Operation Hardihood: Vietnam 1966, A Co. 1st 503rd, 173rd Abn Bde. Severely wounded, enemy hand grenades. Received blood transfussions at Military Hospital Long Bien. All innoculations were given by jet gun. Two tours. Also assisted in carrying for the wounded came into great contact with blood.

fbjfoster@comcast.net

i am sufring in vcv and genotype is 3b if any doctor pls help . thanks to all

zahidsiq@hotmail.com

I enlisted in the military in July of 1978, they were still using the air injection gun. I was stationed in kaiserslautern germany from October78thru October81 never used needles. was treated for drug and alcohol abuse ' hash and refer and a lot of drinking had my ear peirced while in Germany.had multiple sex partners girls of different races un protected sex.found out in 01 that i had the hep c virus stage 3-4. my appeal is still sitting on the desk in waco, i waas told that if they granted everyone compensation for hep c, that it would open the flood gates and they can not afford that, this is the VA, stand point.

wwetbrooks@austin.rr.com

I was sationed in West Germany,Hielbron,237th eng bat,coA, from 1973- 1976. We had formation every mourning while we were at our barrcks. After mourning fomation we were given, "details". One of those details was "policeing" the area behind our barracks. we were ordered to pick up everything. We were never given any precautions about anything, as I recall one of the comon phazees used by our NCO.s was"getelman all I want to see are assholes and elbows". one of the most common items we found where uncovered syringe needles. we picked up a lot of them. It would not be uncomon for each of us to have handfuls of them, and it was often common for us to get stuck numerous times. We all had some idea where they were comming from, the heroin addicts would just through them out the windows of the barracks,not wanting them to be found in their rooms. I was never told by anyone that I could contracked an infectious deasese by getting stuck by these nedles. we were never given any precations at all! I have had HCV ever since there was a test to find the HCV virus ,and long before that I had known I had some form of chronic liver deaseas, the early 80s. Now I firmly believe I contrated the HCV virus while serving over in Europe. I shoud have known that by picking up those needles increased the odds that I could possibley get a virus like HCV. I was only 18 and had never experinced that sort of widespread drug abuse. Believe me when I say that drug abuse was widespread. I also believe the military knew of this problem, I'm pretty sure they did. as I look back now I also believe the military did the best that they could have done; however I am also sure someone knew of the dangers of picking up these needles, and I believe we should have had some sort of protection when we were ordered to perform this detail

dogedward@comcast.net

I was in the army Nov. 25 1966-69. I was given a air injector shot for overseas. I came down with serum Hep C. At that time their was no clasifacation for the viral infection. 40 years later i went to the VA and they told me that my enzime count was low. I insisted on a scan of he liver and also a biopsy. This showed that i was in the 2nd stage of Hep. C. I had a mental disorder and the psych. felt that the treatment would agravate the mental problem. I was insistent. The liver doctor started me with pegasis interferon for 6 months and ribaflavin which is vitamin b3. My Hep c has gone away and i'm in complete remission. This also depends on your genotype. Mine has a 80% sucess rate. I have 3 more sessions. They give Interferon up to a year. their our four stages to this disease. enlarged liver, fatty liver, shroses of the liver, cancer of te liver and death. The va pays 10 % service connection. what a joke....Feel free to contact me. I have alot of tricks up my sleeve. Arnold G.

ljh81636@aol.com

My husband recently died from liver cancer. While in Vietnam he was exposed to agent orange and contracted hepitis C, both fore runners of the liver cancer. The VA denied the claim as he also tried iv drugs while in Vietnam so that's a done deal. Anyone out there that contracted hep c in basic training at Fort Bragg in 1970 from no safe practice during induction exams? ( dental, air guns, etc). I am also looking for gene types for connection. There are numerous medical reports that liver cancer is a resultant of exposure to agent orange. Anyone else have luck with this type of claim? The VA at some point MUST recognize the relationship between the two and vets must be able to receive compensation. I'm looking for statistics to prove. If anyone has started the research, I"ll help otherwise will try to start this for everyone to benefit. Please email me Janet

