ptsd Viet Nam Vet Newly Diag Cancer Lung/throat Ao Related

[halos2]

A friend recently diag with cancer of lung and throat/esophagus and PTSD...VA keeps asking for proof...HEY VA you diag PTSD and now keep asking for stressors?? WHAT GIVES??

Vet is Viet Nam, medic has Bronze star"V", and another one too, some commendations too and went through the ranks pretty fast too...5 promotions during original enlistment...Have received all diagnoses from Dr and specialists, Cancer treatment regimen, including chemo(started already), radiation(started already),and all have been given to VA directly...yet the stupid computer generated letters continue, and the VA did write/tell VSO WHERE IS THE PROOF? SEND US THE SMR's TOO!

SSDI approved claim in 2 1/2 weeks from start of claim to granting approval, but waiting time began last mth...

He is utalizing a VSO not the same I have, but it does appear the guy is trying to push everything through fast, minus the BS the VA is putting him through too. The guy worked for the govt too up until this point too.

I tried to tell them how the VA conviently looses vets papers, and how the computer keeps generating the same info out over and over...but I realize they have an enormous amount of anxiety regarding his diagnoses, on top of the unknown VA processes, and the mistrust already evidenced by the VA's actions/ or lack of correct actions.

SO does anyone have an idea/or personal experience on the expedience requested on a claim with some of the diagnoses being 2 different types of cancer? I know all claims are treated on a different time frame, but have always read with terminal illinesses they are suppose to move them along faster.

Here we have another vet who has attempted to deal with PTSD on his own, and the stressors have taken the ultimate toll on his body, and his health. He is being treated by private Dr's and in a private hosp too, to get things going faster.

Any thoughts, comments, advice, suggestions, and prayers are so welcomed from all of my fellow hadit friend's for this genuine brave man. Thank you, halos2.

Edited August 8, 2009 by halos2

[Marilyn Haney]

My brother has tumors  in his lung....but since the merkel cell is the primary this wouldn't be considered on the list of lung cancer.....We are going to the doctor Tuesday....and I am praying the doctor wrote his  letter to the VA just the way it needs to be wrote...I know I have not dealt with the VA the way most of you have, but I can't understand why when all points to the cause of my brother's cancer was due to Viet Nam, but it has to be a play of words for them to approve him....My brother would have never filed if he didn't feel like it was due to his service in Viet Nam...and the wait sometimes when it has already reached a place when it needs to be took care of now....I just need to get an understanding on this.  My brother was in combat every day that he was over there...and it may be ugly for me to say but it seems like he is still in a fight for the help he needs.  Am I wrong to feel this way.  My brother does not smoke so they can't say it was caused from this.  I want to help my brother get the help he needs now....and I know I should not get agitated....but what about the Vets and their families of what they have been through and are still going through....We are blessed that they do cover my brother's medical costs....but I can't understand just because merkel cell is a rare cancer does not mean that Viet Nam  could not have been the cause of his cancer.  I apologise if I am not suppose to vent my heart....but this is my brother as all of you know you and your family are important and you want to reach out and do what is best for them...and I am scared I may do something wrong that may get my bro denied again because I didn't say the right choice of words....My heart goes out to other vets who are also in this position

Edited August 5, 2019 by Marilyn Haney

[Marilyn Haney]

Berta, I was going through my brother's medical records.   He was first diagnosed with metastatic neuroendocrine cancer /and/or small cell lung carcinoma.  Then they diagnosed him with merkel cell.....Would this matter....Also since we did not get the doctor's report in to VA in time....we would just reapply with oncology's report...correct.  Thank you and others for all your info and help

[Berta]

This thread is convoluted-

Marilyn  I posted your recent  question, that was on page 1, to the end of the thread on page 2:  -:

:Berta, I was going through my brother's medical records.   He was first diagnosed with metastatic neuroendocrine cancer /and/or small cell lung carcinoma.  Then they diagnosed him with merkel cell.....Would this matter....Also since we did not get the doctor's report in to VA in time....we would just reapply with oncology's report...correct.  Thank you and others for all your info and help."

This could be very important info for the VA to have.  Did the oncologist mention this in his report?

 

 

 

[Berta]

Can someone straighten this thread out?

I tried to paste Marilyn's recent question from page 1 to page 2, and tried three times to post my reply to it on page 2 ----I don't think that worked-

Marilyn I dont get the "and/or" part here:

"   He was first diagnosed with metastatic neuroendocrine cancer /and/or small cell lung carcinoma"

This is far different than the Merkel cancer-

And not an AO presumptive, as far as I can tell-

however, there is more to this situation than we know----and that info is in his medical records.

Does the doctor have the list I posted above on the AO Soft Tissue sarcomas and AO cancers?

Was he the same diagnosing and treating doctor for the metastatic neuroendocrine cancer

'and/or' the small cell lung cancer?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 5, 2019 by Berta

[Marilyn Haney]

Berta, I do believe his medical records were sent by the DAV when he first applied.   He was first diagnosed as having metastatic neuroendocrine cancer in the lymph node pelvis and lung.  Then he got the second diagnosis as merkel cell.  We go back to his oncologist tomorrow.  The oncologist is suppose to have a letter to send to the VA.  I know my bro has taken the info to the secretary that has been shared with me to give to the doctor.  I am sorry if I put my reply  in the wrong place when I wrote the other post.  I will make sure today that my bro has taken all the info to the oncologist today....Thanks again for your help

[Marilyn Haney]

No he was not.  My brother lived in Panama City when that diagnosis was made.  He had to move to Dothan due to his home was destroyed during the hurricane.  This diagnosis was given by a veteran approved doctor in Panama city.  To begin with in Panama City he had an mri and a biopsy of the lymph node....and it was diagnosed as a metastatic small cell neuroendocrine tumor.  When he moved ....he started going to an oncologist in Dothan...the oncologist sent it to another place on the results and they diagnosed it as a merkel cell carcinoma in soft tissue.  Would the difference matter?  We also are going tomorrow to get the results of the last PET SCAN...