Non Vietnam Era Amyloidosis

[ArielNavy]

I am on perm disability, on October 2009 I was diagnose with AL Amyloidosis. It affected my kidneys.

I served on USS ROANOKE (AOR 7). We carried bombs, jp5 five and other fuel

If I was a vietnam era I will be 100 percent VA approved. I served on the ship from 1980 to 1984.

one of shipmates got lung cancer when we were exposed to asbestos when the ship was in drydock

belated Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year

[Berta]

Yes ,amyloidosis went onto the AO presumptive list in 2009:

http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/conditions/al_amyloidosis.asp

I don't see your ship listed on the VA AO Ship's list.

http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/shiplist/list.asp

Also, she was commissioned: 30 OCT 1976 and in West Pac 1978 to 19 85, in but the Vietnam War ended in 1975 so it appears you do not fall under the AL presumptive regulation.

Probably all of the cruisers contained asbestos however, and your ship does appear on this asbestos list:

http://www.shepardlawfirm.com/USS-Roanoke--4-144.html

This is the VA's Navy Asbestos PIES list that lists duties and MOS and their potential for asbestos exposure.

This is a brief medical abstract that states:

“This case shows that a nodule in nodular pulmonary amyloidosis can grow gradually and suggests the possibility of asbestos fibers as one of the etiologic factors in nodular pulmonary amyloidosis. “

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1440-1827.1996.tb03535.x/abstract

There are a few other articles on the net that infer a nexus, a link between asbestos exposure and AL.

However , if your doctor has ever stated asbestos exposure as a potential cause (nexus) of the AL you have ) or would be willing to consider preparing an IMO with a full medical rationale based on your service and medical records, that can rule out any other etiology, but for asbestos exposure in service, and if you can prove exposure to asbestos,(the PIES list and your MOS could help with that) then the claim could succeed.The doctor could consider the JP5 exposure as well.

VA often seeks to find if a vet has had a long smoking history and/or post service employment that could have exposed a vet to asbestos,in order to deny some types of asbestos related claims.

But these claims can succeed.

[ArielNavy]

Thank you