janet17ervin2003@yahoo.com

Started my claim in 1994 all wrong.Had HBV in Thailand in 71. Tracked those records down from a civilian hospital ( we were at a O/L at the end of nowhere.) Came down with skin disease(pct) . Doc says Agent O or hep. Showed proof of disease in service and current diagnosis of PCT. Good to go? no! VA says I was never in RVN. I went there TDY to interview for Project 404 (Laos- interpreter). Got shot in the leg- rotten transfusion at a USAID hospital upcountry. All my records are scrubbed from there. Sheepdipped is the term- no dogtags, no ID no uniforms.Appealed and lost in 95 based on no RVN and PCT not occuring within presumptive 1 year window of boots on ground. RO never looked at PCT secondary to HBV. Fast forward to 2007. Diagnosed with HCV in late 95. Doc says I got it same time as HBV/transfusion. Found set of my orders for TDY to Tan Son Nhut RVN Dec06. Find out my liver is Stage 3 level 3 3/4 fibrosis 2/07 Reopened my claim 2/07 . They finally give me 10% for tinnitis but deny the PCT because I don't have current diagosis! Have been waiting since july 07 for C&P on HCV and filed NOD on PCT. However Mil. Order of Purple Heart ran this up the Agent Orange flagpole again instead of secondary to Chronic residuals of Hep. B&C. I've decided to become a little bit more involved in it this time out. I think there was a CUE in the 94 decision and appeal. I've looked at numerous decisions on IRIS board of appeals. VA knows that PCT is a liver disfunction and they had all the info on my hbv yet they didn't give me any exams and ruled only on the Agent O nonexposure. Hopefully VA will recognize some day that my claim has merit.God I wish I had known how to look all this stuff up back in 94. My HCV has just about wiped me out- weak , upper rt. Quad pain , aches and pain all over . oh yeah- Interferon almost killed me in Apr07 on first treatment. In Nov07 Doc discovers Viral load jumped from 27.5 K to 7.6 mil from Interferon treatment. His guess is its autoimmune Hep C. Put me on prednisone. Good news is I've been vaccinated against HAV. Sounds like a really bad hair day but I didn't sign up for a subprime morgage

gaegraham@yahoo.com

forgot to add this to my last blurb a minute ago but if you've got HCV type 3A it's indigenous to SEA theater and Australia (r&r anyone?) ONLY.VA's gonna pay me -I know that but it helps if its in your records as serum hep back in the 70s. The 3A viral type is iceing on the cake. Air guns got a good run and I saw one case paid out that way but then VA got wise and they're not gonna pay that game anymore. The ONLY way is razors toothbrushes and transfusions now(2007). If you snorted anything -shutup. Tattoos, IV drugs and multiple babes and you are dead in the water. I know its not according to hoyle but I would never admit to that stuff--even if it was true. You don't get pregnant from kissing and you don't get HCV . Can't lie about the tattoos but don't have a come to Jesus on the IV stuff. Quit and hope you never told anyone that hates you. Hope you kept all your records of PCS and TDY. They may say you were never there. That's what they told me in 94. I loved it in July07 when they finally said HMMM, we're willing to concede you WERE there.(RVN) 14 years to prove and now they're gonna have to go back to congress and get another appropriation to pay me for back bucks. Good luck to the rest of you.Hope I live long enough to spend some of it! ALEX IN SEATTLE

gaegraham@yahoo.com

I entered the Navy in 1970, and went to NTC, Great Lakes, Ill. for basic and school. I too stood in the huge lines for our air injections. Blood on the floor on both sides, where recruits had flinched while being injected. I remember the med persons wiping the nozzles of the air injectors, with what appeared to be a towel dipped in a container of water. I am under the understanding that the nozzles were to be changed, when the vial of vaccine was changed. This, however, did not change the fact that they were wiping the nozzles with the same towel for....how many injections? And, pushing the vaccine through a possibly contaminated nozzle, which would have contaminated the vaccine at the point of injection.When the recruits that flinched were cut like a razor, what prevented spashback into the nozzle? And again, back to the towel that they wiped down with...pink water? Pink towel? We were all in our skivies, barefoot, nuts to butts, no ass grabbing, and when it's your turn do not flinch! A person could have contracted Hep from just standing at each injection station, barefoot, with any kind of scratch, cut, or abrasion on his feet. Anyway, I was diagnosed with Hep B and non A-B in 1970, 2 weeks after discharge. No intravenous drug use, had a homemade tatoo from a sewing needle and indian ink, done by me when I was 12 yrs old. In May of 1970, I had my old tatoo covered with a new tatoo, while on liberty in Chicago. In 2001, I was found to have Hep B antibodies in my blood, from which I apparently recovered,along with a positive for Hep C. I started treatment through the Roche Patient Assistance Program, and then found out that the VA would provide treatment, all in 2007. I am on Pegasys, and Ribavirin, and at this time, in week 34 of treatment. It has been the hardest thing I have ever done....bar-none. The side effects are brutal..headaches, nausea, rashes, psoriasis/eczema, weight loss, loss of muscle mass, mental health issues, like depression and rage. I have no idea where I will end up, but my liver is stage 2-3 of the disease. The timelines all fit for me to have contracted both of these hepatitus viruses, at the same time, as B-C run together. Hep C is a silent disease that takes usually, 30 or more years to manifest symptoms. I personally had no symptoms and thought I was ok.Wrong. It was discovered by my Cardiologist in a routine blood test for liver function because I was on statin drugs for cholesterol.There was no treatment for Hep B until 1981, so you either recovered, or died from it prior to then. Hep C had no treatment until 1989. I put in a claim for benefits for Hep C and have been initially denied. I have also discovered in research that from 1964-1973 that 5 bases in the US were the subject of an experimental medicine program. I was one of the recruits, and so stated in my medical records. There is record that it's use was discontinued in 1971. Reason? Contaminated with OV-42 Monkey Virus, and some sort of petroleum oil. 80% of the recruits at NTC were very ill within days of the shots.I was personally found unconcious, on the floor in the barracks, 4 days after my shots.We were also injected with Hep B antibodies. There is so much evidence out there to tip the scale in the Veterans favor, that anyone with a near viable case should get help and pursue it. I am more than willing to share what I know.Anyone who would like to contact me, please do! maddog1009@verizon.net

