Anyone Awarded Sc To Jet Fuel?

[deanosono]

Hey anybody,

I'm in the appeals process trying to show a connection to 4 years of servicing aircraft from 1977-81. The old A-7 Corsairs were being phased out to make room for the A-10 Warthogs. I had plenty of exposure to JP-4 daily.I filed my claim on the VA website in 2004. Seems like that was a big mistake as the VA has got all the facts screwed up and flatly denies everything. Finally decided to get a Rep. My Rep wants me to show a direct link between JP-4 and non-hodgkins lymphoma. I'm not finding any studies on the net that come right out and make that link, but there is benzene in the fuel and plenty of lawyers who chase benzene cases. The few I've contacted can't or won't deal with the VA. Even though they say I may have a good case based on symptoms and diagnoses and latency period.

In 1981 honorably discharged.

1993 lesion removed from the scalp ( lymphoma)

1995-97 several more lesions on scalp removed

1998-99 multiple lesions on the scalp, bone marrow biopsy ,radiation treatment ,migraines,cunvulsions

2001 brain tumor removed

2005 lesion in scalp requiring softball sized skin graft and artery transplant, undefined deterioration of the skull. titanium in my head

2007 lesion removed.

I'm running out of places for the docs to cut on and feel that I'm getting nowhere.

Losing control of this page ...ignorance overwhelming!

Any advice any one? Thanks for reading this!

Deanosono

[Stretch]

My squadron, in the NAVY, transferred over from A-4's to A7B's. A-4's used JP-4.. I was in the A-7B and A7-E squadron. Our A7's used JP-5....I have claimed that for my COPD claim that is still going from AMC back to BVA....Should not be to much longer for results one way or the other.

[DiEsMiTtY]

Hey,

I was exposed to massive quanties of Jp-8. I was treated for Chemical Dermatitis twice. I suffer headaches, and hypertension. I am only 28 and have been on blood pressure meds for about 4 years. The VA tried to say its my caffine intake, so I cut it all out of my diet and wouldnt you know I still have high blood pressure. THe medication the VA metroprol tartate made me weak, so I went to a private doctor and got it switched to Lisinopril. I have found only a few studies about the long term effects of JP-8 exposure mainly on pulmiary effects, and one on audiotory impairment in lab rats. There isnt a whole lot of information out there for fuel exposure.

[retiredat44]

I had paid for an IMO from a doctor who specializes in Petroleum chemical toxic chemicals etc.. and her study and report cost me $1,600. The report is too big to post,, it's huge.. I included it with my claim/appeal. Again, as I posted many times, I was a fuels specialist in the USAF, and got 50% disability for it. I was diagnosed on active duty for being sick from jet fuel. JP-4. I am trying to get it increased to 100%.

Edited July 24, 2010 by retiredat44

[Hoppy]

"I was diagnosed on active duty for being sick from jet fuel. JP-4."

It is my recollection that JP-4 was considered to be more harmful than later versions of jet fuel. There were studies posted on hadit about ten years ago that listed conditions associated with combusted and un-combusted JP-4 and JP-5. "being sick" is a pretty general term. I would think they had more specific diagnoses to work with.

My angioedema condition was determined by doctors and even a court to be an occupational illness related to chemical exposure. There are angioedema conditions that are specifically hereditary and numerous other manifestations that are not related to chemical exposures. When filing my VA claim I claimed combusted J-4, paints and cleaners were the cause. Even though I had active symptoms of the disease while on active duty, the VA confirmed through their records that I was in fact exposed to chemicals as a result of my military duties prior to awarding my claim. My thinking is that if they determined that I did not work with chemicals in the military they would deny the claim saying that there appears to be two different etiologies. My point being that if you continue to have symptoms post service even though you are not exposed to the chemicals make sure any report you get eliminates the possibility of multiple etiologies and states that a long term chronic condition resulted from the initial expose that will continue even though you are no longer being exposed to the chemicals. If you cannot get this type of opinion still file the claim and see what happens.

