Vietnam Veteran Benefits

Have any of your recently applied for any veterans' benefits due to your prostate cancer connected to Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War?  Were you approved/rejected?

I applied in late 2006 as a Blue Water Vietnam Vet due to a ruling (Haas v. Nicholson on 8/16/06) that reestablished benefits for us, but have subsequently found out the the ruling has been put on indefinite hold.  Oh, well, I have a case number and will be checking from time to time to see if any progress has been made.

 

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Age 59 PSA 2.6 (PSA velocity--quadrupled in 1yr) 

Bilateral nerve-sparing open RRP 6/21/06  Gleason 5

Cancer confined to prostate, post-op PSA's non-detectable

I have also applied for VA benefits, under the Blue Water Navy program.  I too have a case number and letter stating that it's still pending.  For all the time spent sitting just a couple of miles off shore, we should be elligible.  I hope the VA will get it straight soon.  It may be time for some letter writing to congress.

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Age 57 at diagnosis,  PSA 4.7 (up from 3.2 one year ago)

Biopsy November 8, 2006 1 of 10 cores positive 5% LEFT Side Gleason 3+3

Robotic surgery January 19, 2007

Post Surgery Pathology Stage T3a, Gleason 3+4, positive margins and capsular penetration RIGHT Side

Post Surgery PSA:  March 5:  0.01

5 month PSA, June 13, 2007:  0.08

Adjuvant therapy began June 26 with Zoladex injection

Radiation began August 23, ended October 8

First post radiation PSA, December 18, 2007:  0

Thanks TimG,

While the majority of my time was spend only a couple of miles off shore, we still went into DaNang harbor a couple of times to deliver mail that had been given us when out farther.  Let's hope for a good decision - I'll keep checking, and I appreciate the website.

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Age 57 at diagnosis,  PSA 4.7 (up from 3.2 one year ago)

Biopsy November 8, 2006 1 of 10 cores positive 5% LEFT Side Gleason 3+3

Robotic surgery January 19, 2007

Post Surgery Pathology Stage T3a, Gleason 3+4, positive margins and capsular penetration RIGHT Side

Post Surgery PSA:  March 5:  0.01

5 month PSA, June 13, 2007:  0.08

Adjuvant therapy began June 26 with Zoladex injection

Radiation began August 23, ended October 8

First post radiation PSA, December 18, 2007:  0