maddog1009@verizon.net

I previously wrote on this site of having contacted hep b after boot camp (air gun shots). To my consternation and shock, I have been diagnosed with multiple scelorosis, but I have to get a letter now from the neuro dr saying the ms (immune system) and having hep in the service is related to get my disability. If anyone who was vaccinated during the 80s in Orlando with the air gun and have ms now, please tell your story. bc

becarp@yahoo.com

I contracted Antiphospholipid Syndrome while in boot camp in Cape May NJ. An air gun injector was used to administer the shots, it was never cleaned between recruits. This blood disease is very hard to treat and cannot be cured.

purplepeopleeater22@lycos.com

I first found out that I had hep-c in the year 2000 at the VAMC that Iwas receiving medical care for a digestive problem that I had since NAM. After computer break-downs at the VAMC was comfirmed as having HCV. I eventually got an appointment for gastro-clinic and was told my options and treatment. Iwas also told that I may have possibly gotten the virus during service by receiving an immunization shot given by pneumatic or air syringe; possibly contaminated by not being cleaned or sterilized. I don't how else I could possibly have gotten it. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail. P.S. I put in a disability claim through the V.A. but was denied ; so I'm appealing my case.

mwells57@charter.net

was hep c virus ever found in inocculations given the gis

pamdade@sbcglobal.net

I believe I contracted Hep C from the MUNJI injection method. Also when first arrived in Viet Nam there were no PXs and razors were commonly shared. I was led astray by my county VA office. I was told NOT to mention the MUNJI in my claim because I would be automatically turned down, he further told me to use my tattoo as my only exposure to the contraction of Hep C. I was denied for service connection. I have recently learned the VA always uses a tattoo to deny a claim and that MUNJI is accepted as a point of contraction. It would seem he told me exactly opposite what I should have done to make a successful claim.

charlesalambert@hotmail.com

1/24/2008 will go down in history. I finally won!!! service connected for HBV,HCV, and autoimmune hep. Filed my claim on my birthday in 1994 March. 3/4 of my liver has now evaporated into thin air but VA is sending me in for the "EXAM". It was a txfusion in Laos @ LS-20 back in 70. no witnesses alive to testify . They fought me tooth and nail on this but 12/06 I found TDY orders that sent me there and they couldn't deny it any more. Also getting service connect for Porphyria Cutanea Tarda . How many of you guys out there been wondering why your hands look like you went 20 rounds with a brick wall during the summer? 35% of HCVets have it according to VA studies. Bet you don't expect them to admit they even did the study. PCT is in 38CFR 3.309(e) for Agent Orange exposure. Starting to see a picture here? Its a liver disfunction but its also a skin disorder. Good Luck to all you guys still chasing the air guns! They're going to have to pay the piper some day. They screwed up.

gaegraham@yahoo

hospitalized in 1973 for liver problems . Disease had no name at the time (jet gun innoculation)

Enlisted 2/89. I believe I was infected with HCV during boot camp at Great Lakes. I was immunized with a Jet gun that was never sterilized or cleaned between recruits. I was diagnosed in 1995 after a medical for a NYC job.

paulntrish@hvc.rr.com

Having no other risk factors other than exposure in the service and the statistical evidence, My current condition indicates exposure 30 years prior.

I served in the U.S. Army for twenty-eight years. I retired in 1996 at the rank of Command Sergeant Major (E-9). I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 1990. I have received four different types of therapy treatments over a period of twelve years. Unfortunately none of them were successful in eliminating the virus. I suffered liver failure and on June 13, 2006 I received a liver transplant. Although I have recovered from the surgery, the Hepatitis C virus continues to damage my transplanted liver. I receive excellent medical care at Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. I believe that I contracted Hepatitis C in 1968 as a result of the use of a jet gun for innoculations during Army basic training and in preparation for deployment to VietNam.

