entire complete record otherwise warrants invoking this doctrine. The reasonable doubt doctrine is also applicable even in the absence of official records, particularly if the basic incident allegedly arose under combat, or similarly strenuous conditions, and is consistent with the probable results of such known hardships. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a))" VETERANS RESOURCES NETWORK

Hello everone, I have searched the best I know trying to understand.this.Ao is presumptive for Korea starting1 april 68.If a child with spina bifida is born to a vet with service in Korea ,they are covered starting September, 67..Where is the difference? Please explain. The RO has asked St. Louis DOD I think for...It states this on ebenefits...".Requested herbicide exposure documents ". Can someone give me their thoughts on this please.?I served tdy twice in areas coveed for ao presumption but I left in Nov. 67 about five months before the presumptive date.What confuses me is if a child is cvered if his Dad served in Sept 67 seems to me the Vet would be covered also. Also Berta as to the low back pain, you asked if I had an injury.I can not recall any specific injury but had an auto acident while on active duty and broke pelvis in two places.Now have arthrithis,DDD,faucet disease,spondolosis.The cp examineer said it was due to age,But my Sm's are full of lbp since before the accidentin (1975) and has gotten progressively worse to present time. Thank you all again for the help you give...

Good Morning again.Could someone explain his?On my ebenefits it shows that my clain has been sent back to gathering of evidence phase saying....Requested herbicide exposure documents. under "what do we still need from others?" it says "this is a list of all items that have been requested from 3rd parties.Person at 800 number said this was all left that they needed.Who could the 3rd party be?Thank you.

Good Morning everyone. Berta I hope I have posted everthing correctly.Thank you for your help.

Good Morning and thank you Berta.We must have bee n posting at same time. I just added some letters from Service members I worked with. I also have sent RO via congressman several more "buddy" letters about the anxiety and LBP. Yes the copd issue is an addendum to prior c and p report. So is the High blood pressure. One problem is I left the frying pan (medical field),and jumped into the fire,(recruiting duty) All my records from that time were from a civilian Dr. And no where to be found.It seems to me this c and p Dr. is anti veteran.He stated the LBP was likely due to age and occurred after discharge. My SMR's are saturated with LBP complaints since early 70's as are VA records.He seemed to chose what he wantted to list as far as HBP readings and Meds.But I have submitted all the others to VA. PC Dr. just added at last visit another one isosorbide mononitrite.and in addition one of the prostate meds ,finasteride (cardura) is also used for high blood pressure.I think I jusy read that one of the anxiety meds,citalopram hydromide is used for HBP also. I wish the best to all on their claims and thank all for helping me.Good week-end to all. Walt

Hello again all, If I have done this right These are the c and pKinda like the lottr reports for COPD,high blood pressure,and chronic Anxiety.Hope this helps Berta. Thank you. Good Morning everyone.Klonipin worked well last night I guess. I realize the letter from company clerk may or may not help at present but I am hoping maybe if nothing else as far as the prostate cancer goes,to create a reasonable doubt.Since it was so few monhs before presumptive date for AO in Korea I went for it anyway.Then I was Stationed at Ft. Mcclellan Al. three different times(chemical warfare school was there).Also worked in surgery for several years and contended chemicals I was exposed to there on a dayly basis could have also contributed to prostate cancer ,since many of them are proven carcinogins.i.e,Formaldehyde,Benzine? Benzene,zylene,isopropal alcohol,and others.I also claimed exposure to ionization radiation due to the exposure to the gas sterilizing equipment we used.Kinda like the will not win without a ticket. Thank you all kindly for helping. Please excuse the punctuation,mispeling etc.

