The Va Continues To Lie!

[retiredat44]

I sent this to my service officer to clear up some of the continuing lies, from the VA, in my claims:

I Steven *** have been trying to get this claim problem straightened out with the VA, since my first claims filed, since my first claims in the 1990's. There is either a misunderstanding, or the VA is a purposely refusing to acknowledge that I worked with and was sickened by all of the following chemicals on active duty.

Gasoline (Leaded), Jet-Fuel, Diesel Fuel, Trichloroethylene.

I worked as a Fuels Specialist, and worked with Gasoline (leaded), Jet-Fuel, Diesel Fuel daily. I was soaked in those chemicals daily. I was sickened by those chemicals, and the U.S.A.F. doctors determined they made me very sick. The command was notified, and I was removed from that job. I was placed in a new job, at a weather squadron, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. My duty had no chemical exposure. After a few weeks I was told to report to a new job. I was again working with petroleum chemicals (Trichloroethylene), which were used to clean printing presses. I again became very sick. I had no choice but to leave the U.S.A.F. because I had lost all jobs due to illnesses from chemicals. (5 years active duty).

When I claimed for V.A. disability, I told the VA it was for all of the chemicals. Every decision the V.A. denies, they only deny Jet-Fuel related claims. They always fail to discuss all of the chemicals which made me sick. I told the V.A. so many times, I cannot count the times. At the DRO hearing (San Diego), I told them over and over about all of the chemicals. I told the DRO hearing that the other fuels were also a part of my every day contact, and that I was soaked in them every day. I was soaked in them from filling fuel tanks, with open and closed nozzles, distributing fuels, testing fuels, leaky valves, and more. My clothing and skin were soaked every day on active duty with these chemicals.

I was then again soaked with Trichloroethylene from cleaning printing presses, the injuring continued from exposure (Repro-graphics specialist).

The headaches, the extremely swollen skin and limbs. So swollen, that my limbs were bleeding from the skin unable to expand further.

I want this part of the record. I have made printed and oral statements to correct the record with V.A. claims, but every attempt has been ignored.

Please, finally make this part of the record. Add it to or find the records, if my earlier statement were destroyed, ignored, whatever. I am pleading for this to be done honestly and correctly, as this misunderstanding is from no-fault of my own, I am not a lawyer, and have no idea how to make sure these omissions by the V.A. can be corrected by any others way, except to make again one more statement, among many, about this huge problem with my claim not handled properly.

[ArNG11]

Theres is plenty of information out there with specific references to federal work comp cases and several fuel exposure claims on the VA claim side.  I dare you to find one case that was approved at the regional office.  To this date I have not found one.  It is definitely a BVA and above claim, not that it doesn't get approved just not many right of the bat.  My exposure was from 05-07 and later from 08-11.  I was a tank rat as we were so called by everyone who knew what we did.  

Really I feel my exposure was mostly Air Force but when in the Army the burn pit I am sure had some effect as well and compounded problems.

[ArNG11]

Hang in there and don't give up the fight.  If you give it all you can,  you will know when to keep fighting and when to concede with other victories in your other claims.  

[retiredat44]

On ‎8‎/‎3‎/‎2017 at 4:59 PM, rdnkjeeper said:

I have issues as well.  I was a "Fueler" in the Marines from 1994-1996.  Was covered in it more times than not.  I agree it is total BS.  Also I would like to be of any assistance I can, also maybe I can use some of the information at a later date.

