Scheduled C & P

[Old 5311]

Please Help..Anyone have experience or tips for a C&P for ASBRSTOS related lung disease. I was a Machinist Mate working with AB nearly every day with no warning or caution of its DANGER. CV-38 1963-1967. Had my Pulmonary Test last week. Thanks, james.work@comcast.com

Edited October 3, 2005 by Old 5311

[Guest jstacy]

MMCM I hate to hear the VA has denied your asbestos claim. however, I think you have received some incorrect information. I have been to the Navy Asbestos school and I am considered a shipboard and sub asbestos expert. I have performed hundreds of asbestos removals and Have documentation to back it up.

The most common types of asbestos onboard ships is Amosite. It was used for steam pipe insulation in all Navy ships built before the mid 70s. Amosite flakes and becomes airborne when it is interrupted. The Amosite was wrapped by another type of asbestos called chrysotile in a woven matted form ( Similar to todays fiberglass lagging cloth.) The biggest cause I know of exposure is the replacement of valves, riggers moving machinery and hitting pipes or damage control to repair leaking pipes.

Asbestosis can effect the plural cavities in the lungs by scarring and thickening. It does not matter where in the lung the thickening occurs.

A chest Xray will not show this 100 percent of the time. You need a thin section high resolution cat scan.

You also need a second opinion from another pulmonary specialist.

Secondary, Pulmonary function tests have 3 areas that are detrimental to asbestos claims. FVC FEV and DLCO.

People can have a figher FVC or FEV and have a low DLCO reading. Read the rating schedule for asbestosis.

My advice to you is to file a NOD and and get a second opinion form an asbestos expert pulmonary specialist. He opinion will over ride the VA. Make sure he states I have read the entire file. ALso get the official results from any tests you have done. I always go outside for second opinions and most of them are different than what the VA says.

ALso, The Shangri la still in Philly, I Saw her there in 1988.

[Old 5311]

MMCM I hate to hear the VA has denied your asbestos claim. however, I think you have received some incorrect information. I have been to the Navy Asbestos school and I am considered a shipboard and sub asbestos expert. I have performed hundreds of asbestos removals and Have documentation to back it up.

The most common types of asbestos onboard ships is Amosite. It was used for steam pipe insulation in all Navy ships built before the mid 70s. Amosite flakes and becomes airborne when it is interrupted. The Amosite was wrapped by another type of asbestos called chrysotile in a woven matted form ( Similar to todays fiberglass lagging cloth.) The biggest cause I know of exposure is the replacement of valves, riggers moving machinery and hitting pipes or damage control to repair leaking pipes.

Asbestosis can effect the plural cavities in the lungs by scarring and thickening. It does not matter where in the lung the thickening occurs.

A chest Xray will not show this 100 percent of the time. You need a thin section high resolution cat scan.

You also need a second opinion from another pulmonary specialist.

Secondary, Pulmonary function tests have 3 areas that are detrimental to asbestos claims. FVC FEV and DLCO.

People can have a figher FVC or FEV and have a low DLCO reading. Read the rating schedule for asbestosis.

My advice to you is to file a NOD and and get a second opinion form an asbestos expert pulmonary specialist. He opinion will over ride the VA. Make sure he states I have read the entire file. ALso get the official results from any tests you have done. I always go outside for second opinions and most of them are different than what the VA says.

ALso, The Shangri la still in Philly, I Saw her there in 1988.

Thanks, I am encouraged to follow through. I think the Shang was scrapped to Japan.

[Jim MAC]

The VA may tell you you should have known it was hazardous. Warnings began appearing in the early 80's.

Good luck, Jim

Hey Old

Warning begain in the 80's that good new for me I enlisted in 1978

Jim

[Guest jstacy]

MMC this may be a long shot in proving exposure to asbestos. However, I think you may be able to investigate. We are the lucky ones for the Submarine service is required to keep accurate records of all machinery and pipe replacement or repairs in regards to the Thresher and scorpion accidents. Do you remember the little envelopes the tender repair crews were handed to do the Quality assurance jobs with.

