ao Glioblastoma is on the presumptive list for Burn Pit Vets but not included on the presumptive list for Vietnam Vets?

[GiselleEnnis]

I am the widow of a Vietnam vet who passed away from Glioblastoma in 2014. I was denied DIC as glioblastoma is not service connected or on the presumptive list for Vietnam Vets. I appealed to BVA, had my hearing before a VLJ on 06/15/2021 and just received notice that  "The Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) has received your Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims file, and your appeal has been docketed". TCDD was a chemical found in Agent Orange exposure as well as Burn Pits exposure. Exposure to chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs) (75 chemicals) occurs mainly from eating food that contains the chemicals. One chemical in this group, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin or 2,3,7,8-TCDD, has been shown to be very toxic. The fact sheet on TCDD can be found on the VA website, https://www.publichealth.va.gov/.../agentorange/basics.asp.TCDD is the most potent of all dioxins and is one of the chemicals that satisfy the definition of herbicide agent for the purpose of presumptive service connection for herbicide-related diseases. TCDD is also produced as an unintentional by-product of incomplete combustion of municipal and industrial wastes, including fossil fuels, in other words, burn pits. There is absolutely no argument as to why GBM cannot be added to the presumptive list for Vietnam Vets?

[GBArmy]

Hi Giselle welcome to Hadit. I understand your frustration. All the "presumptive" diseases that are on the VA's list have been evaluated after years of analysis by an independent federal agency (Academy of Sciences) They recommended adding hypertension in 2014, but it has been avoided by the VA until directed by Congress in the PACT Act of 2022. Your cancer is not presumptive; maybe it should be, but don't argue that point as it isn't. You need an independant IMO or nexus letter from a specialist who can point to specific studies. medical journals, studies that what your husband died from was caused by that dioxin. I don't know which docket you are on, but if you don't have this nexus as part of your evidence, you need to switch over to the evidence lane and get it. Hopefully, you have legal representation to help you with the process. Timing of submitting the new evidence is critical and make sure your lawyer is knowledgeable.