Hello and thank you all. Berta, I a lot of times do not make things as clear as I should and I am sorry. I did not add that a VA Dr.( Phy).gave me a c and p for chronic anxiety. I left part of what he said out of the previous post...."The condition/dissability Panic disorder IS MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY OR A RESULT OF SERVICE IN THE US ARMY. I also have an IMO from a civilian PHY.That says in diagnostic assessment: AXIS I:Panic disorder with Agoraphobia.,Secondary Generalized Anxiety disorder AXIS II no diagnosis AXIS III Chronic COPD,CAD,DDD,History of prostate Cancer,Osteoarthritis,AXIS IV Moderate,AXIS V 50 with the highest level being 60. It is a four page report and goes into quite some depth.But as John pointed out in his ending paragraph he stated he could not say with certainty whether his military service caused this illness. In the sentence preceeding he said....Specifically then in regards to the patient's illness and his military serviceI I can clearly say that this illness began during his military service. I just did not study it well enough before submiting it. The c and p DR. wrote his after this one. Will his opinion overide this one since he is a VA Dr.? Will this one have any effect on the claim for panic disorder? Berta I will scan everything later tonight or early AM and post when my head is clear.Hopefully clear. Thank you all for your help. I hesitate to name everyone because I would surely forget some. I forgot to mention....I do not receive SS retirement yet and cannot get SS dissability because of not enough credits.I will be 66 in October and am thinking of waiting until then to began drawing it.I have been receiving VA pension at 100% since age 58.This claim was opened/reopened in Feb, 2011.I applied for TDIU in June of 2011...Submitted the form 8940? I think and also the one from previous employment history.Since these three conditions ,chronic anxiety,COPD,and Hypertension were three of the four I was denied for in 2001,I was hoping for a bucket full of retro.They stated in denial if records were subsquently received ,claim would be reconsidered with date of claim protection. At this point That would be great,TDIU would work also and just the check at !00% would be acceptable I guess. Berta I think you asked if I was currently being treated for Anxiety...Two pills a day out of the 9-10 I take dayly. Clonazepam and citalopram hydrobromide.plus about five for blood pressure,bipap machine,nebulizer,O2 which I have to pay for because they say I do not Qualify for because when they give the test of walking up and the hall and a few stairsteps my o2 sat. does not drop low enough,yet one night I barely got ens in time and Wgen they arrived I passed out and sat was 45% and they told me if I had not got them when I did I would probably would not have survived.I live alone so that adds to the panic ..Must have at least two dozen trios to er in last eighteen months.Most of time Diagnosis is chronic anxiety,panic and /or bronchitis Getting a little off base. Thank you everyone,for your help and God Bless You All. Walt

Hello everyone and thank you for reply John.Too late to do anything now though.CLAIM WAS AT RATING AND REVIEW FOR SECOND TIME now back to gathering of evidence saying,"requested herbicide exposure documents".I was not in viet nam and left Korea November 67.Presumptive date for prostate cancer is 1 April 68 I think. I would like your thoughts on where claim now stands.I have had two c and p exams and va asked for opinion on two other conditions without exam. Same fee basis va Dr.that gave a negative from c and p for arthritis of thumbs and low back pain gave opinion for copd and hypertension. I am confused as to what it may mean. He said....The condition /disability Hypertension IS AS LIKELY AS NOT(GREATER THAN 50/50 probability)caused by or a result of Military service. But then he seems to try to shoot that down. he furher states...rationale for opinion given. Hypertension was followed in service and values are mostly within normal limits.When presenting for anxiety his BP is sometimes elevated and resolves with valium.Lopressor prescribed 12/15/80 but it is unclear as to whether it was continued.I have not taken Valium since late 70's) Other comment:There are also episodes of palpatations but do not appear to be associated with Hypertension. .(Records clearly show I am taking FIVE BP meds. a day at present and did take at least that many different ones at different times while in service.These are also shown in my SMR's.He also says ,there is confusion in the service Record as to the period of service.(I had four periods) As to COPD he says .....The condition/dissability COPD IS AS LIKELY AS NOT (Greater than 50/50 probability caused by or a result of military service. Rationale for opinion given:Veteran has been treated for episodes of Bronchitis and x rays showed slight emphysematous changes .The pft's wee within normal limits and a definitive diagnosis of copd does not appear to have been made with substantial evidence.Nonetheless the x ray evidence seems to show thwtt there were someemphysematous changes as early as 1/26/79. I really think whoever He,She,The rater is are really trying to help me. These three conditions are three of the four I was denied for in 2001,Filed original claim in 2000. The fourth one was Pre ventricular contractions. I filed my present claim in Feb.Last year.Then in June I was approved for emergency expedition for health and financial reasons and at same time applied for TDIU. There is a lot I want to show wrong and omitted by the Dr. that gave neg for LBP and Arthritis And the two conditions he says are service connected. but I am thinking the thing to do now is wait on the decision and go from there. Am I right on that? Also, do I stand a chance of retro back to 2000 as they said in the denial that if records were subsquently received the claim would be reconsidered with date of claim protection.? Or will me filing for TDIU stop that? Any more advice and opinion you Folks can and will give me is appreciated. Walt

