Sc For Cancer. Presumtive?

[Doc John]

I was told by my VSO that some cancers are "presumptive" for service connection.

I had cancer surgery in 2000 for adenoid cystic carcinoma (a.k.a. cylindroma) , along with chemotherapy and radiation. My face is disfigured and I need physical therapy on my jaw 20-30 times a year so that I can open my mouth and chew solid food.

I am in remission but have been assured by my oncologist that metastases will occur eventually in my lungs, and it will kill me if I don't die waiting for it.

I searched hadit.com and found this decision from the VA::: http://www.va.gov/vetapp93/files2/9315426.txt

If I could get it, I would appreciate some expert VA advice from the Elders, VA employees or Berta, who helped this widow originally.

Thanks,

Doc John

[Pete53]

Doc:

Sorry that you have cancer. It has really hit me hard as two uncles are suffering from it right now. The VA presumptive cancers is listed but I would not be surprised that it is a result of exposure.

Good Luck

[entropent]

doc john

when did you get out of service? when was the cancer first diagnosed? when did you have your first symptoms? were you exposed to Agent Orange while on active duty?

do you think you were exposed to any other carcinogens in service that might have caused the cancer?

[Chuck75]

As a first step, I'd strongly suggest that you get your hands on ALL the medical records you can, including any service medical records, and those service records proving Vietnam service. With the records in hand, have the doctors that will write authoritive independent medical opinions review them, then in summary state that "more likely than not" your cancer is a result of military service in Vietnam, and probable exposure to Agent Orange (where applicable).

I was told by my VSO that some cancers are "presumptive" for service connection.

I had cancer surgery in 2000 for adenoid cystic carcinoma (a.k.a. cylindroma) , along with chemotherapy and radiation. My face is disfigured and I need physical therapy on my jaw 20-30 times a year so that I can open my mouth and chew solid food.

I am in remission but have been assured by my oncologist that metastases will occur eventually in my lungs, and it will kill me if I don't die waiting for it.

I searched hadit.com and found this decision from the VA::: http://www.va.gov/vetapp93/files2/9315426.txt

If I could get it, I would appreciate some expert VA advice from the Elders, VA employees or Berta, who helped this widow originally.

Thanks,

Doc John

[Berta]

All Vietnam incoutry veterans and some Army veterans exposed to AO near the DMZ 1968-1969 can have cancers on the presumptive list service connected.

These cancers are Soft tissue sarcomas-

under the search feature here I posted all of them-

Doctors use considerable medical terms for cancers-

somewhre in the med recs something there must define your cancer as a soft tissue sarcoma if you are an in country Vietnam vet or Korean vet who can prove you were near the DMZ in 1968-1969- that criteria is very specific also-there is more to it then that - not all Army at DMZ-were exposed.

that info also is here under the search feature.

Is it possible that some service occupation exposed you to asbestos and could the cancer be from that asbestos exposure?

Or can you prove any other exposure to carcigenics during your service?

If you do not fall into the presumptive regs for STS cancers etc- as above- you will need an Independent medical Opinion that connects your present disability with your service.

The full criteria for independent medical opinions is here at hadit undr a search for "Getting and Independent medical opinion."

Good advise here- you need the SMRs and also all of your treatment records for an IMO doctor to see-if your cancer is not presumptive to AO.

I am surprised the SO did not give you the presumptive STS list.

[Doc John]

Berta,

Last night I did some more searching and found the soft tissue cancer list you spoke of. Mine was not there. I also searched VA for adenoid cystic carcinoma and found that in most claims it was denied as service connected.

Thanks,

Doc John

[Berta]

If you can get a strong medical opinion from an environmental specialist or some doctor with expertise in dioxins-you could still present a claim for direct service connection of the cancer.

A vet is not locked into the presumptive regs.

If a real doctor with specific expertise can state with complete medical rationale that the etiology for a veteran's cancer is associated to Agent Orange by medical evidence,with no other potential cause of the cancer -the VA could certainly award the claim.

Also there could be other in-service potentials for cause of the cancer.