VA assistance for Cadmium exposure

[stxhyme97 0]

I was exposed to Cadmium over a 3 year period while in service. It is all in my medical record, including a trip to the hospital where the heavy metal had ruptured my spleen. 20 years later I am getting tumors on my liver and kidneys. I filed and seem to be getting the run around. Does anyone know of another route that I might be able to take so that the VA can acknowledge these ailments? I'm really not lookin for a free ride etc, I have been an engineer for years now, have a master degree etc but I know that something is tragically going on and I cannot get doctors to see me since it is a VA related issue and they are afraid to be blamed for something that they did not create. 

[shrekthetank1 722]

You will probably need an outside doctor from the VA.  You will need an IMO/IME and possibly a nexus to show these heavy metals caused this.  Also this is not a FREE RIDE!  The military took us in healthy and exposed us to things normal people will never be exposed to.  They are on the hook for this as it was caused by the environments the put us into or the shots they gave us!

Can you post your denial here minus your personal info? 

[GBArmy 1,447]

Welcome stxhyme97 Sorry that you are having these medical issues AND the VA is giving you the run a round. Shrek is right on here; don't even bring up "Free Ride." You served. The government is now responsible for your service disabilities. The issue at hand is it isn't a slam dunk, so the VA is on auto pilot- deny. So, you have show them the evidence. If you went to the hospital while in service, you need evidence you can present. There is a good likelihood there are additional medical notes/records in your c-file. I suggest you request it and hopefully find more evidence for your claim. You can find out on how to order it here , as well as on the internet. Try Tbird's blog for example. It will take months to get but it may be critical for your claim. Need your redacted decision letter for us to help.

[Berta 4,216]

This 2019 BVA decision was granted thus:

"The Board places great weight of probative value on the opinion of Dr. D.G. as the opinion is consistent with the record, and the opinion reflects consideration of the Veteran’s history, including his military occupational specialty and the competent and credible evidence of in-service exposure to cadmium. Dr. D.G. also provides a clear rationale for his conclusion.  Thus, the Board resolves any reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran and concludes that the requirements of 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(a) have been met. As such, service connection for the Veteran’s prostate cancer with incontinence and voiding dysfunction is granted. 38 U.S.C. § 5107(b); 38 C.F.R. § 3.102; Gilbert v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 49, 55 (1990)."

https://www.va.gov/vetapp19/files12/19191718.txt

Thee are 249 cadmium claims decisions at the BVA from 1992 up to early 2020:

https://www.index.va.gov/search/va/bva_search.jsp?QT=cadmium&EW=&AT=&ET=&RPP=10&DB=2020&DB=2019&DB=2018&DB=2017&DB=2016&DB=2015&DB=2014&DB=2013&DB=2012&DB=2011&DB=2010&DB=2009&DB=2008&DB=2007&DB=2006&DB=2005&DB=2004&DB=2003&DB=2002&DB=2001&DB=2000&DB=1999&DB=1998&DB=1997&DB=1996&DB=1995&DB=1994&DB=1993&DB=1992

Many are denied or remanded but there might be more then the one above that was granted.

Great advice from both GBarmy and ShrektheTank-

The IMO/IME doctor must follow the IMO/IME criteria here in our IMO forum, and be able to rule out any other etiology but for the cadmium exposure, to have caused your disability issues.

Their medical background , within a Curriculum Vitae or even a brief history they give, of their medical ability to opine on your claim, mut outweigh that of any C & P examiner ( which is not too hard to do-many VA doctors who do  & P exams have no expertise at all to handle the C & P exam.

This is one of many sites that show what prolonged cadmium exposure can cause as damage to the body:

https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=46&tid=15

Other articles show a Neuro toxic affect:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3753751/

As the others here have said, we need to see the denial from the VA, when you scan to attach it here, please cover your C file, and name, address.

Also we need to see the evidence list...

The award above shows what the veteran did to get this claim awarded.