rcaesar@hot.rr.com

I entered military service 8/68, my basic training was at ft Bragg NC. I was injected with the air syringes which was a blood bath, Iknow some of these devices were contaminated which didn't matter to the military. I have never used syringes to do drugs. I have Hep C, and have been on the liver transplant list 4yrs in March 08. I receive 0 compensation, have applied and turned down.I was stationed with 503rd Eng. at Ludendorf Kaserne.in W. Germany I also had surgery at Walter Reed in Washington DC I contacted hep while in the military but can't prove it. Any help, I would certainly appreciate. john ayers NC

oldjb@webtv.net

i was in saigon vietnam in 1973 and went to the doctor in 1993 and was diagnosed with hep c.the doctor told me sometimes it takes 20 yeays to get the symptoms and said it could have been from sex over there.

dljones50@yahoo.com

10feb08 Am at the end of my claim(sucessful) for hcv and Porphyria cutanea tarda. that's right. you read it correctly . its not just an agent orange thing. VA did a study at portland vamc on pct. 38% of hcv'rs have it secondary to hep. You will notice every hcv claim is now automatically remanded back to DC for review (since jun07)so that they won't make another "mistake" along the lines of "biologically plausible"(jet injectors). However they aren't buying into the toothbrush/comb game as a default setting either. The game now is what did he/she do wrong? more attention to any gonnorhea/syph and even ngu(non-gonnococcal urethrytis). If you're gonna put in a claim, get your med. records first and see what kind of ammo they're going to be shooting at you. Got a tattoo? get it ereased! If you're from way back in my war(vietnam-well, actually laos) VA wants to see that the disease is 3A and way far along (like stage 3, level 3 ,3/4 fibrosis) that makes it 30+ years old and puts it smack dab right it middle of that conflict. I got my hep at the hospital in Sam Thong, Laos from a txfusion in sep70. they still had glass syringes and the autoclave was the soup pan on the stove! Try to prove that. the VA wanted the name of my pilot as a witness! I actually had to go find him. He was kia /bnr (body never recovered) 2/21/71 about 6 mos. after I was wounded. VA still is going to pay me but the doc at QTC wanted to see the scar and check me for tatoos. IV drug user? never happened. unprotected sex ? nada. If you kept track of your buddies get them to give you a statement. Whatever you do see a private doc, not a VA doc. Get him to link to your in-service stuff somehow. Don't cheat but be serious. Where else could you get it? At a petting zoo?I've been fighting VA on this since 94 and finally found some of the info on Project 404(Laos) and my TDY orders. get this- the 404 info was "missing" from my SMRs and the DD214 said SEA-yes, RVN- neg. I guess they don't have a box for Laos/CambodiaThey denied me right up until I pulled out the orders and then caved in! Hope none of you have fight 14 years like I did.

gaegraham@yahoo.com

10feb08 Am at the end of my claim(sucessful) for hcv and Porphyria cutanea tarda. that's right. you read it correctly . its not just an agent orange thing. VA did a study at portland vamc on pct. 38% of hcv'rs have it secondary to hep. You will notice every hcv claim is now automatically remanded back to DC for review (since jun07)so that they won't make another "mistake" along the lines of "biologically plausible"(jet injectors). However they aren't buying into the toothbrush/comb game as a default setting either. The game now is what did he/she do wrong? more attention to any gonnorhea/syph and even ngu(non-gonnococcal urethrytis). If you're gonna put in a claim, get your med. records first and see what kind of ammo they're going to be shooting at you. Got a tattoo? get it ereased! If you're from way back in my war(vietnam-well, actually laos) VA wants to see that the disease is 3A and way far along (like stage 3, level 3 ,3/4 fibrosis) that makes it 30+ years old and puts it smack dab right it middle of that conflict. I got my hep at the hospital in Sam Thong, Laos from a txfusion in sep70. they still had glass syringes and the autoclave was the soup pan on the stove! Try to prove that. the VA wanted the name of my pilot as a witness! I actually had to go find him. He was kia /bnr (body never recovered) 2/21/71 about 6 mos. after I was wounded. VA still is going to pay me but the doc at QTC wanted to see the scar and check me for tatoos. IV drug user? never happened. unprotected sex ? nada. If you kept track of your buddies get them to give you a statement. Whatever you do see a private doc, not a VA doc. Get him to link to your in-service stuff somehow. Don't cheat but be serious. Where else could you get it? At a petting zoo?I've been fighting VA on this since 94 and finally found some of the info on Project 404(Laos) and my TDY orders. get this- the 404 info was "missing" from my SMRs and the DD214 said SEA-yes, RVN- neg. I guess they don't have a box for Laos/Cambodia. They denied me right up until I pulled out the orders and then caved in! Hope none of you have fight 14 years like I did.