Good Morning Everyone, I was denied claim for four conditions in 2001.that was opened in 2000. They were copd,high blood pressure, premature ventricular conractions, and anxiety.The reason for denial was given that the conditions neither ocurred in or was a cause of being in service.They stated that,"we requested records from St louis.St louis notified us they were sent but we have not received them. If these records are subsequently received claim will be reconsidered with date of claim protection. " Also there were two periods of service that they did not have my dd 214's. They have all this now. In the denial they said in the facts:" the vetran has submitted evidence he was diagnosed wtih" (the four conditions).They also used the phrase,"treatment records show" These were smr's I sent.Yet they denied saying " condition neither occurred in or was caused by service" Only thing I can think of is because they did not have two of the 214's. I have tried to be as clear as I can. The above is backgound to help with what I would like to know.They auto matically opened my claim for the "Neimer review".Why I do not know except because of ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer.Still it should have been clear I was not in Viet Nam but Korea and missed presumptive date for prostate cancer due to AO in Korea by Five Months. My present claim is in review and decision phase for second time.This time after C and P exam.It went back to RO 15 Feb. Report by VA Dr.As to anxiety claim......Diagnosis..Panic disorder.Symptoms that apply-depressedmood,anxiety,suspiciousness,panic attacks that occur weekly or less often,panic attacks more than once a week,mild memory loss,such as forgetting names,directions,or recent events.Flattened affect,circumstantial,circumlocutory,or steerotyped speech..... Axis lV -psychosocial and environmental problems socially isolated,lives alone.very litle social contact. .axis V Gaf 60 IMO by civilian Psychiarist.....Panic disorder with agoraphobia.secondary generalized anxiety disorder.AxisIII copd,cad,ddd,history of prostate cancer,osteoarthritis.Axis IV..Moderate Axis V 50 with highest being 60. This is a four page report ending with..Specifically then in regards to the patient's illness and his military service I can clearly say that this illness began during his military service however I can not say with certainty wherther his military service caused this illness. IMO from PHY Assistant at local clinic...Two pages ending with....Veteran has been a patient at our clinic since 2010.After reviewing Veterans medical recorde it is my opinion that Veteran is totally and permanently disabled by chronic anxiety disorder,aggravated greatly by low back pain.. He cannot hold gainful employment because of these service relaed issues. It is my opinion that Veterans chronic Anxietydisorder is more likely than not due to his active service duty.It is also my opinion that his low back pain is at least as likely as not related to his active service duty. I have a letter from a former soldier I served with in Korea. He was the company clerk and tell about me being sent to the DMZ twice TDY.Just this in case by some chance they service connect the prostate cancer.As In said before I missed he Presumptive date by five months, I left there in Nov. 67 I have another letter from a fellow soldier I worked with on a dayly basis telling about the anxiety and low back pain. I have several more ,about six or seven" Buddy" letters.telling about the anxiety and low back pain. The c and p for arthritis and low back pain was done by a fee basis VA dr.and did me no good. He is same one that they asked an opinion for other conditions and I do not expect him to help any more there. Maybe wrong. I will know tommorrow when I go to release of info. Long post I know.But wanted to give back ground.I reopened this claim 2 Feb.2010 and in June I filed for TDIU. I am hopeful to get at least a high enough rating for the TDIU at least,depending on what the opions are from this fee basis Dr. is on the other conditions and if I am able to get another IMO.IF I GET A HIGH ENOUGH RATING for TDIU,will the retro be to June when I asked for TDIU or will it go back to original denied claim of 2000? Thank you all for your help,......also forgot to add I am receiving 100% PENSION since 2004. Anymore advice and help I will appreciate.

