How to file for Anemia / Refractory anemia / MDS-RCMD

[freedomisntfree]

I am trying to assist my father. He is 74 years old and served two tours in Vietnam. He was awarded the purple heart and is currently 50% for PTSD. 

For years my father has had problems with anemia and in 2015 the VA doctor diagnosed him with anemia. In 2017 he was then diagnosed with Refractory anemia. Last month he was diagnosed with  MDS-RCMD and has started taking injections of Epoetin Alfa, Recombinant. Epoetin is indicated for the treatment of anemia. 

How would I go about assisting my father in filing a claim? MDS is not on the list of presumptive conditions of AO but anemia is a chronic condition. 

What would be the best way to proceed with the claim for my father?

[freedomisntfree]

3 hours ago, Buck52 said:

Also if you see this today  you might want to call into the Hadit Podcast Radio Show tonight at 7:00pm eastern time 6:00pm central

Here is the # 347-237-4819  After you call hit #1 and John Basser or Jerrel Cook will take your call, the guest on tonight's show will be a CCA( certified claims agent) and very experienced with helping Veterans with their claims.. His Name is John Dorle  and he will be glad to answer any of your questions   this is all free information and John will give you his phone # and email  so be sure to call in.

Buck, Thank you just got off the phone with John and he is going to help.

[Buck52]

Roger That Brother!!!

[treysnonna]

Buck are you saying precious anemia is servic connected?  That is why my husband was raking b12 injections.

[Buck52]

6 hours ago, treysnonna said:

Buck are you saying precious anemia is servic connected?  That is why my husband was raking b12 injections.

No to the contrary its just my opinion (which don't count) P.A.( Preciousness Anemia) is not on the Presumption A.O. List ( =no service connection)

''I believe the A.O. Was a big contributing factor for me to lose my instric-factor in the first place , beings the only medical known reason to lose the instric-factor in a human  is excess drinking of Alcohol  or  a Rare form of Leukemia...as to which I had neither.  but a veterans lay statment is useless to render his opinion obviously,  This has to come from a Medical professional MD/Specialist.''

I am hoping its added on the New'' NAM'' list of Presumption Disease from A.O. or at least all Anemia's 

[Berta]

This vet was awarded SC in 2017 for refractory anemia (a.k.a  myelodysplastic syndrome) due to his exposure to contaminants at Camp Le Jeune:

https://www.va.gov/vetapp17/files5/1726960.txt

 

Pernicious anemia is ratable as well and this BVA decision contains the ratings

https://www.va.gov/vetapp15/files5/1537292.txt

Pernicious anemia is also called megaloblastic anemia.

 

In this case the BVA concurred that the veteran’s pernicious anemia had it’s onset in service because of this medical statement:

 

"Given that the veteran was discharged in 1994, and pernicious

anemia was diagnosed in 1997, the physician found it was at

least as likely as not that the veteran might have had the

beginnings of pernicious anemia in service or within one year

of service discharge."

https://www.va.gov/vetapp04/files2/0417163.txt

As with most disabilities, the VA will need am established  service nexus for the many types of anemia…and it could even be due to an established SC disability ( or one that needs to be service connected) and claimed as secondary.

Such as secondary to diabetes:

https://jdmdonline.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/2251-6581-12-17

 

[Buck52]

 Thank you Ms berta for posting this   this is a rare BVA Decision.

I wish I could find that Dr... The Big Spring Tx VAMC dx me with P.A...I HAVE  REQUESTED THOSE RECORDS to see whats in them  they can't find them?   they said the records are kept so long and then are assign to a final storage Place and its not St Louis..Without those records  I am just domed.

This was back in early 90's  I am not sure what the Dr's said ? they had a hard time with the Dx...my symptom's  were tingling in my neck and arms, swelling feet and ankles and burning of the bottom of my feet  like I was walking in a hot frying pan (pain was so bad I run cold water in the bath tub and put in 4 or 5 10 lbs bags of crushed ICE and I had dizziness at times, they ruled out DMII and any type of cancer...they almost did a Bone marrow test   but a new Dr specialist decided I was low in my B-12  Or they tested my B-12 And I was like a #2 & #8 needed to be close to normal.

Anyway they loaded me up with the B-12 INJECTIONS for about 4 weeks straight everyday,  my daughter-law was a R.N. AND SHE  GAVE ME THE INJECTIONS  AND they made all my symptoms go away..but I still need to take the injections  prescribe by the VA.

so needless to say without those records  its my word against theirs...so I'm screwed.

Edited November 4, 2017 by Buck52