M14 Forum

Russell40 · June 19th, 2011, 02:44 AM

To make a long story short, I've had breathing problems since serving in Iraq. I can no longer run or perform physical activities whithout being short of breath. Over the years, this has become worse and I dont smoke.
I went to the VA Hospital in Dallas this past week and spoke to a nice lady (really she was) in Comp and Pension. I brought the topic up and she informed me that she was seeing alot of returning vets with this problem but it's not really talked about.
I was directed to take a pulmanary (cant spell either) test and I did. I failed that big time. The results indicated that I was a late phase two heavy smoker (again I dont smoke). The guy giving me the test advised me that there was nothing they could do to improve my breathing after I had a bad reaction to their inhalers.
When I went back to sit in the hall to wait, I met a 30ish female who was there for lung issues. She advised me that since she had served in Iraq, she to could not breath properly.
Does anyone else here have these problems and if so. what are you being told?
Thanks!

82nd ABN · June 19th, 2011, 04:48 AM

I see this come up in the DAV magazine from time to time. You may give your regional office a call for further information. There was a article regarding the open air burn pits and the effect it had on the troops. Here is something I found on the net. Again, I strongly urge you to get hold of the regional DAV and see if they can help.

I have three appointments (OMT, PT and optamology) next Friday at the local VA hospital, I'll see if I can come up with any information for you.

http://www.hadit.com/forums/index.ph...se-since-2001/

Swamp Rat · June 19th, 2011, 06:56 AM

Same here. The VA after their tests denied that I had any pulmonary issues, but I went to get two separate opinions from two different doctors who said I had asthma/COPD.

CAVman · June 19th, 2011, 06:56 AM

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=123187642

I know I have seen other more recent stories also...

Maybe spend an hour or two doing a good internet search...

Good Luck!

CAVman in WYoming

8654Maine · June 19th, 2011, 04:21 PM

Folks, if you are having any breathing issues, make sure you get a pulmonary functions test.

It can give you facts about your breathing and whether you have obstructive or restrictive lung disease.

If you can do it thru the VA system, great.

If not, I strongly encourage getting a pulmonary evaluation through civilian channels.

As for the doc telling you "there is nothing" to be done...bunk.

There are many ways to help with folks who may have COPD/Emphysema or asthma.

RandyB45 · June 19th, 2011, 04:46 PM

All good advice. Current studies are beginning to show it's dioxin from the plastics that are being burned. If that rings any bells, it's the ingredient in Agent Orange that caused the problems in VN vets.

Document, document, document. Date stamped pics, buddy statements, etc.

I suspect this will be our generation's Big Issue.

The VA can be a pain, but documentation is key. Took me two years but it finally got put to bed last week, and I had so much paper I had to make two trips to the regional office.

Persistence and a good VSO.

bd111 · June 19th, 2011, 05:31 PM

I'm no doctor but I know there are occasional inhaler products for people with asthma, COPD, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. My Dad had one in later years (he smoked cigarettes about 50 years). It's not something you suck on all the time, maybe once a day. The therapeutic doesn't cure anything, just opens the air passages.

You guys (and gals) have been exposed to so many pollutants both in Desert Storm ('91) and the long war the VA doesn't seem to be able to decide where to begin. If it's of any interest, there's a case called Vets for Common Sense v. Shinseki that was handed down May 10, 2011 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, mainly focused on PTSD and mental health, but its logic is equally applicable to VA services for all service-connected disabilities for which the VA has delayed, deferred, and failed to deliver the medical benefits guaranteed by federal law to all eligibles returning from the current conflicts. In so many words the court ordered the VA to step up to the plate for the entire class without further excuses. The VA is capable of acquiring and culling relevant data from, for example, the government's vast archives of public health information the EPA uses to write pollution-control regulations for operators of refineries, chemical plants, power plants, petrochemical storage facilities, waste processors, industrial plants, and incinerators. Hell, most of it's probably on file or electronically accessible via the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, since our State generates more pollutants than any other.

I know it's your preference for the VA to step up to the plate and honor your contract and the law. OTOH, at the rate the walls are closing in on the VA, and depending on how you're feeling, there is such a thing as making your own arrangements for private-sector medical attention and sending VA the bill. I think you're supposed to ask VA for authority to do that before you do it - you can check the regulations, but you know you can't be the only Vet between this rock and a hard place. Good luck. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

CAVman · June 19th, 2011, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullet

Dont blame Iraq, you most likley would have had breathing problems regardless, what a scam.

Did You READ the Link I Posted ?

CAVman in WYoming

CAVman · June 19th, 2011, 06:49 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/20/us/20lungs.html?_r=1

CAVman in WYoming

spy 2551 · June 19th, 2011, 06:56 PM

Every Month I get a letter saying come to the VA In Ohio that my Unit was exposed to
(DU) Depleated uranium , The other reads issues with serin.
i figured that If it damaged me There is nothing i can do.
I f there is some benifit give it to some guy that lost an eye or arm.
JD that issue of no wind would piss me off to as I know your drive to train or run. I feel for your issue,
Semper Fi 5/10 2nd Mar div

I cant spell either
but I can Shoot Good

82nd ABN · June 19th, 2011, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spy 2551

Every Month I get a letter saying come to the VA In Ohio that my Unit was exposed to
(DU) Depleated uranium , The other reads issues with serin.
i figured that If it damaged me There is nothing i can do.
I f there is some benifit give it to some guy that lost an eye or arm.
JD that issue of no wind would piss me off to as I know your drive to train or run. I feel for your issue,
Semper Fi 5/10 2nd Mar div