gaegraham@yahoo.com

10feb08 Am at the end of my claim(sucessful) for hcv and Porphyria cutanea tarda. that's right. you read it correctly . its not just an agent orange thing. VA did a study at portland vamc on pct. 38% of hcv'rs have it secondary to hep. You will notice every hcv claim is now automatically remanded back to DC for review (since jun07)so that they won't make another "mistake" along the lines of "biologically plausible"(jet injectors). However they aren't buying into the toothbrush/comb game as a default setting either. The game now is what did he/she do wrong? more attention to any gonnorhea/syph and even ngu(non-gonnococcal urethrytis). If you're gonna put in a claim, get your med. records first and see what kind of ammo they're going to be shooting at you. Got a tattoo? get it ereased! If you're from way back in my war(vietnam-well, actually laos) VA wants to see that the disease is 3A and way far along (like stage 3, level 3 ,3/4 fibrosis) that makes it 30+ years old and puts it smack dab right it middle of that conflict. I got my hep at the hospital in Sam Thong, Laos from a txfusion in sep70. they still had glass syringes and the autoclave was the soup pan on the stove! Try to prove that. the VA wanted the name of my pilot as a witness! I actually had to go find him. He was kia /bnr (body never recovered) 2/21/71 about 6 mos. after I was wounded. If he hadn't been on the Vienam war memorial I don't know that I would have found him.VA still is going to pay me but the doc at QTC wanted to see the scar and check me for tatoos. IV drug user? never happened. unprotected sex ? nada. If you kept track of your buddies get them to give you a statement. Whatever you do see a private doc, not a VA doc. Get him to link to your in-service stuff somehow. Don't cheat but be serious. Where else could you get it? At a petting zoo?I've been fighting VA on this since 94 and finally found some of the info on Project 404(Laos) and my TDY orders. get this- the 404 info was "missing" from my SMRs and the DD214 said SEA-yes, RVN- neg. I guess they don't have a box for Laos/Cambodia. They denied me right up until I pulled out the orders and then caved in! Hope none of you have fight 14 years like I did.

gaegraham@yahoo.com

10feb08 Am at the end of my claim(sucessful) for hcv and Porphyria cutanea tarda. that's right. you read it correctly . its not just an agent orange thing. VA did a study at portland vamc on pct. 38% of hcv'rs have it secondary to hep. You will notice every hcv claim is now automatically remanded back to DC for review (since jun07)so that they won't make another "mistake" along the lines of "biologically plausible"(jet injectors). However they aren't buying into the toothbrush/comb game as a default setting either. The game now is what did he/she do wrong? more attention to any gonnorhea/syph and even ngu(non-gonnococcal urethrytis). If you're gonna put in a claim, get your med. records first and see what kind of ammo they're going to be shooting at you. Got a tattoo? get it ereased! If you're from way back in my war(vietnam-well, actually laos) VA wants to see that the disease is 3A and way far along (like stage 3, level 3 ,3/4 fibrosis) that makes it 30+ years old and puts it smack dab right it middle of that conflict. I got my hep at the hospital in Sam Thong, Laos from a txfusion in sep70. they still had glass syringes and the autoclave was the soup pan on the stove! Try to prove that. the VA wanted the name of my pilot as a witness! I actually had to go find him. He was kia /bnr (body never recovered) 2/21/71 about 6 mos. after I was wounded. If he hadn't been on the Vienam war memorial I don't know that I would have found him.VA still is going to pay me but the doc at QTC wanted to see the scar and check me for tatoos. She was really pushing me on HIV. (Do you have it ? have you been checked for it? ) IV drug user? never happened. unprotected sex ? nada. If you kept track of your buddies get them to give you a statement. Whatever you do see a private doc, not a VA doc.VA is not your buddy. I used AMVETS the first time . They Screwed it up bad. Tried Military Order of the Purple Heart the second time out. They screwed it up worse. I had to sort it out with the VA directly. Get the doc to link to your in-service stuff somehow. Don't cheat but be serious. Where else could you get it? At a petting zoo?I've been fighting VA on this since 94 and finally found some of the info on Project 404(Laos) and my TDY orders. get this- the 404 info was "missing" from my SMRs and the DD214 said SEA-yes, RVN- neg. I guess they don't have a box for Laos/Cambodia. They denied me right up until I pulled out the orders and then caved in! Hope none of you have fight 14 years like I did.

