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Jet fuel, solvents, and defoliant are all good suspects for the cause of Mike's MDS. They can't do controlled experiments to prove this, but statistics can reveal when exposures have correlated with later MDS diagnoses. The doctors don't spend time talking about the cause because it doesn't affect their job: treating Mike now.
It may matter to you, however, for three reasons:
First, even if the cause doesn't affect the treatment there's are "why me?" questions and peace of mind issues with having a disease of unknown cause. It's natural to want to know why he got sick.
Second, when environmental factors lead to illness you want to know who else shared those exposures. If it was on the job, then coworkers ought to know they had the same risky exposure. If it was exposure to toxins at home, then family members might have had the same exposure.
Third, insurance and financial responsibility may depend on whether a connection can be made between likely causes and resulting diseases. That's why many veterans are fighting for coverage of their health issues based on exposures during their service.
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