I appreciate offers... I cannot be 100% sure that it was enough proof, but I have given the judge proof of exposure and illness while on active duty. It is in my records of illness caused by exposure. But, the R.O. office ignored it. Also the R.O. was arguing whether or not the doctors I saw on active duty listed all of the chemicals or just some of the chemicals. regardless, the doctors were told what chemicals I was working with when I was injured. Had I not been injured while on active duty they would surely weasel out. The BVA judge asked me about al of these issues and in the remands stated that the regional office ignored the requests in the first remand, regarding the chemicals. The judge stated the chemicals by their names known as when using them on the job. He did this in person in front of me at my BVA hearing. At the DRO hearing the DRO Officer actually said, 'the study that came with your IMO was done on animals, but not humans so they can't use the IMO'. That is insane, as if they will soak a human being in chemicals for a study. That is small part of the abusive B.S. I got at a DRO hearing.  I am as confident as I can be that the judge is looking out for me. It is the VA claims at the regional office which are flat out lying and ignoring facts. yes, facts, I am not using the term lightly. I had the DRO officer lie in front of me a few years back in a DRO hearing. Nothing can be done, short of someone kicking his ass. I really hope the judge either forces them to see facts or bypasses the R.O. with the proper decision(s). 

 

I can only think of affidavits from other people who worked with the chemicals could say whether or not they had contact, and how much contact, and how often. Also, whether they were sick and injured on active duty or the injuries were documented long after. Unfortunately many health issues can occur many years later that are caused by chemicals.

 

I read that one of my diseases is caused by the chemical ethylene. I have Budd-Chiari Syndrome. it is in my VA medical records. The websites for this state it is caused by chemicals and the liver diseases that go with them.. https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/budd-chiari-syndrome/  http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/184430-overview . I have 3 very rare diseases from all of this (Necrotizing Pancreatitis, and Portal and Splenic Vein Disease, and Budd-Chiari), and have lived much longer than the surgeons told me, as they are all usually deadly in around 5 years. One is 3 years, other 5, and all together.... ???? Since I didn't smoke or drink, they cannot beat me over the head with those excuses. I noticed they will actually come at you hard and beat you up over issues if they can link them to behaviors. They interrogate, harang, harass and dig trying to trip you up and say you did stuff which they will try to link to disease and injuring. I have had them harass me endlessly in person demanding to know what I worked with and if I did any o drugs, smoking drinking. I was interrogated every morning in my hospital bed for 6 months as they drilled me about jobs I had, what the mark are on my body, and everything else. I have been interrogated at the VA meetings, by doctors, at C&P's, and they are always trying to make me say things to their benefit. It is horrific the abuse they pull. There are boxes and boxes of records of every word and action that happened while I live in a hospital bed for 6 months, plus the months that VA nurses treated me in my bed at home. They wrote down every word I spoke. Every time they poked me. The Regional Office holding my claims have al medical records to when I was a child, all the way until now. Yet, they say they don't have documents.

BTW, look up what happened to the people who invented lead gasoline (to stop engines from knocking in the early days) and how congress refused to make it illegal even after lots of people got sick and died. It took many years later before leaded gasoline was removed from the market. Lots of people gave their lives and suffered greatly from exposure.

 

 

 

[Gastone]

It would be very helpful if you could post redacted copies of your Denial Letters, to include the Rater's discussion for the Denial and Evidence reviewed.

Have you filed a FOIA request to the VA for your C-File and received it on CD?

Have you been DX'd with any Cancers?

Semper Fi

[Buck52]

Hey retiredat44

Just hang in there its tough we all know,  but just hang in there ..VA usually deny's most of our claims a few times until someone can read or come to their senses...Just be sure and check your EED when they do Award your claims. 

keep all your copies and read some of the MR-1 Regulations/Previsions...and the CFR's that apply to your claim.

sounds like to me you may can ask them to CUE them self...I would recommend you get a good experience VA Attorney or VA Certified Rep  at this point.

if you already have one fire him,/her and seek another..sometimes those VSO are just burned out and don't wont to look up the correct Regulations that would help your claim.or for what ever reasons.

[retiredat44]

On ‎8‎/‎25‎/‎2017 at 4:32 PM, ArNG11 said:

is this Hangar 2 catti corner from 3001?

sorry, no clue,  I was passing through getting off one plane, waiting for another...... (military standy using HOPs, to and from Europe once a year)