I have been reading that the Anthrax Vaccination Commitee suspects a link between the anthrax shot and spondyloarthropathy. Has this been confirmed? I am HLA B27 positive, and I think it is funny how those results are not in my med record...
Anthrax vaccine HLA B27
- Thread starter bradrich222
- Start date
Summary of report says,
"Three reports involving arthritis flares after anthrax vaccine are as follows (not coded as serious). A 5 l-year-old female with a pre-existing history of rheumatoid arthritis had pain in multiple joints within 24 hours after anthrax vaccine doses 1,2 and 3. A 41 -year-old male developed inflammatory arthritis with onset after the fifth dose, and a flare after the sixth dose lasting 3 to 4 weeks. A 36-year-old male with a pre-existing history of spondyloarthropathy had flares after the first and third doses, the latter involving back and peripheral joint pain. Reports involving arthritis flares after anthrax vaccine can be difficult to interpret because the natural history of arthritis is often a waxing and waning course. The evidence is insufficient to establish a causal relationship between anthrax vaccine and arthritis flares, but as noted above, arthritis was selected for further study by the Vaccine Analytic Unit."
"Three reports involving arthritis flares after anthrax vaccine are as follows (not coded as serious). A 5 l-year-old female with a pre-existing history of rheumatoid arthritis had pain in multiple joints within 24 hours after anthrax vaccine doses 1,2 and 3. A 41 -year-old male developed inflammatory arthritis with onset after the fifth dose, and a flare after the sixth dose lasting 3 to 4 weeks. A 36-year-old male with a pre-existing history of spondyloarthropathy had flares after the first and third doses, the latter involving back and peripheral joint pain. Reports involving arthritis flares after anthrax vaccine can be difficult to interpret because the natural history of arthritis is often a waxing and waning course. The evidence is insufficient to establish a causal relationship between anthrax vaccine and arthritis flares, but as noted above, arthritis was selected for further study by the Vaccine Analytic Unit."
Thank you chaplaincharlie, I did find an article on vaccine.mil that stated it is possible to have sponylathropies (s.p.) form due to the anthrax vaccine, service connected now. What should I do from this point on to ensure that I get the best possible rating? I have abnormal bony growth in my hip, and I am being MEB'd for bilatteral hip FAI.
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I am in a similar situation (HLA-B27 positive, diagnosed with spondyloarthropathy in Dec 2015). I've had 7 anthrax vaccines, the last in 2012, but didn't have any issues until Sept 2015 when both knees and one foot suddenly swelled up, with foot swelling lasting about 3 months. I'm hoping the VA has its act together and sees the multiple anthrax vaccines and I'm thinking of attaching something to my VA claim online to ensure they don't miss it. I'm also going to mention it in my last VA exam. I started taking Humira in Jan 2016 for joint pain/inflammation, which is what drove my MEB. As for best possible ratings, most of the first VA exam for me was all about range of motion, with and without pain. I'm not sure which one they use to rate though (with or without pain). I would recommend knowing approximate dates of surgeries or when certain conditions began. I wasn't as prepared as I wish I was. The Dr. asked me if I knew the dates of a few things, which I estimated (incorrectly on a few of them). It looked like most of the info was on their system, but had I known the dates I could have ensured she had everything she needed. I've been in for 16.5 years which is a long time to remember what happened toward the beginning of my career that wasn’t related to this condition. I printed out my list of conditions and dates of treatment for my final appointment. After that, the waiting begins for fit/unfit decision (expecting unfit) then the DoD/VA ratings, hopefully sometime before the end of the year. @maparker may also be able to provide some good information for you (and me as well). Good luck!
Here is my timeline (Active Duty AF/16.5 yrs service, stationed in Colorado Springs):
- 4 May 16 - Code 37
- 9 May 16 - Contacted by PEBLO for RILO
- 2 June 16 - PEBLO notified me full board required
- 3 June 16 - Met with VA to begin claim for conditions
C & P Appointments:
- 10 June 16 - 1st Appt (Audiology)
- 6 July 16 - 2d Appt (Eye)
- 11 July 16 - 3d Appt (Gen med part 1)
- 19 July 16 - 4th/final Appt (Gen med part 2)
Here is my timeline (Active Duty AF/16.5 yrs service, stationed in Colorado Springs):
- 4 May 16 - Code 37
- 9 May 16 - Contacted by PEBLO for RILO
- 2 June 16 - PEBLO notified me full board required
- 3 June 16 - Met with VA to begin claim for conditions
C & P Appointments:
- 10 June 16 - 1st Appt (Audiology)
- 6 July 16 - 2d Appt (Eye)
- 11 July 16 - 3d Appt (Gen med part 1)
- 19 July 16 - 4th/final Appt (Gen med part 2)
I have my initial VA/PEBLO appt today. I looked at all of my medical records, and got a copy from the off base provider that states I am HLA B27 positive. I am goibg to bring the vaccines.mil paperwork that i printed off with me just in case. My PEBLO already told me I am unfit, I havent had my C&P yet. Oh well, bilateral hip problems, i doubt they will return me to duty. Thank you for the help, i will keep posting on here my timeline. I hope the best for you.
This may go on deaf ears/eyes since this page has not been active since 2016, but I just want to know that I am not alone & that we all are going through a "fight."
I came down with "something" in 2002 right after the 2nd Anthrax shot in Dec (abouts). Our active duty time came to an end April (abouts) of 03 & back on Reserves my knee swelled to like a basketball so my unit sent me back to the base on Medical Hold. I was in and out of the doctors with many different "guess" diagnoses. By the end of my stay it was Riters Arthrits. In 05 I got approved for disability 10%. In 07 it started affecting my eyes so they gave me 10% for that and increased 20% for Arthrits. Every year since I have a eye flair up lasting 2 week to now 6 months. I can't see (eye is not painful but VERY sensitive to light/elements.) Dry eye shows on my paperwork at 0%, does that mean I can fight that?
Now I was tested for HLA B-27 which is a gene, so as I understand it was already in my body? I would have came down with these problems without the shot? I don't want to believe that but I keep getting denied more disability so it seems like the military, over all these years, have found out more info in their favor & do not want to take care of us soldiers. Without my eyes I can't drive ore work much now. I don't think COVID helped either.
I came down with "something" in 2002 right after the 2nd Anthrax shot in Dec (abouts). Our active duty time came to an end April (abouts) of 03 & back on Reserves my knee swelled to like a basketball so my unit sent me back to the base on Medical Hold. I was in and out of the doctors with many different "guess" diagnoses. By the end of my stay it was Riters Arthrits. In 05 I got approved for disability 10%. In 07 it started affecting my eyes so they gave me 10% for that and increased 20% for Arthrits. Every year since I have a eye flair up lasting 2 week to now 6 months. I can't see (eye is not painful but VERY sensitive to light/elements.) Dry eye shows on my paperwork at 0%, does that mean I can fight that?
Now I was tested for HLA B-27 which is a gene, so as I understand it was already in my body? I would have came down with these problems without the shot? I don't want to believe that but I keep getting denied more disability so it seems like the military, over all these years, have found out more info in their favor & do not want to take care of us soldiers. Without my eyes I can't drive ore work much now. I don't think COVID helped either.