The VA has laws that make it hard to get rated for chemical (contact) dermatitis and chemical allergies. Familiarize yourself with VA regs. on "diseases of allergic etiology". A VA doctor tried to say that my in-service condition was actually a contact dermatitis and not related to my post service angioedema. I did not get a medical opinion to rebut this. I formulated an argument that if the doctors in the military thought I had a contact dermatitis they would have put that in my military records. I argued that the VA doctor's opinion about contact dermatitis was speculative and that they needed to dig the military doctors up from their graves and give them a chance to defend their diagnosis. There was a very famous case that set some of the rules for CUE whereby they determined that a veteran's claim that he was not given proper diagnostic tests and was not properly diagnosed by military doctors was not a CUE. In that case the judge used the line that they could not dig the doctors up from their grave to defend the original diagnosis. I decided to throw the same argument back at them to defend what I thought was a proper diagnosis in the military.

My angioedema is caused by light hydrocarbons. I was diagnosed while on active duty. My symptoms continued to be chronic after the military. It was determined by a court procedure under labor law that I had a medical condition related to chemical exposure.

Inservice onset is important with documentation by medical authority.

Chronicity post service is essential. However, if not sufficiently chronic to be rated higher than "0%" any secondary condition caused by a service connected condition can be rated.

If you were not diagnosed with the same condition in the military and post military, a link between the disease and the chemical cause is essential Delayed onset diseases that first occur years after the military are hard to prove. Gulf war veterans have some protections for delayed onset diseases.

Edited July 24, 2010 by Hoppy

[retiredat44]

I used a generalized term of being sick,, it's just that I listed the conditions so many times.. I don't feel it necessary to be technical any longer.. and yes, the doctors I have had contact with have all the technical info and the techincals are in my claims..

I studied a lot of reports.. and again, I paid for an in depth revue and study fro an IMO from a (specialist: doctor who does IMO's for these specialist studies, and who has worked within the VA and is familiar with the needed documents) (chemicals and illness for people in petroleum industries) who sent me a very detailed report with references..

I submitted the extenive and numerous documents with my claims..

The IMO doctor told me about the differences between the differences between JP-4.and JP-5 (but I already knew because it was my speciality in the USAF).. but of course the doctor told me more info about the chemicals also that I also told her I worked with leaded gasoline... Since I was overseas the fuels had different blends at the time that had more hazardous chyemicals than those in the USA.. at the times I was working with the petro chemicals lead was already banned int he USA. Plus I worked with petroleum chemicals in a second specialy I worked in. I also with with chemicals such as trichloroethylene, and again was sick (again had svere reaction such as the medical problems I had with Jet-Fuels and Gasoline, which were skin related, nervous system, headaches, etc..) from this exposure.. I already had been disgnosed and was removed rrom contact,,

I already explained that due to being forced to work with chemicals after the doctors on my base removed me from my fuels job, some morons at the base personel office sent me to a new job where I was forced to work with more petro cmemicals.. this information is al documented, and submitted..

I just finished the two C&P eams for this claim... and am awaiting the results and decisions... it will be around October 2010, probably before I hear the reults..

Edited July 24, 2010 by retiredat44

[jessie0054]

I had paid for an IMO from a doctor who specializes in Petroleum chemical toxic chemicals etc.. and her study and report cost me $1,600. The report is too big to post,, it's huge.. I included it with my claim/appeal. Again, as I posted many times, I was a fuels specialist in the USAF, and got 50% disability for it. I was diagnosed on active duty for being sick from jet fuel. JP-4. I am trying to get it increased to 100%.

Hello again retiredat44;

Looking back at my son's claim when we first filed we claimed Jet Fuel Exposure/Chemical/Benzene exposure. He was first denied but won through reconsitation Benzene exposure as the cause of his Polycythemia Vera.

Hope this helps

Jessie

I had also wrote to one of the Attn who has won cases filed on Benzene. He sent me a court Document he had used in one of his cases on Petroleum Chemicals. There is also a great VSO in Ohio who sent me some information. I can't remember his name right now, But he was on the forums in Military.com. I think his frist name was Dave.

I'll see if i can locate that court document.