ptsd It's Great To Be Here - Ptsd And Jp-8 Fuel Exposure

[DiEsMiTtY]

Hello I'm smitty an Oef/OIF marine corps veteran. I am really glad there is a site like this. I started dealing with the VA on the onset of 2004. I was immedatly discourged by the staff at James A Haley VA Hospital. The a large part of the staff there are flat out rude. Thank god for the Vet Center, at the vet center you can tell these people want to help and are simpathetic. It wasn't until 2009 that I filed my current claim for PTSD, tinnitus, anxiety, and highblood pressure. Less than a month later hey denied my claim flat out. Two weeks later they amended he denial because of new evidence. I finally had my C n P exams in June and I am currently in limbo. I started calling the 800 number every week and sending in email inquiries to iris. Also I'm preparing evidence from private docotrs for my inevidable denials. I am in the process of getting buddy letters from senior staff NCOs. The county Vso actually discouraged me from sending in buddy letters the first time, so I'm going to get a new vso if I am denied. I have two questions. I was trying to link my anxiety to jp8 exposure since it can cause that. Has anyone had side effects from jp8. Question two isn't really claims related, more of mild curiosty when I was in camp coyote there was this sign by the road saying danger radation no stoping. Has anyone seen that before.

[Berta]

Welcome aboard

perhaps the new PTSD regulations (not published yet) could help you. They are posted in the PTSD forum.

"Two weeks later they amended he denial because of new evidence"

WOW in 2 weeks? Did you file a nod or a Reconsideration request with new evidence? Maybe they were considering the proposed new PTSD regs for OEF OIF vets buut could not apply them yet to your claim.

They wont give you comp for both PTSD and anxiety. They will rate one- and most likely the PTSD as it is actually an anxiety disorder.

Do they have your Vet Center records? Were you formally diagnosed with PTSD at the Vet Center?

Welcome aboard.

[DiEsMiTtY]

Yes but it took a miracle to get my vet center records to them. They would send me letter after letter that they had not recieved anything from the vet center. My rep at the vet center called the the number on the notice I recieved and took care of it right there on speaker phone. The vet center is the best thing going. I have made great progess with thier help, compared to the two shrinks and the social worker at the VA mental health clinic. I still go to the vet center either every two weeks or once a month, I don't want to deny anyone else a chance to be there. I am hoping the new rules are going to work in my favor. In 2003 they didn't give out combat action ribbons for artillery, or sporadic attacks on convoys, an damn sure didn't care about being attacked by angry mobs. I saw more action getting pelted from rocks than I did from anything else. I have a few stressors but my main reason I think is from maning a fuel point for 24 hours a day for a period of 18 days alone with no comm gear what so ever. I think my unit forgot about until some doc barged into the coc and told them to remove to an aid station becuase I was covered in rashes from the jp8. I had no idea i was escorted away like I was being arrested. Yeah I know that I can't get both, but I really feel that they should have to pay for the jp8 exposure, but the vso recommended PTSD. The vet center said yes that I am suffering from PTSD and that I have an anxiety disorder with agorphobia. I was in the process of fileing an nod when I got the letter saying they amended my claim.

[Pete53]

Welcome to Hadit

[Berta]

I forgot you asked about the fuel exposure.

By all means- if you have any residual disability that you feel could be due to the JP 8 -claim it.

It sounds to me like you had a sudden allergic reaction to the fuel but that depends on whether this is noted in you SMRs and as what type of problem you had from it.

These claims are hard to succeed in. The veteran needs prove of exposure to the exact type of fuel and then only a strong independent medical opinion could possibly associate the fuel exposure in service with any disability that you believe it caused.

What is in your SMRs regarding any medical attention you received after the fuel rash incident?

This exposure would have had to have left you with a ratable disability of some sort for VA, even with proof of the incident.

[DiEsMiTtY]

It is documented that I was treated for Chemical Dermatitis on several occasions, it is also documented on a post deployment screening that I was constantly exposed to high volumes of JP-8. I always ended up attached to refueling sections. or being the NCOIC for the bulk liquids section. I also recieved a Navy Marine Corps Commendation medal for setting these systems up and training othere marines to operate them, there is proof that I worked with the JP-8 and was exposed to it. However there are not very many studies on the effects of exposure to JP-8 on a human for any type of long term exposure. However there is a study that might help me with my hearing loss. A study found that lab rights had audiotory impairment when exposed to JP-8. The amounts of fuel I dispensed during the initial phases of OIF are astronmical, and this wasnt the only place I handled fuel systems at. The environmental people at the VA ran me through there program and that was that. So I am regrouping trying to ger alot of ducks in a row for round two.

[john999]

I use the Tampa VAMC. I was there today. What a cess pool. You must also use the St. Petersburg VARO. They are pretty awful. If you have PTSD and agoraphobia how can you work. This might rate a 100% rating and housebound. The St. Pete VARO is difficult to deal with since they don't give anything away. You want medical evidence that you have PTSD and other problems. You need that PTSD DX in your records from a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. Get a copy of your C&P exam. If the exam doctor says you have PTSD then you should be in like Flynn.