CLL and the nuclear Navy?

bobhawk52 said:

Fellow D1GGER

I am so very sorry to hear of your loss.  You mentioned your husband received a large dose of radiation while doing a purification changeout.  I believe you are referring to the Barium Hydroxide resin changeout performed at D1G circa 1974.  If so, I was the ELT who provided radiological coverage during the resin changeout.  I too have suffered from cancer.  melanoma, basal cell, and prostate.  

Here is what I wrote in my Notice Of Disagreement about that particular event when the VA denied my radiation claim:

Radiation modeling is being used by the VA to unfairly and unjustly deny veteran radiation exposure disability claims. Models used to calculate a probability of cancer inducement on the general population are not usable to calculate individual cancer probabilities for a radiation exposed individual. Models have no information for individual health or DNA information, and therefore cannot predict individual genetic response to radiation exposure. Models have no information on where, when, or how the individual was exposed. Models have no information on exposure rate, location, or distance from a radiation source. For example, I once provided radiological coverage during a resin change-out operation. When the resin was being discharged, I experienced a “foldover” on my monitoring instrument (an AN-PDR 45, which measured radiation levels from 0 to 500 Roentgens per hour). A “foldover” event occurs when radiation levels are so intense, the radiation being emitted causes the quenching gas inside the radiation detector to go into complete saturation so as to go to full scale, and then fold over to zero. No model can account for incidents such as that. Neither can a model accurately simulate radiation exposure geometry, such as straddling radiation emitting sources, like piping or deal with transitioning (moving) radiation sources.

I hope to hear back from you.  I just found this forum.  If you don't mind, what was your husband's name?  I'm sure he and I knew each other since I was a D1G instructor from February 1972 until September 1974.  Again, I am sorry for your loss and fully understand the problems with the VA and radiation claims.  I am in the process of submitting my appeal to the Board of Veterans appeals.  I believe the "model" used by the VA to determine probable cause is fatally flawed and does not give veterans any benefit of the doubt.  It's a great model for denying claims and saving the government a lot of money, but most radiation exposed veterans are getting the shaft.   

I have sent you a message including my email address.  I would very much like to share Jim's statement as it sounds like you received the radiation at the same time Jim did.  He said he was only allowed to work on it for 10 minutes, and after that time, they checked his badge and determined that he had exceeded the 3rem quarterly limit.  He was then "off site" for the remainder of the quarter.  Because it was at the end of the year, he was back on site within a few weeks.  You had to have known each other, he was also an instructor at that time.  He did refer to it as a "resin changeout".  I am so happy you contacted me.  I can give you a copy of Jim's signed statement.  I am so glad that he dictated it to me before he died.  His wordage was his own, in technical terms.  Also interesting is the fact that the kind of tumor Jim had was so incredibly rare that the only thing that they know for sure causes these types of tumors are previous radiation exposure.  Mostly seen in people that were treated for leukemias in their early years, then many years later, develope a spinal cord tumor.  It was a primary tumor, from the brain stem to the C-7, by the time he died.  The surgeon at Johns Hopkins stated, "this is as bad as it gets".  It was akin to a speck of sand in an oyster, growing slowly and perfectly in the center of the spinal cord for decades before it grew to where he knew he had it.  He never had a good day in the last 3 years of his life.  Excrutiating pain at first and then topped off with paralysis.  He had Brown Sequard syndrome, also.  As if every thing else wasn't hideous enough.  

My husband served on the Simon Bolivar SSBN 641 Gold in the early 80's.  He was found to have a very large tumor on his right kidney in 2011 and had his kidney removed.  He was cleared of any other cancer.  In July 2014, his cancer had come back with a vengence on  his spine.  He had surgery to remove it and was going through physical therapy.  In Sept. 2014, it returned again and took over his spine.  It was removed again except for one small spot on C3.  After the last surgery he lost pretty much all of his movement and feeling in his legs.  He suffered for almost 2 years with a huge whole in is back that went to his spine, that would not heal because of the chemo medication and radiation treatments.  He had filed with the VA prior to him passing and they tried to close it out at his passing.  I was able to keep the case open, they just recently ruled on it and said that his cancer was not caused by serving on a nuclear sub, that ionizing radiation wasn't a contributing factor.  I have now requested an appeal and as some of you probably know being a widow, they don't want to help you out much. 

