daveesl

I have posted a video I made from a 1979 clip provided to me by CBS News 60 Minutes. While the original segment was on the 1976 swine flu epidemic, what CBS News provided to me was a U.S. Government PSA showing the MUNJI in use, in 1976, on a group of individuals. I took their original clip and recompiled it. I play it first at full speed, with Mike Wallace and PSA narration. I then replay it at 1/10th speed, showing that the MUNJI is never cleaned between use. As far as I know, this is the only video that actually shows how the MUNJI was used, especially in 1976. Here is the YouTube link... Prior to this, one of the claims the VA has made in denying Hep C disability claims is that while there are hundred of photos in circulation on the MUNJI, there was no evidence of what happened between inoculations. Here is the evidence. Dave

With my VA claim, my IMO doctor said " the cause is probably or at the very least more likely than not that..." Now, whether the VA considers a qualified opinion that points directly to jet injectors is up in the air. As to SS, my lawyer said in Florida we have to do the reconsideration route first. So, here goes.

I agree about the "automatic denial system". I figure the initial rater has a wheel of fortune. I'm going to ask my lawyer about going straight to the ALJ, that makes sense. Why wait a year for the reconsideration denial and then 2 years for the ALJ, when you can perhaps get rid of the initial year wait.

While I expected it, I was kind of disgusted in the SS denial letter I received today. I have very active, chronic Hep C from the navy. I'm on the third week of treatment and it isn't going well. I have sinus bradycardia, so I pass out fairly regularly. I have a herniated disk and severe back pain. I haven't been able to work for almost 2 years now. I worked for myself, so there is no job related disability insurance. Luckily, I essentially have no bills, as the house and car is paid for and I don't use credit cards. However, savings are now getting depleted. My wife works as a teacher, so at least we have some income coming in. Like I said, I expected this and that is why I initially filed by hiring a SS law firm. I can't handle the details, so I'm more than happy for them to do so. And yes, I have also filed for service connected through the VA. I also expect that to be denied, but in the end I'm going to win in every way, including beating hep C. I am no longer able to do anything other than fight for disability. At least they denied it quickly, so I can get the appeals ball rolling quickly.

Yes, those were her exact words. Like I said, I'm not counting on anything, but I hope for some decision. We'll see and I'll definitely keep the board informed. dave

I called the 800 number to find out if the St. Pete RO ever got my file back from Daytona. The extremely nice young lady on the line said that it had all arrived and the file says that they have all the info needed to make a decision. While I am not counting on anything and I assume I'll be denied this does look promising that something will be done fairly quickly. I just began the process in early November, C&P in mid-January. They lost my records for 2 weeks, but I kept hounding them. This seems really fast, even if they deny it. What do you guys think? I'm filing for Hep C, service connected due to jet injectors. I provided an IMO, 37 pages of scientific data from the likes of the CDC, NIH, FDA, AFEB and WHO. I have no other obvious area of infection. I have no idea what the C&P doctor said, but my doctor said it was "probable or at the very least more likely than not". All tests were done through VA and am currently in the early stages of the treatment program, through the VA. I've also applied for SS disability and learned on Monday that the SS reviewer is already working on it, but SS is multiple problems. dave

Congratulations, you and your family deserve this. It also shows that the VARO can actually do something in a reasonable period of time. Why they all cannot be done this way makes no sense. A giant backlog just creates more problems and expenses.

I've actually compiled a substantial amount of information, research, IMOs and others in support of my own claim, which is now in the gristmill. But each vet is required to go through the same grinder. While there is substantial research to show that contamination is probable and there have been 2 cases of actual contamination, the problem remains that until an actual legal precedent exists absolutely linking the injector to contamination, then every vet that prays for assistance but battle this revolving door the VA has created. Medical research can say "there is the risk or probability", but only in law can it be said " it happened". That is why I am trying to do two things 1) find medical corpsmen that used the injectors and are willing to discuss the sanitary issues and 2) a legal precedent. I have one medical corpsman statement now, hope to get more. By the way, I'm building a website that will act as kind of a central library for this info. It is taking me awhile to do this, as the sickness and treatment keep me down alot. The Document Manager area of the site is the actual library. Feel free to go through it, just please realize the site is a work in progress and is a long way from being complete. http://www.vetsandhep.org/ dave

I'm one of those that fully believes he was infected with Hep C due to jet injector immunizations during boot camp. I have absolutely no other area of acceptable contamination history. The VA claims division has been really tough on the thousands who have attempted to claim this connection. There have been a limited number of "wins" in this area, but not many. The VA uses the arguments that Hep C could come from the following... 1) IV Drug use 2) Transfusions 3) Sharing Razors 4) Sharing toothbrushes 5) Unprotected sex 6) Snorting cocaine 7) Needle pricks with health care workers Assume all of those are true, regardless of how remote the possibility (such as toothbrushes and sex). What they refuse to admit is that having an unprotected, unsanitized jet injector, with blood contamination covering the nozzle will also transmit the disease. Suing the military is almost an impossibility. Therefore, a factual, legal nexus is almost impossible. So, with that in mind, the way to prove these cases is for a lawsuit that successfully wins against the manufacturers. Does anyone know of ANY successful lawsuit in this area? dave

