Blood Test

[steven13081]

went to my local va hospital and requested test for Hep C and Brucellosis.  guy got all pissy and told me they dont offer test for Brucellosis.  Anywhere i can go to get tested for this ?

[Dustoff1970]

I would think your VA or private primary care doctor could arrange this test for you.  You will probably have to have good reason to give them for requesting the test.  If you have no PCP doctor then you could contact your local public health department or check with testing labs by phone or ask at a local Urgent Care clinic.  Good luck

[GBArmy]

steven13081 As you probably know Brucellosis can be quite serious and cause a lot of health problems. I would see a specialist; a blood doctor, Hematologist/Oncologist, who can make a definate diagnosis which you would need for a claim.  (It's b/s that the VA can't test for it; there is a diagnostic code on it-6316.) Don't wait around; find out right away. I found this for finding doc's; you might find helpful.

https://doctor.webmd.com/find-a-doctor/specialty/hematologyoncology

Get an appointment today!

[Buck52]

I would think if its a test the VA CAN'T DO? Which is hard to understand why not? beings the VHA and VAMC is one of the largest health care providers in the Nation ,

but if they say they can't do these test  they are suppose to let you know who does them and send you to them, check with your VA  hospital Director ask him/her.

[Buck52]

I would think if its a test the VA CAN'T DO? Which is hard to understand why not? beings the VHA and VAMC is one of the largest health care providers in the Nation ,

btw, they now have the VA Mission Act  or community care program  F-3   you need your VA Dr to refer you to them  in turn the CCP will find you a provider or you can find one and let them know  either way   but this will all be paid for by the VA   these type test are not cheap.

Edited January 15, 2020 by Buck52

[Berta]

If you are an incountry Gulf War Veteran,  Brucellosis is one of the infectious diseases that can be claimed to GW service:

"Brucellosis
A bacterial disease with symptoms such as profuse sweating and joint and muscle pain. The illness may be chronic and persist for years. It must be at least 10 percent disabling within one year from the date of military separation.

https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/infectious_diseases.asp

and as the VA link states the GW regs have been expanded to include those veterans who served

" in Afghanistan on or after September 19, 2001."

Do you have anything in your SMRs that could support the claim for  brucellosis symptoms wise?

There are 242 decisions at BVA for this condition and many, if not most were denied- but not all of them- this one is interesting because his symptoms were re characterized as arthralgias.

"ORDER

Entitlement to service connection for residuals of 
brucellosis, diagnosed as longstanding arthralgias, is 
granted."

https://www.va.gov/vetapp08/files5/0840468.txt

When were you diagnosed with this infectious disease?

 

[Berta]

To add this case at the BVA shows how this veteran, who claimed 

"The veteran maintains, in substance, that the 10 percent 
evaluation assigned for her chronic fatigue syndrome from 
January 25, 1990 to November 28, 1994, does not adequately 
reflect the severity of that disability for that time period.  
The veteran also asserts that this period of her disability 
should be evaluated using the Diagnostic Code for chronic 
fatigue syndrome, not brucellosis."

 in part:

This case is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA or 
Board) on appeal from an April 1992 rating decision of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office in St. 
Petersburg, Florida (RO), which assigned a 10 percent 
evaluation for chronic fatigue syndrome, effective from 
January 25, 1990.  In doing so, the RO evaluated the 
veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome by analogy to brucellosis, 
pursuant to 38 C.F.R. Part 4, Diagnostic Code 6316 (1991).  

In addition, the veteran contends that the current 40 percent 
evaluation assigned for her chronic fatigue syndrome does not 
adequately reflect the severity of that disability.  She 
contends that her chronic fatigue syndrome results in 
symptoms that wax and wane and result in periods of 
incapacitation of at least six weeks total duration per year.  
Therefore, a favorable determination has been requested.

"ORDER

Subject to the provisions governing the award of monetary 
benefits, a 30 percent schedular evaluation for chronic 
fatigue syndrome for the period from January 25, 1990 to 
November 28, 1994, is granted. 

Subject to the provisions governing the award of monetary 
benefits, a 60 percent schedular evaluation for chronic 
fatigue syndrome for the period beginning November 29, 1994, 
is granted."

https://www.va.gov/vetapp98/files1/9801156.txt

The veteran did very well ( and this was not filed as a CUE but could have been) in proving the VA had used the wrong diagnostic code, to her detriment in a past VA decision.

A nice retro award!!!!

I do agree with the advice above- that you need to get the diagnosis confirmed ( or it could possibly be a different diagnosis) and see if your SMRs will support an inservice nexus.

 

 

 

Edited January 15, 2020 by Berta
weather at high altitude