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Asbestosis Diagnosis

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SSGC Old Soldier

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Just beginning the struggle to get my lung disease service connected, I Was served as a mechanic from 1984-1993 and was exposed huge amounts of asbestos, I now have severe case of COPD I've suffered a collapsed lung in 2016 I've had Pneumonia 3 times in the past 4 years and Im facing another lung surgery now. Ive only been able to work 7 months since Feb. of 2016 because of lung related issues and now I'm certain I will lose my job and insurance. My family doctor, thoracic surgeon and pulmonologist all say that my asbestos exposure could be a cause but none of them will diagnose me with asbestosis. Anyone have any ideas?

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I think COPD could have many causes, smoking is one of them....

but this is all discussed on th net under a COPD search-

Were you exposed to any other environmental chemicals /agents that could have caused the COPD?

What do your doctors attribute the COPD to?

 

GRADUATE ! Nov 2nd 2007 American Military University !

When thousands of Americans faced annihilation in the 1800s Chief

Osceola's response to his people, the Seminoles, was

simply "They(the US Army)have guns, but so do we."

Sameo to us -They (VA) have 38 CFR ,38 USC, and M21-1- but so do we.

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I just went to the BVA site to see if I could find any COPD claims granted or denied on a similar basis.

This denial sounds exactly like your claim:

https://www.va.gov/vetapp16/files5/1636998.txt

Is it your claim? probably just a coincidence --------

But if so are you trying to ropen the claim?

GRADUATE ! Nov 2nd 2007 American Military University !

When thousands of Americans faced annihilation in the 1800s Chief

Osceola's response to his people, the Seminoles, was

simply "They(the US Army)have guns, but so do we."

Sameo to us -They (VA) have 38 CFR ,38 USC, and M21-1- but so do we.

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I haven’t filed a claim yet, trying to get a doctor to diagnose asbestosis. I live in a rural area and they don’t have any experience with asbestosis.

Haag a pulmonary function test yesterday and I lost 20% lung function since my last PFT in2014 so I’m Down to 60%. 

Just need to find someone to read my films that knows what they are looking at, I’ve compared my CT scans and x-rays with positive asbestosis images on line and the indicators are all there.

thanks for your input

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