tdiu Need Advice - Jp4 And Benzene Exposure?

[x020574]

I do have a Story and then a Question:

Story part:
I recently learned I have a illness with called Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)it is a rare disease in which red blood cells break down earlier than normal. I have read that benzene can cause these types of symptoms. I was a Jet Engine Mechanic from 1970-74 so I had 4 yrs of exposure to this stuff - but can it rear it's ugly head 40 years later? We use to use a cleaning solution (I don't recall the name but it was P-something). We used it in-shop to clean grease and carbon from internal engine parts. Being young and stupid, we used to joke about how it gave us a buzz.

Also a concern was my extensive exposure to jet engine JP4 fumes. When in -shop maintenance was performed (we actually took J75 Pratt-Whitney engines apart, inspected and rebuilt) There were days when one would get drench with JP4 when underneath and dropping a fuel pump. My fatigues and boots reeked of JP4 no matter how many times I washed them.

Question part:
I was 90% scheduler and recently got TDIU 100%. I would consider putting in a claim for this if I thought it would fly... what do you think my chances would be? It's not about the money, it's more I'm concerned about what I can provide for my wife if I were to pass on as a result of one of my illness. I used to think it will be the IHD that will take me someday and that I am SC for, but now PNH can get nasty fast and that I am not SC for.

71M10 - thank you for the advice!

Edited February 11, 2014 by x020574

[71M10]

My dad, served in the Army in the late 1950s as a re-fueler of Nike Ajax missiles dealing with JP-4, IRFNA and UDMH. He died 18 months after he was discharged in 1959 of acute myelogenous leukemia. My mom, a newlywed, with a 1 year old, applied for veterans benefits back then and was denied with the "not service connected" reason. I am now trying to re-apply on her behalf.

We suspect there may be some linkage from either the toxicity of the fuels and the leukemia. I am aware of special handling gear that these re-fuelers wore. And my mom recalls my dad going for regular blood tests while serving. Her ability to receive benefits hinges on any such connection.

So I was wondering if anyone could offer me guidance on how to go about connecting the dots and submitting an appeal. VA has not been helpful.

Thanks

SInce this is a slowly progressing disease I suggest you get all the medical records and a copy of the Cfile. I think you can re-open this and be successful with a medical opinion from an Oncologist, not based on exposure but direct service connection (It is likely he had it while in service). If you are reviewing his medical records from 1959 and a doctor opined it started in service but they still denied, that will make your re-open case easier (since they then should have granted in 1959).

[Berta]

Good advice Z1M10.

Our Duty to assist regs have been enhanced since your mom applied for DIC.

In those days VA could deem any claim as "not well grounded".

There are many reasons one could have this disease.

This article is fairly recent and mentions radiation exposure as one cause:

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/leukemia-acutemyeloidaml/detailedguide/leukemia-acute-myeloid-myelogenous-what-causes

I understand there was a minute amount of potential radiation exposure in the Nike Ajax.But that only means a small amount of exposure is normal, ....accidents and other things happen when working with radiation sites.

This BVA remand is a widow's claim that her husband's carconoma was caused by radiation exposure and he worked on Nike Ajax.

In part:

“Claims based on exposure to ionizing radiation are entitled 
to special development with a contention of exposure to 
ionizing radiation and manifestation of a "radiogenic 
disease."  38 C.F.R. § 3.311(a).  All types of cancers are 
deemed a "radiogenic disease."  38 C.F.R. § 
3.311(b)(2)(xxiv).”
“It is alleged that the veteran's duties 
as an air defense artilleryman involved occupational exposure 
to ionizing radiation.  Service personnel records indicate 
that he worked with anti-aircraft missile systems including 
the Nike Ajax, Nike Hercules, M-163 and M-167 Vulcan, and M-
48 Chaparral Guided Missile.  The appellant contends that her 
husband was exposed to ionizing radiation based upon direct 
contact with these weapons systems.  Accordingly, the 
appellant's claim must be developed as an "other exposure" 
claim pursuant to the specialized development procedures of 
38 C.F.R. § 3.311(a)(2)(iii).”

http://www.index.va.gov/search/va/view.jsp?FV=http://www.va.gov/vetapp08/Files3/0822318.txt

The case contains some details as to how the veteran's occupational exposure inservice could be verified.

The claim is on remand.

Often a veteran or their survivor should do all they can,as well ,to satisfy a remand from the BVA. This case contains some clues as to what type of evidence you could pursue if there is any potential for his radiation exposure to have been a factor in his death.

Survivors must often raise more than one theory of entitlement.As a widow myself I raised ,altogether 4 theories regarding my husband's death,since 1994 and was only denied on one theory many years ago ,by the BVA,because the RO had awarded on a different theory and I had forgotten to withdraw my BVA appeal on another theory.

[ArNG11]

I remember that stuff as well. We used it to clean parts and bearings and the like. Nasty stuff. Come to think of it that was more or less the time the Air Force Started getting Eco consious. They started using something else to degrease but I don't recall the name. I do recall that this was also around the time they switched from using Citraclean to Simple green. The stuff was less toxic but didn't clean as well. This was 1992-1995.

PD680 was still in use from 97' - 01'. I was an AMS in AIMD, worked next to jet mechs, and we used it frequently for degreasing bearings, wheels, etc. on aircraft. Basically, it's dry-cleaning fluid if I remember correctly. Nasty stuff.

Edited March 12, 2015 by ArNG11

[Berta]

This claim of DIC was awarded to the husband of a deceased veteran.




FINDINGS OF FACT


1. The veteran was exposed to benzene or benzene-like
compounds in service while performing her duties as an
aircraft maintenance specialist.

2. The veteran was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in
1991.

3. It is likely that prolonged exposure to benzene or
benzene-like compounds in service led to the development of
acute myeloid leukemia.

4. Complications from acute myeloid leukemia contributed
significantly to the veteran's death.

ORDER

Service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is
granted.


http://www.va.gov/vetapp99/files2/9915488.txt

[ArNG11]

The benzene exposure claim is going to be a doozie. I narrowed down my exposure routes and although I was exposed to a lot of things from the burn pits in Bucca, Iraq and botched up shots, I worked fuel tanks as a civilian in the Air Force since 2005 - 2011. There are many correlating studies that confirm the relationship between aircraft fuel and auto immune diseases, specifically ITP and JP4-Jp8 fuels. My ITP claim I filed with Department of labor as this was the vast majority of my exposure. I'm having a dandy of a time trying to prove it. However, persistence and using they own studies against them it the way to go about fighting this. JMO.

[Berta]

And a strong iMO.

I meant to post this in the other recent benezene thread but put it there as well.