Thanks all for the replies. My "normal" VAMC is Gainesville. The C&P was done in Daytona. The RO is St. Petersburg. I'm not sure why I had to go to Daytona when Gainesville has its own C&P location. Oh, and Daytona is 30 miles farther away than Gainesville. What was interesting is the week prior to the exam I got the robo call, which told me to go to Orlando. I called Daytona, they said "oh, that is just a computer glitch, happens all the time". I just wondered how many others got sent to the wrong city and end up missing their exam.

Hi all. Just wondering if my C&P exam results would normally be in my medical records or in some other area of the VA. I'd like to see what the doctor said. My RO is St. Pete. I had the exam on Jan 12. The office where they did the exam (Daytona) said the exam was filed on the 13th. I called the 800# and they said the exam wasn't posted and they thought that Daytona still had all of my records. The VA person also said that they had received my additional 37 pages of evidence and the photographs I provided on the 22nd of Jan. They then said the exam should be available within 30-60 days. That seems like a long delay. My local outpatient clinic is really good on printing out anything I want, but I don't want to hassle them if everything is located in some other "department" of the VA. Anyone know how this works? Thanks dave

For those of us battling the VA over SC for Hep C due to jet injectors, I am trying to locate members of the various medical corpsmen branches. In our claims we often have various research documents and our own statements. What we need are statements from those that had to actually use the guns. This is an email I am sending out... Hi, my name is Dave. I'm a US Navy vet. I am trying to help other vets, as well as myself, in an ongoing battle with the VA over disability claims relating to Hepatitis C and Multi-Use Jet Injectors (MUNJIs) We are trying to contact as many medical corpsmen as possible in an effort to obtain statements as to how the jet injectors were used and sterilized between use. If you were one of the many medical corpsmen, of any branch of service, between 1962 and 1998 and if you personally used the jet injectors, we need your help, now. The VA has determined that the instance of HCV infection in veterans is several times higher than that of the general population. 20% of these have no obvious cause of infection. No drug use, no tattoos, no transfusions. The one thing that we all had in common is the jet injectors used in mass immunizations, primarily in boot camp. While there have been a few disability awards for HCV infection, there has only been one citing the jet injector as the probable cause. The VA refuses to admit that it is not only plausible, but more likely than not that infection came from unsterilized jet injector use. Tens of thousands of infected veterans are at risk and the VA is not helping. Since HCV can take decades before it shows any symptoms, it is almost impossible to "prove" where the infection came from. What we have are numerous research studies from the World Health Organization, NIH, CDC and others that show that it is plausible. What we need are statements from those that were under orders to use the Multi Use Jet Injector (MUNJI). Most of us remember standing in those long lines at boot camp, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. One after another, we got "shot". It was normal for blood to splatter back on the nozzle of the gun. While those of us that were on the receiving end remember it well, what we need is information from those that had to inject us. We need to know if or how the nozzles were sanitized between use. We all know it would be impossible to sterilize nozzles between use, if you have to innoculate several hundred people in an hour or two. But without the statements of all involved, our cries for help from the VA go unheard. Please, if you were a medical corpsman and have direct knowledge of how the guns were used, please tell us about it. We have one statement now from a wonderful Army Medic, we need more. Please contact us if you can help. You will never be asked to testify, we only hope you can make a statement. We will not publish any personal information. If other vets need a copy of your statement, we will ask you first. corpsmen@vetsandhep.org Here is a link to our one Corpsman statement we now have... http://www.vetsandhep.org/index.php?option...0&Itemid=54 www.vetsandhep.org www.HCVets.com Thank you, Dave

I had my C&P exam last week and I have to say the doctor (a real doctor, I might add) brought me in early and must have spent 45 minutes going over my symptoms, doing a physical exam and looking over the pile of research documents I brought in, along with an IMO letter. I don't know if that means anything, but I have to say I did not feel like I was getting the bums rush in it. We'll see how things go from here. I'm not counting on anything.

