News for Vets

[Black Owl]

For the 'nam and Persian Gulf vets:

 

· H.R.2926 which would require the VA to provide medical care to Vietnam era and Persian Gulf War veterans who were exposed to herbicides

 

 

BURN PIT TOXIC EMISSIONS Update 10: When epidemiologist Shira Kramer first saw data about some 400 service members who say they were sickened by open-air burn pits in Afghanistan and Iraq, she said she was shocked to see how well their symptoms matched up with symptoms associated with toxic exposure. "I was appalled but not surprised to learn that there were so many serious adverse health effects," she said. "We know open pit burning is very dangerous." Kramer, who has a doctorate in epidemiology and co-authored a textbook about it, was invited by lawyer Elizabeth Burke to research the burn pits to compile evidence for several class-action lawsuits against military contractor KBR. The military typically disposes of waste in burn pits during contingency operations, but KBR took over burn-pit operations for the largest of the pits at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. In a memo dated 20 DEC 06, Air Force Lt. Col. Darrin Curtis, former bioenvironmental flight commander at Balad, said the chemicals to which troops there may have been exposed include: dioxin, the same chemical that made Agent Orange so toxic; benzene, an aircraft fuel known to cause leukemia; arsenic; dichlorofluoromethane, or Freon; carbon monoxide; ethyl benzene; formaldehyde; hydrogen cyanide; nitrogen dioxide; sulfuric acid; and xylene.

 

Kramer said the mix of chemicals, and their combination with particulates such as ash and sand, may have made the problem worse. "You have a toxic brew that is … much more dangerous than individual chemicals alone," she said. "The absorption onto particulate matter then allows these chemicals not only to deeply penetrate into the lungs, but also to have a dwell time in the lungs." Air Force officials say the burn pit at Balad has been cleaned up - the 90,000 water bottles a day that were being burned are now recycled, and hazardous materials are no longer making their way to the pit. But even if the pit burned only wood and paper, the troops would still be at risk, Kramer said, noting that burning wood produces dioxin. "Uncontrolled, open burning of any of these materials represents a hazard. The symptoms can be signs of acute respiratory problems and blood cancers… Troops stationed near burn pits who began coughing and spitting up black stuff - 'plume crud,' they call it - should have served as a warning to military officials. The acute effects are a tip-off that something quite troubling is going on… Military data showing that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cases have risen by 12,000 a year since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began are especially troubling. ..You would not expect to see COPD in a young, healthy population … in this age range," she said. "It's extremely unusual and unexpected." [source: NavyTimes Kelly Kennedy article 13 Jul 09 ++]

 

 

· H.R.1293 sponsored by Ranking member Steve Buyer (R-IN) which increases the amount of money veterans can receive for home improvements and structural alterations from home health services ($6,800 for service connected disabled veterans and $2,000 for non-service connected disabled veterans.

Edited August 1, 2009 by Black Owl

[Renne]

I'm retired U.S.A.F. I was exposed to Dioxins (Agent Orange) during a 5 yr. duty assignment in Panama, (70-75). I have large red patches of skin on my legs that seem to grow slowly month by month. I've had my primary physician exam the inflammation. He determined that it "IS" consistent with his understanding of Dioxin (Agent Orange) exposure. I contacted my local Vet. Rep and was told that in order to file a claim for disability, my symptoms need to exceed 10 percent (minimum) of my total skin area. Great,,,,I guess I'll just have to wait another few months ( ? ) to allow it to expand, measure my total skin area, (I'm 6'1" and 230lb) and when it exceeds the 10% minimum maybe I can apply for care or comp......OOOOH RAAAAAAAAAAAA!

 

Ride Easy,

 

Renne, PGR

[BoomerCPO]

I'm retired U.S.A.F. I was exposed to Dioxins (Agent Orange) during a 5 yr. duty assignment in Panama, (70-75). I have large red patches of skin on my legs that seem to grow slowly month by month. I've had my primary physician exam the inflammation. He determined that it "IS" consistent with his understanding of Dioxin (Agent Orange) exposure. I contacted my local Vet. Rep and was told that in order to file a claim for disability, my symptoms need to exceed 10 percent (minimum) of my total skin area. Great,,,,I guess I'll just have to wait another few months ( ? ) to allow it to expand, measure my total skin area, (I'm 6'1" and 230lb) and when it exceeds the 10% minimum maybe I can apply for care or comp......OOOOH RAAAAAAAAAAAA!