Thank you kindly Sharon for your reply. How well I know about the waiting game...been waiting 12 years.I do not know about va confirming info in cfile but I thought they listed everyhing on ebenefits ,"."'what we have received .I sent about five buddy letters months ago plus two IMO's and a letter from a fellow soldier that I recuited with while on active duty,telling about the anxiety and low back pain . I sure hope you are right about it being close to a rating and am especially glad you used "rating" vs. Decision! It was in decision phase and then sent back to developement and Nashville c and p for an exam on chronic anxiety (I was in Dr.s office just a few minutes .Appt was at 1:30 I was a little early but at 2:07 I walked onto parking lot wih copy of a very good report in my hand and this was after going to travel and release of info to get it! ) and statement saying something to this effect..in absence of imo please furnish opinion as to whether conditions claimed....copd,heart fltters (PVC's),htn are related to conditions claimed.These are conditions claimed and denied in 2000 saying neither occurred in or a result of being in service yet in preceding paragraph of rating decision they stated I had summitted smrs showing diagnosis of.Then they said they requested smrs from St. Louis and St. louis said they sent then but we have not received them. If these records are subsquently received claim will be reconsidered with date of claim protection......Now a few days after this visit I got an iris saying they could not answer my question about these documents mentioned above because c file was still in Nashville.and had not been sent back to Louisville . I called nashville c and p three times in four days.. left mesage as to why I was calling and no return call..so I called Murfreesboro cand p and they gave me number of Nashville supervisor and head Dr. of c and p.I called supervisor this past friday..She said I will make sure your c file is sent back to Louisville today. Then I asked her about the conditions they wanted an opinion on..she put me on hold a few minutes..came back and said"I am going to have do some checking on this and I will call you back,it may be late this afternoon but I WILL call you back".....nothing..so I guess maybe I will see if she .calls today and if not call again tommorrow. I THINK but not sure that whoever the rater is,he or she are trying to give me the original claim and if not able to, then TDIU. couple more things please. Going thru my va medical records from Biloxi MS.for around 2008 .My wounderful GYN primary care Dr.,A female ,did a prostate exam and a psa of 5.15 or 5.75 was noted in records and not a word said to me.It was not untille I was assigned another PC Dr.and he found it although that high he said he was not worried about how high, but how fast it was going up and ordered a biopsy.Positive one core the other 9 or so negative...Moved to Ky.and had external beam radiation in summer of 2010 and so far so good. last psa 0.02. or 0.002 not sure but about as low as can be. next..First visit to pc Dr. at Murfreesboro had o see a fill in because she was not there that day.He wrote in records I had Prostate cancer-Metastic wanna see anxiety,panic attacks with agroaphobia and every else than can kick in?Read that in your records when you have been told it is confined to the organ.!!!! I immediately opened klonipin botle and shook out a hand full!!! kidding on that one. They made him call me personally and appologize and say he was wrong. Now I know anyone can make mistakes but if I or someone else had not noticed the error it could have had devestating outcome. Question is do I have any recourse on the two incidents? John999 if you or anyone else reads this consider it addressed to you as well as Sharon because of this great one finger typing I do. God Bless all of you and thank you again for all you do for Veterans . Regards,Walt