Earlier Nuclear submarines were laden with asbestos steam piping throughout the ship. Even inside the RC.

What class was the Halibut. I did asbestos removals on the Plunger, Permit, haddock, and a few more. Can you recall any accidents where there was a hurried removal of a major piece of equipment or steam pipe burst. If you can remember the year, you may be able to request the repair record. If it was in the 60s or 70s it would say remove the insulation from the steam pipes. ( Step 1) That alone would place you at risk throughout the entire sub. IF it was the mid 80s, It would say sample the repair site for asbestos. Also remember submarines are smaller and the ventilation recirculates exposing more personnel to asbestos. I also know the riggers who moved machinery were constantly tearing the pipe insulation all to pieces.

I would contact the Navy department and inquire as th the retention of these qa packages for Submarines.

ALso ask where they are Kept. We may have uncovered a gold mine for Submarine sailors.

[Old 5311]

MMC this may be a long shot in proving exposure to asbestos. However, I think you may be able to investigate. We are the lucky ones for the Submarine service is required to keep accurate records of all machinery and pipe replacement or repairs in regards to the Thresher and scorpion accidents. Do you remember the little envelopes the tender repair crews were handed to do the Quality assurance jobs with.

Earlier Nuclear submarines were laden with asbestos steam piping throughout the ship. Even inside the RC.

What class was the Halibut. I did asbestos removals on the Plunger, Permit, haddock, and a few more. Can you recall any accidents where there was a hurried removal of a major piece of equipment or steam pipe burst. If you can remember the year, you may be able to request the repair record. If it was in the 60s or 70s it would say remove the insulation from the steam pipes. ( Step 1) That alone would place you at risk throughout the entire sub. IF it was the mid 80s, It would say sample the repair site for asbestos. Also remember submarines are smaller and the ventilation recirculates exposing more personnel to asbestos. I also know the riggers who moved machinery were constantly tearing the pipe insulation all to pieces.

I would contact the Navy department and inquire as th the retention of these qa packages for Submarines.

ALso ask where they are Kept. We may have uncovered a gold mine for Submarine sailors.

Halibut was a Regulas Boat. Went aboard in 71 till decom in 76 then went to the Parche SSN-687 until retirement 9/79. No known incidents on the boats except R/R Mn. Clg. Pmps. I'm taking your advice earlier with a private and VA pulmonary Specialist. I'll go the whole route again. Never went alongside a tender. Home Port: Mare Island Naval Shipyard.

[Old 5311]

Halibut was a Regulas Boat. Went aboard in 71 till decom in 76 then went to the Parche SSN-687 until retirement 9/79. No known incidents on the boats except R/R Mn. Clg. Pmps. I'm taking your advice earlier with a private and VA pulmonary Specialist. I'll go the whole route again. Never went alongside a tender. Home Port: Mare Island Naval Shipyard.

JSTACY,

Some of my diagnosis were for asbestos related lung desease; emphysema Maybe I went wrong using the word "asbestosis". Who knows? The damage is located in the upper lobes vs lower. This is what the RO emphasized.

Quote from my Rep:

For VA purposes any post drug predicted FEV1 reading above 80% are considered normal, your's was 108%, this is one of the reasons the VA Dr says your breathing problrems are un related to asbestos, he also says you have dammage to the upper lobes of the lungs and asbestos always effects the lower lobes first, so if you have asbestos exposure related lung disease and show effects to the upper lobe, you should also see it in the lower lobes, again according to the scans you submitted, you only have involvement in the upper lobes - and none in the lower lobes.

My VAMC test results:

FEC: PREDICTED-4.95. PRE DRUG REPORTED% 3.90. PRE DRUG PREDICTED 79 <. POST DRUG PREDICTED 95. %CHANGE 20.

FE1: PREDICTED 3.42 PRE DRUG REPORTED% 3.24 PRE DRUG PREDICTED 95 POST DRUG REPORTED % 3.71. POST DRUG PREDICTED 108. %CHANGE 14.

Regards,