gaegraham@yahoo.com

10feb08 Am at the end of my claim(sucessful) for hcv and Porphyria cutanea tarda. that's right. you read it correctly . its not just an agent orange thing. VA did a study at portland vamc on pct. 38% of hcv'rs have it secondary to hep. You will notice every hcv claim is now automatically remanded back to DC for review (since jun07)so that they won't make another "mistake" along the lines of "biologically plausible"(jet injectors). However they aren't buying into the toothbrush/comb game as a default setting either. The game now is what did he/she do wrong? more attention to any gonnorhea/syph and even ngu(non-gonnococcal urethrytis). If you're gonna put in a claim, get your med. records first and see what kind of ammo they're going to be shooting at you. Got a tattoo? get it erased! If you're from way back in my war(vietnam-well, actually laos) VA wants to see that the disease is 3A and way far along (like stage 3, level 3 ,3/4 fibrosis) that makes it 30+ years old and puts it smack dab right it middle of that conflict. I got my hep at the hospital in Sam Thong, Laos from a txfusion in sep70. they still had glass syringes and the autoclave was the soup pan on the stove! Try to prove that. the VA wanted the name of my pilot as a witness! I actually had to go find him. He was kia /bnr (body never recovered) 2/21/71 about 6 mos. after I was wounded. If he hadn't been on the Vienam war memorial I don't know that I would have found him.VA still is going to pay me but the doc at QTC wanted to see the scar and check me for tatoos. She was really pushing me on HIV. (Do you have it ? have you been checked for it? ) IV drug user? never happened. unprotected sex ? nada. If you kept track of your buddies get them to give you a statement. Whatever you do see a private doc, not a VA doc.VA is not your buddy. I used AMVETS the first time . They Screwed it up bad. Tried Military Order of the Purple Heart the second time out. They screwed it up worse. I had to sort it out with the VA directly. Get the doc to link to your in-service stuff somehow. Don't cheat but be serious. Where else could you get it? At a petting zoo?I've been fighting VA on this since 94 and finally found some of the info on Project 404(Laos) and my TDY orders. get this- the 404 info was "missing" from my SMRs and the DD214 said SEA-yes, RVN- neg. I guess they don't have a box for Laos/Cambodia. They denied me right up until I pulled out the orders and then caved in! Hope none of you have fight 14 years like I did.

gaegraham@yahoo.com

10feb08 Am at the end of my claim(sucessful) for hcv and Porphyria cutanea tarda. that's right. you read it correctly . its not just an agent orange thing. VA did a study at portland vamc on pct. 38% of hcv'rs have it secondary to hep. You will notice every hcv claim is now automatically remanded back to DC for review (since jun07)so that they won't make another "mistake" along the lines of "biologically plausible"(jet injectors). However they aren't buying into the toothbrush/comb game as a default setting either. The game now is what did he/she do wrong? more attention to any gonnorhea/syph and even ngu(non-gonnococcal urethrytis). If you're gonna put in a claim, get your med. records first and see what kind of ammo they're going to be shooting at you. Got a tattoo? get it erased! If you're from way back in my war(vietnam-well, actually laos) VA wants to see that the disease is 3A and way far along (like stage 3, level 3 ,3/4 fibrosis) that makes it 30+ years old and puts it smack dab right it middle of that conflict. I got my hep at the hospital in Sam Thong, Laos from a txfusion in sep70. they still had glass syringes and the autoclave was the soup pan on the stove! Try to prove that. the VA wanted the name of my pilot as a witness! I actually had to go find him. He was kia /bnr (body never recovered) 2/21/71 about 6 mos. after I was wounded. If he hadn't been on the Vienam war memorial I don't know that I would have found him.VA still is going to pay me but the doc at QTC wanted to see the scar and check me for tatoos. She was really pushing me on HIV. (Do you have it ? have you been checked for it? ) IV drug user? never happened. unprotected sex ? nada. If you kept track of your buddies get them to give you a statement. Whatever you do see a private doc, not a VA doc.VA is not your buddy. I used AMVETS the first time . They Screwed it up bad. Tried Military Order of the Purple Heart the second time out. They screwed it up worse. I had to sort it out with the VA directly. Get the doc to link to your in-service stuff somehow. Don't cheat but be serious. Where else could you get it? At a petting zoo?I've been fighting VA on this since 94 and finally found some of the info on Project 404(Laos) and my TDY orders. get this- the 404 info was "missing" from my SMRs and the DD214 said SEA-yes, RVN- neg. I guess they don't have a box for Laos/Cambodia. They denied me right up until I pulled out the orders and then caved in! Hope none of you have fight 14 years like I did. oh yeah, I forgot. I have to liver-shopping in 2-3 years. any ideas?

