Anybody here us recruits may have been test subjects for early anthrax vaccines? If you were at RTC Orlando between 1987 and 1993 and you rember going through corridors where everyone administering the air-gun shots were inn hazmat suits with respirators - well then - maybe we were the guinea pigs. It was my first 3 "P" days at RTC. We'd get up in the am, exercise, then go sit indian style until it was our turn to go in for the next round of shots we didd about 3 rounds down the corridor receiving about 12 shots each time and we did it for three days. My neighbor is a RTC Orlando vet from 1987 - now he has severve myocitus; in other words his organs and muscles are melting. He received the same three day series of hazmat induced shots. I'm trying to help him with a claim for VA disability compensation but there is no proof we ever got the shots in our SMR's. Some of the major problems the Congressional inqiry of 1994; regarding test versions of the anthrax vaccine - and DOD checking into possible negative side effects; which was completely ignored by the Navy, are degenerative tissues such as muscles, degnerative joints - any joints - especially degenerative disc disease of the spine, and total nevervous system breakdown. I'm compensated for 1 herniated disc, but now have 6 herniated nucleus pulposes and 7 bulging discs. 5 of the 6 herniated nucleus pulposes were bulging discs prior to rupturing the nuclei. I also have been told I have EMG disease - which means the tech could not figure out why every major muscle group she tested in my body was positive for nerve damage. She ruled out nervous system disorders such as Parkinson's, but all my nerves are fried. Is there anybody out there who got all those shots for 3 days between 87 and 93? If so, lets band together and help my neighbor get his service connected disability compensation - and maybe some of you as well. I worked as a Veteran's Service Representative for the VBA Regional Office in St. Petersburg, FL. I am 100% P&T now. My best advice - if you have a disability in your Service Medical Record, or one that you had before joining that was made worse during service and you can prove it with your SMR's; then fight the VA by going through your local Congressman. Just Google Congressman + "your zip code". Write them a letter that the VBA has dicked you over on your claim with all the medical records including your copies of your SMR's and the secret is this: If you go to your Congress-person, the VBA Regional Office in your state has within itself and office called the Congressional Liaison Office, wherin it is there goal in life to rate any veteran's claim within ten business days and respond with their decision and why to the Congress-personn within 10 business days. I fought the VBA 10 years and went from 0%, to 10%, to 20%, to 40%, to 70%, AND FINALLY TO 100% 10 YEARS AFTER I STARTED THE FIGHT. I write to my congressman at their Washington DC address and in less than 10 days my Congressional rep did what I couldn't do in 10 years - 100% P&T service connected disability compensation. Use your Congressional rep. My shipmate neighbor needs our help, he didn't get sick in the Navy so there is nothing about sever poymyosistis in his service medical record - so no VBA disability compensation. But, if a bunch of us gather together who recceived all those shots, some of which may have been early test versions of the Anthrax vaccine; acccording to Congress, then maybe we can get everyone who is suffering from gettting guinea pigged at RTC Orlando between 87 and 93 their service connected disability compensation they deserve. If you were a part of the medical team who administered the shots - then do the right thing and fess up publicly here.
I'm glad you were able to get 100% Darrell and hope that there's some comfort and many years left in you. I was in RTC in Dec. 86 and remember getting a bunch there and getting even more on my way to the Gulf. Who knows what they put in us?!
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