Noteboom The Law Firm

Veterans’ Families Ask VA To Track Brain Cancer

January 5, 2011 - Vietnam veterans returned to the United States suffering from various ailments, conditions, and illnesses. Some veterans developed health problems right away, and others developed serious conditions years later. Some health problems however, simply will not emerge or become known until many years have passed. For the most part, brain cancer follows the latter path, and especially within the Vietnam veteran population.

Widows and family members of the Vietnam Veteran Wives organization recently wrote a letter listing their concerns over brain cancer and Vietnam veterans. The letter highlighted the large number of Vietnam veterans with brain cancer and requested their numbers be statistically charted.

The letter was addressed to:

• The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA);
• The Central Brain Tumor Registry; and
• The American Brain Tumor Association.

The authors of the letter purport to have evidence proving those Vietnam veterans suffering from glioblastoma, a specific type of brain cancer, suffer at a rate disproportionate to those that are not Vietnam veterans. Their evidence was drawn from both VA medical records and Vietnam Veterans Wives organization. 

The letter states that the Vietnam Veteran Wives draws a direct connection between glioblastoma and military service in Vietnam. Therefore, the letter requests the VA document any veteran treated for brain cancer, and track:

• The type of tumor;
• The veterans' age; and
• If the veteran was exposed to any toxic substances while in the military.

The letter suggests that the VA tracks these veterans through their social security numbers. It is very possible that if the evidence is correct, the VA could very well be looking at a new disability for which they will pay out compensation and benefits.