tinnitus Is There A Limited Date For Filing Prostate Cancer Agent Orange?

[jessejames]

My friend has been having severe pain in the prostate area for several months and I and his wife finally got him to get a PSA. I filed a claim for him for Tinnitus (11B40) Nam and Prostate problems about 4 months ago....they sent him for hearing exam right away, but have not scheduled a Prostate C&P. I am assuming the VA (like in several areas) have limited Staff Uriologists and that's why he hasn't been scheduled for a C&P yet. I know they are "supposed" to give you a physcial on the Agent Orange examination, so I had him call the Patient Rep to see if he could get it or the C&P exam "hurrried up". He's the type that has NEVER been to the VA and doesn't like Doctors, I am trying my best to tell him that the sooner they find Prostate Cancer, the less evasive and more treatable it is in most cases....some folks are hard-headed. Now that he is older and has to take several medicines, I am trying to get him at least 10% on hearing loss and Tinnitus so he can get enrolled in the VA system, right now he is a Priority 8 Category vet and can't get in....and his private insurance pays very little for his medicines.

What I wanted to know because I haven't seen it, is there a limited date for filing for Prostate Cancer related to Agent Orange exposure??????

[Berta]

No limiting date whatsoever-

however we don't know if this vet has cancer of prostate or not-was that his diagnosis?

He needs some good medical assessments of this problem right away-maybe he should see a private doctor since he has private insurance -he can use that medical assessment to support his claim-if it is cancer-

fortunately prostate cancer can be treated well these days- the AO regs allow for percentages for it due to treatment-this case shows what I mean-

http://www.va.gov/vetapp07/files1/0702911.txt

Edited June 30, 2007 by Berta

[evandc]

PSA should be part of each blood test, if the VA is on the ball. Your Primary Care Doctor (PCD) should monitor this & any number 4 or above will be flagged & the PCD will refer you to the Urologist. They will do a DRE (the finger). From that you may be scheduled for biopsy. After that lab will determine if it is Prostate Cancer or not. Treatment has several options. It may be Enlarged Prostate.

I never had any pain from the Prostate Cancer. The Enlarged Prostate

can be painful when urinating.

Don

[JON]

A word of caution. The VA missed my prostate cancer, because they believed the numbers were "too low" and wouldn't do a biopsy even though I had a lengthy prosate problem history. I went to my private urologist, who suggested a biopsy, just to be sure. Two weeks later my private urologist called me in and made the announcement.

I had all treatment through the private urologist, but filed VA claim right away.

Also the VA in this area seems to have only one treatment- implant seeds. I was young enough (54) to have the surgery to remove the prostate as it was encapsulated. Read and research treatments before deciding which treatment you want.