 

Ride Easy,

 

Renne, PGR

 

Cheer up.....When health care is soon socialized in this Country by the dimwits everyone's care will be as bad or worse as the VA health care system is for us Vets.

 

Boomer.....who would eat his gun before giving the VA a crack at him.

[Yammer Dan]

Agent Orange?? I thought it was raining!! Turns EVERYTHING brown!!

 

My excuse one of these days when I've had enough of these Idiots trying to run over me!!

 

 

 

 

 

Yammer Dan - Who agrees with Boomer on this one!!!

[Black Owl]

I'm retired U.S.A.F. I was exposed to Dioxins (Agent Orange) during a 5 yr. duty assignment in Panama, (70-75). I have large red patches of skin on my legs that seem to grow slowly month by month. I've had my primary physician exam the inflammation. He determined that it "IS" consistent with his understanding of Dioxin (Agent Orange) exposure. I contacted my local Vet. Rep and was told that in order to file a claim for disability, my symptoms need to exceed 10 percent (minimum) of my total skin area. Great,,,,I guess I'll just have to wait another few months ( ? ) to allow it to expand, measure my total skin area, (I'm 6'1" and 230lb) and when it exceeds the 10% minimum maybe I can apply for care or comp......OOOOH RAAAAAAAAAAAA!

 

Ride Easy,

 

Renne, PGR

 

Have a buddy that has the same problem. Came back from 'nam with it. He has been pushing the VA, and just last month was given 10% disability.

 

If it were me, I'd just keep pushing them.

[ArticusMedicus]

I'm retired U.S.A.F. I was exposed to Dioxins (Agent Orange) during a 5 yr. duty assignment in Panama, (70-75). I have large red patches of skin on my legs that seem to grow slowly month by month. I've had my primary physician exam the inflammation. He determined that it "IS" consistent with his understanding of Dioxin (Agent Orange) exposure. I contacted my local Vet. Rep and was told that in order to file a claim for disability, my symptoms need to exceed 10 percent (minimum) of my total skin area. Great,,,,I guess I'll just have to wait another few months ( ? ) to allow it to expand, measure my total skin area, (I'm 6'1" and 230lb) and when it exceeds the 10% minimum maybe I can apply for care or comp......OOOOH RAAAAAAAAAAAA!

 

Ride Easy,

 

Renne, PGR

 

I hope I can help you calculate the total body area percentage quicly and easy.

By using the "EMS Rule of Nine" you can do this easily.

 

On an adult, percentages are figured thusly...

 

head=9%

Neck=1%

Arms (each)=9%

Torso (front)=18%

Torso (rear)=18%

Legs (each)=18%

 

So but going from what you decsribed as effecting both legs, I would say you need aprox 1/4 of each leg to be effected to make up the 10% requirerment.

 

With that being said, it is a shame you have to wait to be treated.

Thank you Sir for your service and to ALL of you guys, WELCOME HOME!!! HOOAH!

[Renne]

Thank you for the EMS rule of 9,,, Oh well,,,we'll see how it progresses, I never liked wearing shorts anyhow, especially on my scoot,,,I don't own a Gold Wing.

 

Seriously, Thank you all for the input and yes I plan to pursue.

 

RENNE

[bendtdj]

I too, am a Service Connected Desabled Vet. I am sorry to hear of so many of our protectors having problems at VA Hospitals. The Sioux Falls, SD center has treated me great. Even though I am not considered a combat vet, (served USMC active from 1977 - 1979) I have had no problems there. I have had to overcome some of the regualations from DC, but the staff, from Doctors to custodians, have always treated us vets with the utmost respect and dignity. While I was an in-patient there for an infetion in my knee in 2005, I awoke early one morning, about 3:00 A.M., to the sound of a gurney peing pushed down the hallway. One of the patients had passed away. I was extremely impressed that the staff had placed his remains in a body-bag and had already draped his body with The Flag. I comented about this to the staff and I was told that the Hospital had just started doing this.

 

I hope that other VA hospitals eventually come up to the standards our Vets deserve.

 

Dave