‘FLEXIBLE’ 

 

More VA BS and MS for a 1st cav soldier

 

Hey there.

 

Well we had another incident with the VA.....

 

I was putting XXXX's paperwork from the VA away from his recent discharge and noticed that the resident had made an entry on his discharge instructions that XXXX was 'once a smoker, but had quit and he was to maintain nonsmoking status.'

 

This statement is not true, but XXXX managed to over-react to it.  He was raised to believe that smoking or drinking of any kind is a sin....to make matters worse, he signed the statement without reading it.  

 

I was more upset that instructions were left that I am his legal guardian and power of attorney and yet, he was the person giving legal consent and signing papers. 

 

I also talked with our county veteran's rep and told him of his entire experience.  I asked the question about any reason the VA might not want him given a diagnosis other than PTSD and carpal tunnel syndrome especially concerning MS. 

 

This of course, as veterans and their families are learning more and more of the VA, is nothing but insurance adjusters hedging their bets on the "follow on support" for the family.  I believe the rule is you must be PTSD Permanent and Final for at least 10 years before the wife (family) gets the 1/2 follow on.

 

As you will see in the next paragraph they have known about this MS (what they called degenerating neurological disease) for a number of years.  In fact, I found mention of it in 1984 when they said it did not apply because their exposure index was wrong.  Not going to argue that here but believe me that is total government BS.  In fact, I am seeing more and more reference to something called motor neuron disorders and brain atrophy.  Brain atrophy except cerebellum is closely associated with physical disability and clinical course in MS patients, including cognitive deficits.  All of this is being covered up by our wonderful veteran friendly government.  MS and similar has more wide variety of symptoms than any two disorders.

 

Including that in Gulf War syndrome it seems they are finding both cerebellar atrophy and cerebral brain atrophy.  Some of this is under Toxic/Metabolic Disorders.  Any Veteran experiencing epilepsy and seizure activity it is probably a good bet this had better be looked at.  Vietnam or Gulf War.

 

Now remember the VA doctors statement this nurse recanted to us that the only known cause of atrophy is old age.  Horse Hockey!

 

The county veteran's rep laughed and said the VA is routinely discharging patients with diagnoses that are minimized.  He also said he had read a study lately that was done by the air force examining length of exposure in Vietnam with health problems.  The major differences between that study and the Ranch Hand Studies are; that those in country longer report higher levels of melanoma and MS than those in country for shorter durations or not at all in country.

 

Anybody reading this laughing at that statement above, "the VA is minimizing diagnoses."

 

As this nurse said before the VA is playing a stalling game.  Fifteen minute appointments every 6 months with no real diagnosis.   Score is 35 to 0 and the are trying to run the clock out.

 

In fact I would say and concluded in the Gulf War veterans testing results will not be the same as the standard desk reference Manuel used in medicine.  Testing will show a confirmation of one part of one disorder and the one part of another disorder.  What is going on is undocumented in the world of medicine and indeed very complex.

 

You see the government has denied most of our toxic chemical diseases and disorders (syndromes), even though some showed a 50% increase or more in comparison of the delta of the two study groups in more than one study.  Not hardly what you would call insignificant!  Because they did not met some bogus linear response to only dioxin they have boo hoo'd all of these.  Yet, when they find a linear correlation to time in country, as mentioned above, it all of sudden does not mean anything.   Yet, the time in country directly relates to a total dose or body threshold.  Remember there are three concerns with any toxic chemical, toxin, or radiation.

 

1.  Total Dose

2.  Dose Rate

3.  Toxic Chemicals and Toxins = combinations that may produce something that the one alone cannot, which is synergy.  Producing a complex variety of basically autoimme or connective tissue type disorders that may overlap and not fit into a single category of disorder.  Two symptoms from one disorder and three from another...etc.  This is very representative of the Gulf War Syndrome.   Remember this is the first and only time in history that so many were exposed to so many different types of toxic chemicals for such a long period of time.  Not just for a Sunday afternoon spray in the home garden.

 

In the news yesterday was the passing of Colonel David Hackworth from bladder cancer, "Rest in Peace."   Many veterans seemed to be developing this form of cancer with many in the Veterans rank and some scientific evidence that this is associated to Agent Blue.

 

Of course every government study was and is limited to just dioxin not even Agent Orange as a herbicide.  Damn convenient for the government but not hardly truthful nor even realistic.

 

Again, that study is for those that were exposed by skin, not the guys in the field. 

 

Again, convenient for the government but unfortunately science does not work that way. 

 

Unless you are the federal government rewriting medical history to cover up total moronic government mistakes.

 

And, I happened to be at Barnes and Noble Book store while XXXX shopped next door at the lumber yard and who happened to walk in the door for a book signing, but Sen. Lugar from Indiana.  XXXX lined right up and aired his VA grievances right then.  Lugar's aide wrote everything down and gave us his email number.  Needless to say, I will be spelling out what is going on with the VA and giving input on how it needs to be corrected.

 

I know that I have charged some serious things..... in competency, perhaps fraud and medical malpractice with him, but I think we will be getting somewhere now. I assure you veterans, I will not stop thinking of you and working on your best behalf, even if it means sacrificing myself or my career to do it.

 

XXXXXX

 

PS, I think XXXX was right to complain loudly about this mistaken entry on his patient record.  It is mistakes like that which could very well shoot down a potential claim in the future.  They have done this before to him....... on discharge at Oakland, XXXX was brought in, in the middle of the night with no sleep, 'walked thru' a discharge physical and signed a statement that all his systems were in working order. He says he does not recall a Chest X-ray but there is one on file and he says he does not recall stripping for the walk thru.  He does not remember anyone listening to his chest or anything close to a physical that you would get on the outside.  Despite being shaky and covered with jungle rot, he was told he was 'fine' and signed the paper without realizing the ramifications.

 

Years later, that signature could mean the difference between a claim and no claim.  They sure are sneaky bastards

 

Love XXXXXX 

 

I thank this fighter for sending this info to me and all Veterans should be fighting as tenacious as this lady is in asking the questions and demanding an answer, a real answer.  Not some answer that by the time the politician gets done you have no idea what the original question was to begin with.

 

Veterans made and keep this nation what it is, not pinhead lying politicians! 

 

Best to all.

 

Kelley