No John I am not.If you are asking because of the prostate cancer I was in korea for 13 months.Missed presumptive date by about about 5 months. If I understand correctly, presumptive date for prostate cancer is1 April 68 and I left there in November 67.I still claimed it though,contending it was there prior to presumptive date. I was tdy to DMZ twice..sent pictures of barren ground with claim I THINK.I was there (DMZ) as ambulance support for a week or two while engeneers? were building fence across DMZ and again for three weeks attending Ingin Scout (acta) school..I also worked for years in surgery and all thruout the Hospital.I claimed exposure to all the chemicals I was exposed to on a daily basis ,such as formaldyhde,benzine,zylene and others,all carcinogins?.Also was stationed at FT. Mcclellan,Al three times..Chemical warfare school was located there and Anniston Army Depot couple miles away and I was at times there...Also at last visit to my urologist, he said ,"you will get it on your prostate".Now I do not know if he knows something I do not,or was just not familiar with claims process or presumptive dates,etc. I have found in my va medical records which the va is supposed to have,that he made a comment I was impotent or erectile dysfunction due to prostate cancer and radiation treatments,but I decided to let that lie.and maybe it would be inferred ? Anyway it is all on record for whatever benefit if any. Thank you for your reply and advice.

Hello everyone,' I had another c and p exam the 24th of January by va Dr.and it was in my favor.(I think) .Panic disorder. Gaf score 60. I also have an IMO from a local phychiatrist saying Panic disoder with agroaphobia and secondary generalized anxiety disorder.GAF 50 with highest level being 60. In the diagnostic assessment he said axis III copd,coronary disease,history of prostate cancer,osteoarthritis. He stated Specifically then in regards to the patients illness and his military service I can say clearly that this illness began during his military service however I can not say with certainty whether his military service caused this illness. Here is my problem and Question,I have submitted several Buddy letters, from friends telling about my chronic anxiety and low back pain.I also have an IMO from a Physcian assistant at the local clinic telling about both,a letter from a fellow soldier telling of them.I have called people at 1000 number several times and they cannot find them.They do not show at "what have we received" on ebenefits.I wrote iris about three months ago and got a reply first week or two of Jan. saying that my c file was in Nashville c and p and they could not answer my Question.As I said I had the c and p exam the 24th of Jan.I called three times last week and left a message telling them I wanted to know if these documents were in my c file..no return call.I called Murfreesboro c and p and they gave me number of supervisor and the Dr.in charge. I called the supevisor this past Friday and she first told me she would send c file back to louisville that day. Then after I asked her about Louisville asking for the exam I had on 24 Jan.Plus an opinion as whether or not the copd,hypertension,and preventricular contractions I had claimed and denied for in 2000 were related or not to the same conditions I have now.and When I told her that she asked me to wait on hold.After a few minutes she came back and said she was going to have check further.She promised me she would call me back Friday and it would probably be late in the afternoon.No call back.I am begnning to get a little paranoid here.I do have congressional involvement (not by my doing ,but someone thinking they were helping without my knowledge) Could this be the reason the all clam up when they find that out? I was approved for emergency expedition for financial and health reasons back in June.Any advice ,thoughts and what to do is appreciated.I am not ignoring all the elders that I have already talked to,just trying to make sense of all this and not make wrong move. Thank you all,kindly. Walt