I cant spell either
but I can Shoot Good

Spy I am not one to tell you what to do but if you were exposed I would get checked out. I know how you feel about passing up on a benefit for the guy next to you with missing limbs and such but from one vet to another regardless of our past differences, please get checked out. I know this is going to sound stupid but the VA hospitals budget is based on how many people they see each year. I get letters in the mail asking me to come down for a simple flue shot. Its strength in numbers thing. If we don't go the budget gets smaller year to year. I am not sure but I would imagine this will lead to program cuts and things of that nature. Lots of people don't have to much faith in the VA system, possibly based on years gone by track records. After I got hurt in the early 90's I have been going and going and going. Last year I went to the emergency room and was only charged $50. Every vet should be heading down to the local clinic or hospital to at least register. From time to time I give back by donating what I can to the DAV and push old warhorses around in there wheelchairs at the hospital. It fulfills a need I have to give back and help those that have come before and after me that re less fortunate. Spy do me a big favor and take the time out and go. I know you are probably going in twelve directions at one time with a two full time gigs. If you were exposed you need to start now while we are young. I push many VN vets around the hospital that were exposed to agnate orange and were to dam stubborn or proud or in denial, for whatever reason some waited to long and are on there last leg. So once again, I urge all of you who served to get registered at the hospital regardless of weather or not you have a service connected disability. Its seems like it was yesterday for me but it was 20 years ago since I got out and I have no complaints about the VA health system. Years ago it was a little harsh but I have seen vast improvements in the 20 years that I have been going. Its your right to go Spy, they will still take care of the other vets too.

Russell40 · June 20th, 2011, 08:05 AM

I was not in an area with large burn pits. However, after the Talil Air Base was taken, my platoon was assigned to guarding a huge bunker complex several miles away that had been bombed by US air assets.
This bunker (munitions) had probably 100 or more bunkers that went several stories under ground. Many of these had been hit leaving thousands of rounds of enexploded ordnance and other debirs laying on the ground. At night, the locals would try to and did infiltrate the complex to take munitions to make IED's.
I and several others fired upon and captured several Iraqi's on night. The Air Force had a dog tracking team in the area and broght the dogs out to help track those who had escaped.
When the dog teams arrived on scene, they refused to allow the dogs on the ground stating that the gound was "to hot" to allow the dogs out (were not speaking of actual heat). They said that they did not want to expose the dogs to what was in the sand.
Just several weeks earlier, while manning and guarding a radio relay site, our M8 chemical alarms activated. We were several miles south of this complex and had no idea that the complex was being bombed that night.
Before we could don our MOP gear, we could smell an odor like burned battery acid. If you have ever had a battery over heat and explode in your vehicle, then you know what it smells like.
One other incident that I can recall was when another soldier got some water on his arm near the complex in an old building. The water caused his arm to burn and blister to the point that he had to be evacuated. We were then ordered to never approach those buildings again.
The complex is located between the Talill Air Base (Iraqi) and Nassaria.
I really have nothing good to say about our government. When returning home and while in Germany, I and others were told that we NEVER were exposed to anything dangerous (DU or other wise). That was a load of crap, that stuff was every where. It's been deny, deny,deny....

Swamp Rat · June 20th, 2011, 05:32 PM

Russell, I wasn't in an area with burn pits either, but we had the leadership more concerned with uniformity and appearance than protecting their troops and were not allowed to wear shemeghs or anything else to cover our faces. Go figure.

Hey bullet: Never had breathing issues until I was in Iraq.

CPTKILLER · June 20th, 2011, 06:12 PM

Persistence is the key. I'm working on several VA issues. The problem os that their review process is quite lengthy. Good luck with this.

When I was in the Army, we were told that LAW's were tank killers. During the Easter Invasion in 1972, I was given the mission of defending the south side of Danang against a NVA mechanized regiment. I got 75 LAW's to do the job. They never showed & now it's just a war story. Later we found that when LAW's were used by the IDF against Egyptian tanks, they didn't work well. This led to replacement of the LAW.

The lesson for me was to trust nothing unless you see it and know that it works. The Agent Orange issue was my war's problem. Do talk with your county VA office. They are a state agency. Like the VA, some are good and others are useless (like Galveston County) and others are great like the office in Abilene.

Stay on top of this, you "might" get help based on various studies ongoing by the military medical researchers. Take care bro, I wish you the nest of luck with this.

82nd ABN · June 20th, 2011, 10:31 PM

Dam people I missed that remark all together concentrating on the real issue. Russell40 ignore it please! As you are all aware, I have been know to blow my cool on the forum, it just aint worth it brother. Don't let it get your pressure up. There are more people here trying to help you so look at the positive aspects of the thread. Stay focused and get looked at and well again. Its not worth the aggravation. Let me do it for you!

Bullet you got some nutsack making a statement like that. Respiratory issues are well documented with vets coming home from the WAR as far back as our first dance in the desert in the early 90's. Im sorry but you cant say stuff like that and expect to skate away without getting your tail chomped at a bit. We respect you right to an opinion but after making a statement like that I hope you find it in your heart to refrain form any further comments that will no doubt draw more unwanted attention to yourself and do nothing but upset a man simply reaching out looking for help from his fellow vets. You should be thanking him for what he did over there. he may have a serious problem and yes he did it for all of us not just his brothers to the left and right. He took an oath and was willing to give his life to uphold his end of the bargain no questions asked. A little respect is warranted here not derogatory statements. Someone quote him the blank check thing I see around from time to time please lets not let this go to far out of control now gents, think of russell40 not revenge.

Please bullet, tell me I am totally misunderstanding your post! If so I apologize.