Help For Chemical Exposure Disability

[VET IN TX]

I am trying to get and give help to all disabled vets, who did their jobs and are now having the side effects of chemical exposure. My son ssg mike age 47( retired disabled vet)worked on pershing missles and aviaton repairman. He used numerous hazardous materials including (mek) doing his job. These chemical where banned in the usa in the 70's/80's. But is still being used today. Ssg mike now is being treated by 9 doctors, all the signs point to chemical/radiation exposure. We found out that va does not reconize chemical exposure unless it was agent orange in viet nam. There is a bill in the senate hr 514 title 38 to expand the agent orange coverage to cover vets like ssg mike. It was sent to sub-committe in 2001 and it is still there. Please contact your congressman and get them to back this bill, so these men/women can get the help they need. Thank you for your help and service

Edited March 20, 2009 by Tbird
Changed from all caps for readablity

[Berta]

Any vet who has a disability due to any inservice toxin can succeed in a SC comp claim with proof of direct inservice exposure,and a current disability directly due to the toxin.

These claims take independent medical opinions from experts in the field of toxins and their long term affects to establish the medical nexus.

There is some interest in Iraq toxins effects-as in the post I made today below in Claims Research.

This is certainly a good reason for anyone to write to COngress to support this type of bill.

The TCE bill I supported went no where.

It was poorly written anyhow.

These bills should define actual toxins and define clearly what some of the medically known affects of them are in long term health concerns.

The TCE bill was very vague and a Congressman wrote it- who probably did not have a clue as to the the VA claims process.

Vets themselves should be writing the drafts of these bills.This way-when bills like this finally become a reg- the reg doesn't have the loopholes that VA will try to use against the claimant.

Edited March 20, 2009 by Berta

[Capt.]

Hello Vet in Tex ,,,,, Berta is right. Please understand that the Agent Orange issue is not the only recognized exposure and not just for Vietnam Vets. They 38 CFRs are very specific about other exposures including other Dioxins and other chemicals. You will need IMO's . Independent Medical Opinions. Make sure that your service military files , buddy statements , and service Medical records are examined by your Independent Doctor. Please do not think that VA doctors cannot be used. THEY CAN. It helps to have both. When making the connection to your service connection exposure claim , you will need the evidence and the doctor will have to note that he has reviewed the documents that you are using as evidence and given to the VA. The doctor should say...."it is as least as likely as not" or "is the most likely cause". These phrases are legal "triggers" that the BVA or COVA or in some cases, the DRO will have to acknowledge. Covering your bases and making it simple seems to protect you for your battle. GOD BLESS, and remember ,,,,,,NEVER GIVE UP. C.C.

[Hoppy]

vet in tex,

I am service connected 26 years after discharge for a condition due to MEK and combusted JP4 exposure. I developed symptoms while in the military that were not addressed at the time of discharge. I was told that if the symptoms had not developed while on active or during the one year period after servcie I would not be able to get service connected.

I have told several veterans to read the SMR and take it to a specialist in immunology. There are various symptoms of chemical disease that are noted in the SMR and mis-diagnosed or undiagnosed while in the military.

I did not find any reference that MEK or petro chemicals I was exposed to were considered toxins. They are carcenogens and irritants and capable of producing allergic reactions and systemic diseases that memic other diseases.

There might be some research developing that could link delayed onset systemic diseases. This type of research would be needed for the VA to change the laws on their own accord. The VA does do research on chemically produced diseases that have delayed onset. I do not think they will service connect delayed onset diseases until the research shows statistical linkage. Additionally, they would investigate comprehensive post service work histories to rule out post service occupations as confusing the claim.