I filed my claim for service connected due to chronic hep C due to jet injector immunization in early November 2008. I had my C&P exam last week (January 14). My VRO is St. Petersburg. This seemed really fast to me. Is unusual or SOP? I was figuring 6 months to a year before I heard anything? I have also learned they have already requested and received my service records and service medical records, which really seems fast, since I joined in 1970. Once again, is this unusual? I really appreciate this site, the information is FANTASTIC!!! Old Boomer Guy dave

I saw this last week and did a bit of an investigation. Called the famous 800 number, spent forever on the phone. Finally got someone who at first said that this was just under consideration. When I told him Congress and President had authorized and VA said it began on Dec. 17 he said he would check it out. About 5 minutes later he came back on the phone and said it was "in process", that supposedly the VA was going to get people to "volunteer" for it, through various service organizations. So who knows what it actually means or whatever. My main concern was if you file for this do you screw yourself on appeals when they deny in 90 days? No answer on that yet. dave

I finally got in touch with someone at the VA, meaning they may or may not know what they were talking about. According to what he said it is geared for a VSO to act as your rep and supposedly the VROs are going to "choose" who can take part in this program. I think I'll forget about it. I kind of wondered if you gave up rights by doing this, although the legislation doesn't say anything about it, who knows what the regulations say. Thanks for everyone's input dave

Well, the news report the site lists doesn't seem to exist on the site. What I have been able to figure out, by finding the actual bill is that you must have your claim filed by a VSO (I guess, but the info isn't exactly clear). They then have to certify that all of your stuff is completed. I'll keep investigating to find out more on this.

I was going through the VA benefits site and found the 90 day pilot program that started in December. While I am not exactly clear on it, it looks like if you file for it, you are saying that all info is now in and you want a decision. It is a pilot program to expedite fully developed claims. 1) I'm considering doing this, as they have all the labs, C&P, nexus letters, scientific research and evidence. Has anyone else done this? 2) If you do this, does it stop you from appealing? 3) Does this mean if you do this you will have a decision in 90 days? Here is the VBA link, for "fully developed claims" http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/index.htm

Squalene is a new one on me. Are you talking about the extract from shark livers? What does that do? I'll be really pissed if it causes bradycardia (but I'm sure it doesn't).

I believe I have a very powerful case. No IV drug use, no cocaine, no tatoos, piercings, transfusions, surgery. I have acquired documentation from CDC, NIH, FDA, AFED, Pasteur Institute, EU Centers on Health and more. I have photographs of the actual immunization, prior VA compensation reviews of other cases and more. My doctor ruled out all other causes and specifically noted the linkage to MUNJIs. The C&P examiner stated this was her first experience in this type of case and I believe was amazed at the sheer volume of evidence I provided to her. The official Navy photos of my RTC company being injected are hard to ignore. The AFED report that specifically noted the IG visit to Parris Island, the blood contamination and the lack of cleaning, in 1997, are pretty damning too. Here is what amazes me about the VA on this. They say you can get Hep C from IV drug use, from sharing razors or even toothbrushes, even potentially from sexual contact. Yet they want to ignore being able to get it from a blood splattered air injector. IVs, sure. Sexual transmission - CDC says 1-5% chance of transmission in a 20 year relationship. Razors and toothbrushes? That is getting idiotic, the amount would be very minimal and probably old. But in an immunization line, hundreds of people getting blasted, one after another, blood dripping off the guns and arms of the inductees--naw transmission couldn't happen. What really pisses me off is that they were warned about the potential of hepatitis contamination as far back as 1962. By the late 1970s new procedures were supposedly in place. By the 1980s, new gun designs were being developed. In all cases, the watchword was "STERILIZE THE GUN". Yet in 1997, in an age of HIV, they were still ignoring this, in front of the IG for the Armed Forces Epidemiological Board. Finally in 1998, they stopped using the MUNJIs. Amazing. I intend to investigate whether or not the various branches of the armed forces can be actually sued for malpractice in this. Granted, there is normally a time restraint, but with Hep C, as in my case, it often lays dormant for decades. I never knew I even had it until less than 2 years ago. I think that is the case with the vast majority. I do not blame the medics, I blame the services, to do as many shots as possible in the shortest amount of time. To force the corpsmen to ignore the manufacturer warnings on sterilization constitutes malpractice. I'm almost 56. In less than 2 years I have gone from being able to do anything I want to now living in a constant state of nausea, dizziness and exhaustion. My viral load is through the roof and the treatment has only about a 50-60% chance of working, if I am even able to do it, due to my bradycardia. If the treatment doesn't work or I can't do the course, then I'll probably be dead in less than 10 years. Why? Because the leaders of our military wanted to push as many of us as possible through a "shot line" in the shortest period of time. They did not want to spend the time and money to actually clean the things between use. And they cannot claim ignorance, as they were warned about it in 1962. How many other vets have been injected with other infectious diseases and now have no idea where they got them?

Sorry, accidentally double posted

Hi all. I'm trying to find out if I did this properly or need to send info somewhere else. I am applying for disability due to Hep C infection from the use of jet injectors. All of my labs and tests were done through the VA. I also have an outside doctor that I use to review what the VA says. My outside doctor, after reviewing all data and the piles of info I have accumulated wrote a nexus letter stating that my hep "...probably or at least more than likely is a result of jet injector immunization during bootcamp". I had my C&P exam yesterday and gave the exam doctor all of the paperwork (yes I have copies) I have compiled, as well as the nexus letter. I am wondering if that is where I was supposed to do this or do I mail it all to the RO? In other words, is it the responsibility of the C&P doctor to put all of that info into my files? thanks, dave