gaegraham@yahoo.com

10feb08 Am at the end of my claim(sucessful) for hcv and Porphyria cutanea tarda. that's right. you read it correctly . its not just an agent orange thing. VA did a study at portland vamc on pct. 38% of hcv'rs have it secondary to hep. You will notice every hcv claim is now automatically remanded back to DC for review (since jun07)so that they won't make another "mistake" along the lines of "biologically plausible"(jet injectors). However they aren't buying into the toothbrush/comb game as a default setting anymore. The game now is what did he/she do wrong? more attention to any gonnorhea/syph and even ngu(non-gonnococcal urethrytis). If you're gonna put in a claim, get your med. records first and see what kind of ammo they're going to be shooting at you. Got a tattoo? get it erased! If you're from way back in my war(vietnam-well, actually laos) VA wants to see that the disease is 3A and way far along (like stage 3, level 3 ,3/4 fibrosis) that makes it 30+ years old and puts it smack dab right it middle of that conflict. I got my hep at the hospital in Sam Thong, Laos from a txfusion in sep70. they still had glass syringes and the autoclave was the soup pan on the stove! Try to prove that. the VA wanted the name of my pilot as a witness! I actually had to go find him. He was kia /bnr (body never recovered) 2/21/71 about 6 mos. after I was wounded. If he hadn't been on the Vienam war memorial I don't know that I would have found him.VA still is going to pay me but the doc at QTC wanted to see the scar and check me for tatoos. She was really pushing me on HIV. (Do you have it ? have you been checked for it? ) IV drug user? never happened. unprotected sex ? nada. If you kept track of your buddies get them to give you a statement. Whatever you do see a private doc, not a VA doc.VA is not your buddy. I used AMVETS the first time . They Screwed it up bad. Tried Military Order of the Purple Heart the second time out. They screwed it up worse. I had to sort it out with the VA directly. Get the doc to link to your in-service stuff somehow. Don't cheat but be serious. Where else could you get it? At a petting zoo?I've been fighting VA on this since 94 and finally found some of the info on Project 404(Laos) and my TDY orders. get this- the 404 info was "missing" from my SMRs and the DD214 said SEA-yes, RVN- neg. I guess they don't have a box for Laos/Cambodia. They denied me right up until I pulled out the orders and then caved in! Hope none of you have fight 14 years like I did. oh yeah, I forgot. I have to liver-shopping in 2-3 years. any ideas?

gaegraham@yahoo.com

About 5 years ago, my son was diagnosed with Hep C. He was in the ARMY in 1986. In Beckley WV, he received his innoculations by the "Jet Gun" or "Air Gun Injector" while lined up with many other recruits. There, he says, no one took time to clean injectors between each recruit. The injections were given in both arms by different men with injection guns. It don't take a medical person, which I am, to realize the injection guns were a dangerous weapon for the spread of disease.

mhuff51@tgtel.com

I am a 47 year old white female who was diagnosed with hep c about 5 years ago. Genotype 2b. with an initial viral load in the thousands only to orbit very quickly to the millions. I decided to go with the the interferon /rebetol treatment for 6months as my doctor recomended. Listen kids this was no walk in the park, or for the lame hearted. My hair fell out, i puked all the time and i lost so much weight i looked (no offense) and etheopian. Not to mention freezing all the time, the sores all over my mouth, an internal body tempature that made me feel like i had a volcano inside me. Ok you say so you lived through it shut the hell up! right on. Now on for the side effects. Eyesight that once was 20/20 now i have glasses to find my glasses. Chronic fatique is putting it midly, i already feel dead. Thyroid something arothers they tell me not to worry,just an incidintal finding. Oh my god. Weight loss, weight gain. depression, suicidal ideation, disability for life. Phyco-therapy every 2 weeks, case mgt. I am now a card carrying member for the phyco-social club..(no shit) ON a real good day i don't try to find street drugs to kill the mental, physical torture that the damn pharmecutical company never bothered to tell me about. ok ok quit bitchin! Maybe i would have been better off dead. But i did get to see my grandaughter born! Interferon/rebetol you suck stagnent pond water ! wish i would of just lived what life i had left. If you are getting ready to take this treatment think about, think about it really hard.. thanks for listening to me! God Bless!

maryannelewallen@yahoo.com

About 12 years ago, my son was diagnosed with Hep C. He was in the ARMY in 1988. In Beckley WV, he received his innoculations by the "Jet Gun" or "Air Gun Injector" while lined up with many other recruits. There, he says, no one took time to clean injectors between each recruit. The injections were given in both arms by different men with injection guns. It don't take a medical person, which I am, to realize the injection guns were a dangerous weapon for the spread of disease.I don land hereooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

guy@mugu.com

I believe that I contracted Hepatitis C from Air Gun Injection during basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. During August of 1976. I also worked as a 91F Psychiatric tech and worked on a psych unit. I did accidentally got stuck by used hypodermic needles while retraining patients on more than one occasion, this was at Silas B. Hayes Army Hospital, Fort Ord, CA during 1977 through 1979.

tomburnett57@hotmail.com

Im recovering from hepatits C . I was given a blood thiner in 1973 for thrombosis of my righ leg that was broken in training. The I V had redish color . For the last 15 years ALT has been elevated had it checked 2007. I dont understand all the medical wording to me it seem blood product was used with Hepren.

jerrygarlow@hotmail.com

I am the administrator of the forum which provides discussion to patients with liver diseases (hepatitis c, fatty liver, liver cancer, liver cirrhosis, and NASH liver). You can get much useful information about liver health and let others share your experiences there. Welcome to visit our forum http://www.liver-health.info/ and website http://english.kenkyusho.com/ Thank you

cocuyu@126.com

3 Army personnel where in front of me in line and all were bleeding from the jet air gun Despite the lack of any scientific evidence to document transmission of HCV with airgun injectors, it is biologically plausible. The VA Testimony before the Subcommittee on Benefits Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, April 13, 2000, Gary A. Roselle, M. D., Program Director for Infectious Diseases, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, state, "One in 10 US Veterans are infected with HCV", a rate 5 times greater than the 1.8% infection rate of the general population.

