Remains denied .. Need help !

[tmweb]

Well , we got the letter the other day and my husband was denied on pineal gland cystic tumor as to include as due to contaminated water.

We are very disappointed, to say the least.
The VA examiner stated in their opinion that it is less likely as not (less that 50/50 probability) that any diagnosed brain tumor was incurred or aggravated as a result of the Veterans active duty service, or menifested to a degree of at least 10 percent within one year of separation from service in february 1982

Also according to medical literature there is no know cause of pineal brain cyst. These are benign (non-cancerous) fluid-filled sacs located in the region of the brain that contains the pinal gland.
and it gose on to say that headacks started in 1999 and pineal cyst was diagnosed and removed in 2000. thus tumor occurred 17 years after military discharge.
Althought he still suffers from post surgery , scar damage among other things and the medication he takes scare me , because of the long term effect that could happen .

Dose any one have something to debut these statement. Like how long dose it take for a tumor to show up after exposer to chemicals ? and of course anything else that might help. I have search the web for answers to these question.
I quess we may be waiting another 3 to 6 years
Thank for any help. Teresa and Danny

I don't know but we are so up set , I guess we may have to get a lawyer. don't know what else to do.

[Doc]

This my second attemp too assist , the first one was appeartly block please e-mail me at medwards58@ bellsouth.net ,and I 'll get back to you asap just rememeber this they do monitor this site ...

[Mpartain]

Tmweb,

Did you have your treating doctor write a Nexus letter? If so, can you provide us a copy (with all personal info blacked out). Have you also done any research to connect this condition to TCE, PCE, Benzene and Vinyl Chloride exposure? While the VA is no denying we were exposed, they are making the veteran prove that their exposures were the cause of their disease...sometimes that can be a tough nut to crack. The important thing is to keep pressing for more information to challenge them with for future appeals. DO NOT GIVE UP.

Mike Partain

[nanebrown]

Tmweb,
Have you also done any research to connect this condition to TCE, PCE, Benzene and Vinyl Chloride exposure?
Mike Partain

Here is something to start with.....
I googled "Pineal gland cyst and vinyl chloride" and found this....

http://www.brain-surgery.com/benign-brain-tumors/the-facts-and-facets-of-benign-brain-tumours/
The exact reasons as to why a benign brain tumour develops are unknown. However research has established that various probable reasons could be genetic history, exposure to radiation or continuous contact with hazardous chemicals like vinyl chloride, formaldehyde and the like.

You will need to see if the area you lived and worked during your time at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with vinyl chloride.

Check out the other toxic chemicals against your medical condition too. Try to find data to make the connection and get a good Nexus letter. All of this will help to make your claim.
Good luck,
Nancy

[bedworth53]

tmweb,
I am a Camp Lejeune veteran with a brain tumor. There are numerous epidemiological studies that link vinyl chloride to brain tumors. If you were in the Hadnot Point Area you were exposed to vinyl chloride and the evidence for that is in Appendix C of the ATSDT Water Modeling Report. Also, I seem to recall that a mix of benzene, TCE and PCE can form vinyl chloride. You may have to do some research on the chemistry of the cocktail of chemicals to verify this. If you can find the research and get a doctor to provide a nexus letter for your appeal then the VA will have a hard time denying your appeal.
Email me directly at bedworth53@gmail.com if you need further assistance.
Dave

[tmweb]

Tmweb,

Did you have your treating doctor write a Nexus letter? If so, can you provide us a copy (with all personal info blacked out). Have you also done any research to connect this condition to TCE, PCE, Benzene and Vinyl Chloride exposure? While the VA is no denying we were exposed, they are making the veteran prove that their exposures were the cause of their disease...sometimes that can be a tough nut to crack. The important thing is to keep pressing for more information to challenge them with for future appeals. DO NOT GIVE UP.

Mike Partain

No he has not had a nexus letter done.I realize that we will have to try to get his doctor to write a nexus letter. at the time of submitting his claim, we did not realize that it would be so important.
I have search with many different terms and did not come up with much that would connect this type of benign tumor with the chemicals. My husband was at TT and work at court house bay the whole time he was there.
I'm still searching , and I'm already coming up with somethings .

Thanks for the help. Teresa

[tmweb]

This my second attemp too assist , the first one was appeartly block please e-mail me at medwards58@ bellsouth.net ,and I 'll get back to you asap just rememeber this they do monitor this site ...

I will be emailing you soon. I guess I forgot to change my email address awhile back .

[tmweb]

Tmweb,
Have you also done any research to connect this condition to TCE, PCE, Benzene and Vinyl Chloride exposure?
Mike Partain

Here is something to start with.....
I googled "Pineal gland cyst and vinyl chloride" and found this....

http://www.brain-surgery.com/benign-brain-tumors/the-facts-and-facets-of-benign-brain-tumours/
The exact reasons as to why a benign brain tumour develops are unknown. However research has established that various probable reasons could be genetic history, exposure to radiation or continuous contact with hazardous chemicals like vinyl chloride, formaldehyde and the like.

You will need to see if the area you lived and worked during your time at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with vinyl chloride.

Check out the other toxic chemicals against your medical condition too. Try to find data to make the connection and get a good Nexus letter. All of this will help to make your claim.
Good luck,
Nancy

Thanks Nancy for the help, I've come up with something sort of like this. but was not sure if it would be something that would help or not .
my husbands VSO thought he had a good case, that he was there and he was exposed and he had a brain tumor . so he did not say nothing about a nexus letter.

Thank you and all for your help.
Teresa

[tmweb]

tmweb,
I am a Camp Lejeune veteran with a brain tumor. There are numerous epidemiological studies that link vinyl chloride to brain tumors. If you were in the Hadnot Point Area you were exposed to vinyl chloride and the evidence for that is in Appendix C of the ATSDT Water Modeling Report. Also, I seem to recall that a mix of benzene, TCE and PCE can form vinyl chloride. You may have to do some research on the chemistry of the cocktail of chemicals to verify this. If you can find the research and get a doctor to provide a nexus letter for your appeal then the VA will have a hard time denying your appeal.
Email me directly at bedworth53@gmail.com if you need further assistance.
Dave

Not sure if he was at Hadnot Point, but I know he was at TT house base and he worked at Court house bay and he was there the whole time he was in service. which was 3 years and some months . almost his 4 years. minus- boot camp.

Thank you for your help and everyone else's

Teresa

[nanebrown]

No he has not had a nexus letter done.I realize that we will have to try to get his doctor to write a nexus letter. at the time of submitting his claim, we did not realize that it would be so important.
Thanks for the help. Teresa

Here are two sites which explain the Nexus letter and give an example to follow.
I have been told to keep it simple, less is more.
http://veteransinfo.tripod.com/nexus2.pdf
http://www.veteranscorner.org/thenexusletter.htm

To make it easier for my busy primary care provider to write my letter, I gave him the EXAMPLE and also all of the information he would need to write my letter. There is a copy of my letter in the above Disability Awards - Helping others section. The wording "more likely than not" or something similar showing a greater than 50% probability (that the toxic water exposure caused the medical condition) is what is needed to win your appeal. It is explained more in detail in the above links.
Nancy