US Navy Veterans w Prostate Cancer
I am a 68 yr old prostate cancer survivor - 12 years this coming fall. Life is precious and the recovery from prostectomy is rough - but better days lie ahead.
Specifically, I am looking for other Navy Veterans who may have been successful in getting a disability from the VA. I have all of my materials ready, but cannot find a doctor that will write the nexus letter to tie the prostate cancer to military conditions / exposure.
@USNMike - I will ask my business partner what he knows. He is also former Navy and was treated surgically several years ago for prostate cancer. As an officer on a nuclear sub so not sure what if any exposure he may have had there or in port - I will reach back out to you in a few days IF he has any information or insights. Dennis(ProstateCancer.net TEAM)
Thank you very much Dennis - appreciate the help!
I'm a bit older than you and have been getting VA Benefits (payback) for prostate cancer attributed to my USN service (1964-6😎. If you served on a ship and were within the 12nm zone of VN (btwn 1962 and 1975) your PCa is presumptive to Agent Orange (AO) and you don't have to submit anything but your diagnosis, deck logs from your ship showing your actual location within that zone of VN and that's pretty much it. The actual key to getting "payback" is not overloading the VBA with BS. Get a diagnosis and deck logs if you served in VN and you have an excellent chance of collecting. Plus, it would help you if you submitted a claim using a VSO (Veteran's Service Officer) - but it's not a requirement. As an aside, I know of USN Vets with PCa who have collected "payback" for severe exposure to asbestos during service, but that one is not presumptive and needs additional evidence. Mind you, submitting your evidence alone isn't the only thing(s) you'll need. The VBA will also require you submit to a Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination - that they'll schedule for you - before any award is made. Good luck. Remember nothing is automatic or quick with the VA. thank you, I wasn’t deployed to VN, but was heavily exposed to asbestos as a MM. I will work with a VSO as you suggest and try to remain patient! God bless. I was also an MM and literally ate asbestos when we were in dry dock when I first went aboard. Chances are you have numerous cases to cite where asbestos caused PCa to support your claim, but understand that the VA doesn’t consider those cases as precedent setting. Each case is considered on its own merits. In lieu of a DBQ you might type out a statement in support of your assertion how your exposure to asbestos caused your PCa and ask your surgeon if he’d endorse it. It’s Nexus letter-ish and it’s been known to work.
Good advice, thank you I will do that!