Hello Everyone, I have a c and p for chronic anxiety 24 Jan.My question is...Should I take IMO I have from private Dr .(Phyc)? I sent it to RO around Christmas. I have submitted in service medical records and Va medical records as well as private medical records.The first diagnosis was back in early seventies.while in service..They have been continous from then until now. I also have also sent several buddy letters,one from a fellow soldier I served with back in the eighties.Also an IMO from a PHY. Assistant here at the local clinic.Although very short ,she did use," at least as likely" and "more likely as not" . I also have a letter from a fellow soldier telling about one of the first attacks I had while at work one day in surgery when we were both enlisted. He went on to Medical school and is now a Dr. but letter was not written as an IMO.It is listed in what they have received twice,once as letter from Dr.John Doe MD.and again as Statement from John Doe. My claim was in decision and was sent back to gathering of evidence saying something close to this....".In the absence of IMO please furnish an opinion as to whether or not the conditions claimed are related to conditions while in service." When it was sent back I had not sent the IMO that I have.Still the people at 800 number cannot find any of the above mentioned except the letter from Dr. John Doe so I am going to send everything again. The IMO I have says in the assessment...Axis 1:Panic disorder with agraphobia.Secondary generalized anxiety disorder. Axis II:no diagnosis Axis III:Chronic obstructive pulmonary Disease,Coronary artery disease,Degenerative disk disease,History of prostate cancer,and Osteroarthritis. Axis IV: Moderate,AxisV:50 with the highest level being 60. This IMO is four pages long and ends with: Specifically then in regards to patient"s Ilness and his military servive I can clearly say that this illness began during his military service however I cannot say with certainty whether his military service caused this illness. I had four periods of service with total of 12 years 4 months.Last enlistment was only 5 months with a personality disorder discharge. Fast way out.During this last enlistment I had and have submittted with my claim,diagnoses of chronic anxiety,generalized anxiety disoder and adult adjustment disorder.Yet the old stand by personality disorder was used for discharge. I am also having an IMO being written br Dr.Bash.I am counting on this a great deal.I was denied in 2001 on four conditions.Anxiety was one of them.This time I have claimed 11 for sevice onnection and 14 as secondary to.The reason given for denial was that condition neither occurred in or was caused by being in service,yet the the preceding paragraph in facts said evidence from the veteran shows he was diagnosed with and treated for the four conditions.The only thing I can think of is at that time they only had two of my dd214 and those were the periods I was diagnosed with the four conditions. In the denial..reason for decision they said there was no evidence two periods of service was honorable active service.They also stated my medical records were requested from St.Louis on 3 March 2000 and St.Louis advised theymailed the records on August 4 ,2000 but they were not received.The decision was 8 march 2001.They stated if these records are subquently received claim will be reconsidered with date of claim protection. I do not know what they have from St. Louis if anything but I have sent them copies of what I have. I have some records that are not copies but original and I hesitate to send them. I Dunno. any advice and help is again appreciated. .......I have several emails to and from St.Louis about my records and one says...Yes your records are here,please submit a new request.I eceived some but I do not remember if all or when I received or if VA received any or not. I know I have rambled a lot here but best I know....I guess what I am asking mainly is what you think about taking the IMO I got with me to the C and P examiner.Good or bad idea? thank you all. Walt

Sir,I have not ever felt Qualified or knowledgeable enough to answer any of the questions here but I think yours is an easy one to answer and my input is offered only as encoureagment to you.I have a claim with 11 conditions and 14 more as secondary to them.I was first denied in 2001.This time it has been reopened since this past Feb. It reached decision one time and then was sent back to developement and I am scheduled for my second c and p the 24th of this Month.The request had been made probably two months ago and nothing happening so I called the c and p people yesterday and the lady scheduled my appointment then and there.Get the point?!!!!PERSISTENCE !! Number two......Pay attention to these elders that have been thru it and know what they are talking about.They give a lot of their time to help and do not bill you one cent!! In Somewhat of a defense to the VA.My understanding is that to my knowledge they are working around one million claims.Then too, ANY beaurearacy is complex to deal with..Also I feel that MOST of the VA people really want to and will help,of course there are some that are just filling the timeclock and all the overtime they can get and a very few more that plain DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GET IN OUT OF THE RAIN. Finally,if you Quit do you expect to be granted anything? A poor analogy is the lottery...if you do not have a ticket you certainly will not win one penny.Hope this encourages you to continue forward and get what you have already paid for.If you have or can find a way to get the money,I would suggest Dr.. Craig Bash.Best of luck and thank you for your service.Regards, Walt