Retropay Vs Comp

[JamesR]

Would it be better, if I am given a large RETRO, to forego the RETRO in the hopes of obtaining a monthly stipend?

Can I forego voluntarily while applying? If the RETRO is large will they be extra diligent about disapproving the claim?

Also, if my claim would embarrass the military by showing exposure SARIN chemicals am I sure to be denied, even if true?

Would it be better just to claim severe pnuemonia and not list a cause when applying. Or will they ask for a primary

cause for the pneumonia?

I am a little confused on what andhow to apply, but anyones help is greatly appreciated. Thank You...

[john999]

You might get something for residuals of pnuemonia whatever those might be. You could have COPD, but chronic pnuemonia I don't think so, because you would be dead already.

[Berta]

I think you need to consider something.

There are 266 claims regarding sarin at the BVA.The word ":denied" under a search I just did- appears in them all expect for-

Of those claims 4 are on remand for more information and only one widow's claim was granted.

The widow had raised not only her husband's proven exposure to sarin but also to depleted uranium.

"The fatal metatastic pancreatic cancer is shown as likely

as not to be due to reported exposure to depleted uranium

during the veteran's period of active service that included

his combat duty during the Persian Gulf War."

Luckily she did not hand her DIC on the sarin exposure alone.

She also had a very strong medical opinion as evidence.

You can obtain a large retro as well as a monthly compensation check.

But large retro is based primary on when any successful claim was filed.

Personal example

my husband filed in 1992 and died in 1994 -I continued the claims- in 1996 and then 1997 each claim produced what one could say was large retro.

The large retro was due to fact that claims took so long to be awarded and were found to be service connected conditions back to date he filed those claims.

If you haven't filed a claim yet-there is no retro to even consider.

There might even be no basis for a claim on pneumonia.

Did you have pneumonia in the military and is it clearly documented in your SMRs?

What residuals are you still being treated for from the pneumonia?

Has it also caused any COPD or emphysema?

Do you have a strong medical opinion that states the residuals you still have from pnuemonia are directly due to the sarin you were exposed to?

Does your MOS prove this exposure?

Do the residuals raise to a ratable level of disability?

Do you have current treatment records for the residuals?

Edited November 1, 2009 by Berta

[Berta]

I am not discouraging you to file a claim here-

however this recent article is a small reflection of what veterans exposed to sarin are going through to attempt to gain service connection.

http://vets4politics.blogspot.com/2009/08/...hers-blame.html

[Testvet]

Also, if my claim would embarrass the military by showing exposure SARIN chemicals am I sure to be denied, even if true?

Can you prove an exposure to Sarin? Would the military be embarassed by it, No they know they exposed people to it at Edgewood Arsenal during the Cold War in the human experiments, they also know that soldiers and civilians were exposed when they blew up the Iraqi ammo dumps at Kamisayah Iraq in March 1991 the hard part is getting them to admit it caused you any harm, the March 2002 Sarin Report by the IOM only shows sleep disorders and brain tumors as being presumptive disorders causedby low level Sarin exposures, I know this as I have a copy of the report since I am part of the control group they used for the study, the 7120 men used at Edgewood Arsenal from 1955 thru 1975. Yet the report states there were only 217 men exposed to Sarin and the data they were able to assemble was so small as to make any determinations really possible, so I question how they link brain tumors and sleep disorders even to it.

The Army does not get embarassed but you will play with the devil proving the Sarin harmed you

[LarryJ]

I think that we are spinning our wheels, at least until JamesR responds to at least one of our basic questions.

In the meantime, I suggest we spend time on some of the participating veterans' questions.

[JamesR]

Hello,

MY concern was that if the VA had a large retro to pay would that cause them to exercise undo diligence in

denying a claim. A monthly stipend would be sufficient in my case.

Also, the exposure to sarin would have been during exposure to canisters and waste containers at a chemical

depot in Europe. There are other underlying health conditions I have not mentioned for fear the VA will seek

to identify me through some means. Am I being overly cautious? But I do have SMRs acknowledging these medical

conditions, however they are vague and do not reveal a cause. Thank You for responding. JamesR