DJRaid76@yahoo.com

I entered the military (air force) in 1971.We had vaccinations using the jet gun where everyone stood in line and was treated with the same gun. After leaving the service in 1974 where i joined the air guard for a while.I have been employed with the air force as a civilian for 32 years and all the years been under the drug testing program because of my position.I have never recieved a blood transfusion nor do i have any tatoos.I have been diagnosed with hep c last year and the only way i could have contracted the hep c in my opinion is from the jet gun vaccinations used in basic training.I am undergoing treatment as ofd this day and should last 6 months.Treatments is very costly even with insurance, and it alters your lifestyle.I am glad it was diagnosed early and not when my liver is intreatable.

gs5606@yahoo.com

i was a river rat from 1967 to 1968 two years.i came with hyp-b now they say5yrs. ago i was dia. with hyp-c no help!!!!

g33020me@bellsouth.net

I enlisted in the Air Force in 1975, was assigned to Bitburg Germany in 1977. All innoculations were given by the air gun, in 1978 came down with hep b,was isolated for 3 weeks in the hospital. In 2001 trying to get life insurance was told that I had hep c virus.

lennys2@cox.net

subjected to air gun innoculations in Fort Polk, LA in 1968, Vietnam service 69-70. Discovered I had Hep C in 2006 from Doctor visit.No history. Asymptomatic, 1/4million viral load, 1b genome. What do you think?

warren@cci-colorado.org

What percent does the VA offer when your out and you have hep c?

christopher.e.collins@usmc.mil

Did anyone else have put in their medical record non-hepatitis B and think it meant that you were tested for hep-b and were found to not have it and never thought what they really meant was that you didn't have a or b, but you have something? That's what I thought. There were only two things I did where I could have caught it. Not even on R&R did I do anything that would be considered risky behavior. When we were in higher elevations the rice paddies were built into the sides of hills with each paddy draining into the lower paddy. Sometimes we would be out of water purification tablets and because the water was cooler I would go up to the highest paddy and fill my canteen because I was really interested in a cold drink of water. I would never do that in flat land paddies but, felt that the tiered paddies had a better chance of being cleaner. The other thing I did was on our searching for weapons occassionally come across those big baskets of rice. We'd stick our arm down into the basket and give it a few turns to see if there were any weapons in there. This one time I found close to the top two eggs. All of a sudden I had a craving for hard boiled eggs. Now, I paid mommasan one dollar for each egg because she didn't really want to sell them. Anyway I carried those eggs all day and when we set up that night I managed to with C4 get a boil going enough to not really hard boil but harder than soft boil. Swear to God that's the only thing I did and I've had twenty years to wonder how the hell this happened. When I came back in '68 that's what I found in my medical records but, never got checked until '96 specifically for hep-c.

johnrobertcunningham@comcast.net

My husband just passed away on 04/21/08. He had hep C which turned into hepatocellular carsona which then spread to his bones. He used to tell me that the only way he could have contracted hep c was in the army. He said that they would line up the soldiers and give them their innocuations with some sort of gun, never wiping it with alcohol or anything. How he found out that he had it was he went to give blood and got a letter from the blood bank stating that they found some sort of hepatitis in his blood.

jillf1569@sbcglobal.net

let me see... u get paid to kill gooks, all the c-rats you can eat, all the ammo and grenades u want. go 2 nam .wait 1 year ,pass go collect hcv come home and the VA tells u 2 piss off. can't beat that with a stick. wait . yes u can. how about all rest of those diseases u get to enjoy? PCT, fibromyalgia and cryoglobulinemia. i'm ashamed 2 mention the last 2. they're women's diseases. guess that makes me a pussy for going to nam.

I joined the Army in Sep 1970 and sent to Germany in 71. We stood in long lines for shots in each arm for immunizations. The staff used the same air injected needle for all of us. We also received more shots before we were sent out of the country.Later we were given flu and other vaccines while in Germany. I recall an incident when a very tall soldier in front of me passed out in front of me.I also question the sterility of an instrument used by the base dentist for cleaning teeth..While he cleaned teeth there were large amounts of blood.

greatnewtunes@yahoo.com

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