[werickso49]

Thanks so much,Neil.I truly appreciate the rapid response! What I'm having trouble with is getting "clinical rationale" concerning the possible link of my (and many other Viet Vets I have read about on health related sites) condition and agent orange.My Power Of Atty. (The DAV) says that if I can get a medical type statement saying something to the effect that "Agent Orange has a 50/50 chance of being responsible,in part, for essential Thrombocytosis" then I MAY get approved for a disability benefit.ET is def. a bone marrow issue.Problem is,I can't find numbers.Apparently the VA is set in stone with the existing presumptive list and anything that isn't on it,isn't recognized.Though ET is rare(as told to me by my hemotologist/oncologist) I have read of MANY Viet Vets having it! That didn't matter to the VA rep.I would have to provide numbers of affected vets to that of the general public.How the heck do I get information like that?........Type 2 Diabetes,the most common,most treatable and most reversable diabetes (knowing no gender or age) is on the list.I have a friend (Viet Vet) who was diagnosed with T2 and is collecting 100% disability.He eats anything he wants,smokes like a smokestack and says,"Ya gotta die from something"............Fair?Nope! Who could provide "clinical rationale" for the benefit of all of us with this condition?There is also another similar condition(can't remember the name) only the platelet count is extremely low.............Thanks again,Neil.Hope I can get other contacts that could benefit me and others in my situation.

werickso49