God Bless you all!

ssnwidow said:

My husband was SSN

My husband was an instructor at the D1G for 2.5 years and was on a nuclear submarine after that.  It was an older skate class submarine, Sargo.  He attributed his brain tumor to a one time large dose (exceeded 3rem in 10 minutes) while doing a purification change out.  I have a claim in the VA, as did he, but he died before it was determined.  He had a brain tumor in his spine, cervical.  They said it was extremely rare, and it left him paralyzed for the last year of his life.  Prior to the paralyzation, he was in excrutiating pain for 3 years.  When we finally figured out it was more than likely from all his radiation exposure, all we got were blank looks.  He told me before we got married that he "will never live to be an old man, between the radiation and the asbestos, I will die of cancer".  He died a year ago at the age of 62.  He was vibrant and healthy, never sick.  He served in the Navy from 1971-1977.  I wish someone would look into Navy Submarine veterans and all classes of cancer.  

Sorry for your loss. My husband served on a Nuclear Sub from 1981-1985.  He too passed with cancer to his kidney that went to his spine.  He had filed a claim with the VA before he passed but it too was not determined before he passed.  He was 52 years old and was also paralyzed from the tumor on his spine.  By the time we found the cancer on his Kidney, it was the size of a half gallon jug.  He wasn't one to go to the doctor.  His claim was denied and is now in appeal status.  It is hard to get anything done with the VA.  I feel like I get the run around with them. 

bobhawk52 said:

Fellow D1GGER

I am so very sorry to hear of your loss.  You mentioned your husband received a large dose of radiation while doing a purification changeout.  I believe you are referring to the Barium Hydroxide resin changeout performed at D1G circa 1974.  If so, I was the ELT who provided radiological coverage during the resin changeout.  I too have suffered from cancer.  melanoma, basal cell, and prostate.  

Here is what I wrote in my Notice Of Disagreement about that particular event when the VA denied my radiation claim:

Radiation modeling is being used by the VA to unfairly and unjustly deny veteran radiation exposure disability claims. Models used to calculate a probability of cancer inducement on the general population are not usable to calculate individual cancer probabilities for a radiation exposed individual. Models have no information for individual health or DNA information, and therefore cannot predict individual genetic response to radiation exposure. Models have no information on where, when, or how the individual was exposed. Models have no information on exposure rate, location, or distance from a radiation source. For example, I once provided radiological coverage during a resin change-out operation. When the resin was being discharged, I experienced a “foldover” on my monitoring instrument (an AN-PDR 45, which measured radiation levels from 0 to 500 Roentgens per hour). A “foldover” event occurs when radiation levels are so intense, the radiation being emitted causes the quenching gas inside the radiation detector to go into complete saturation so as to go to full scale, and then fold over to zero. No model can account for incidents such as that. Neither can a model accurately simulate radiation exposure geometry, such as straddling radiation emitting sources, like piping or deal with transitioning (moving) radiation sources.

I hope to hear back from you.  I just found this forum.  If you don't mind, what was your husband's name?  I'm sure he and I knew each other since I was a D1G instructor from February 1972 until September 1974.  Again, I am sorry for your loss and fully understand the problems with the VA and radiation claims.  I am in the process of submitting my appeal to the Board of Veterans appeals.  I believe the "model" used by the VA to determine probable cause is fatally flawed and does not give veterans any benefit of the doubt.  It's a great model for denying claims and saving the government a lot of money, but most radiation exposed veterans are getting the shaft.   

Bob:

I too am currently fighting the VA as well as stage 4 non hodgkins lymphoma.  I would love to talk to you about your battle with the VA and compare notes.  I have a hearing date of 11 July.  Please give me a call 334 782-6534 of email me Oldhickory1956@yahoo.com

Thanks in advance

Bryan