I am active duty with 13 years. I have stage four incurable cancer and am going through the MEB process at this time. I am going through the one rating test bed in the DC area. I have already had my physical and was told it will be 100%. My Drs told me the type of cancer (Sarcoma) I have has no known cause. I was first deployed to Iraq in Jan 04 and stayed until Jan 05. I had a complete physical done in Dec 03 right before I deployed and was told I was good to go. I went back to Iraq and Afghanistan six times between the dates of Aug 05 through Oct 06 for around two weeks at a time for work. Then I deployed to Afghanistan from Oct 06 through May 07. I went back to Afghanistan in Nov 07 for two weeks. Then in Mar 08 I was diagnosed with stage four cancer. I would think this "connects" my disease to my combat deployments. I know no one can say it caused my cancer, because there is no known cause, but does this connect it for benefit purposes? My Drs have already told me I definatly had the disease while being deployed. I have a strong feeling this will be an issue based on my 13 years in the Army, and wanted to find out what I can. Thanks for your time. I have posted this question on various sites with no response. I'm just looking for an opinion.
Cancer Question
- Thread starter krh5748
- Start date
Welcome krh,
Sorry to hear of your illness. I'm not so sure about what connects the combat status-but these guys are great and I'm sure someone will know! If no one answers you within a day, bump your post back to the top and we'll make sure it gets answered correctly.
Take care.
Sorry to hear of your illness. I'm not so sure about what connects the combat status-but these guys are great and I'm sure someone will know! If no one answers you within a day, bump your post back to the top and we'll make sure it gets answered correctly.
Take care.
Jason Perry
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krh5748,
There are several interrelated (and confusing points) about combat related conditions and deployments.
Here is the Army Physical Disability Agency Guide on Combat Related Conditions.
I will try to give you the bottom line, if you are not inclined to read the link.
If you were being separated, then if your condition were incurred while deployed would matter for benefits purposes. Since if seems most likely/certain that you will be retired, this means that the only issue is if your condition was caused as a result of combat, training for combat, extra-hazardous duty, or an instrumentality of war. As an example of this, say you were assigned to a special weapons unit handling nuclear materials for weapons. If your cancer was related to that, then you would be eligible for Combat Related Special Compensation and your retired pay would be tax-free.
Hope this helped explain. If not, let us know.
There are several interrelated (and confusing points) about combat related conditions and deployments.
Here is the Army Physical Disability Agency Guide on Combat Related Conditions.
I will try to give you the bottom line, if you are not inclined to read the link.
If you were being separated, then if your condition were incurred while deployed would matter for benefits purposes. Since if seems most likely/certain that you will be retired, this means that the only issue is if your condition was caused as a result of combat, training for combat, extra-hazardous duty, or an instrumentality of war. As an example of this, say you were assigned to a special weapons unit handling nuclear materials for weapons. If your cancer was related to that, then you would be eligible for Combat Related Special Compensation and your retired pay would be tax-free.
Hope this helped explain. If not, let us know.
Thanks for the link Jason. It would seem even more of a quagmire left open to interpretation. I am a CID agent and I spent a lot of time working with remains and investigating IED sites etc... My type of cancer (Sarcoma, Fybroid Myxoid)) is very rare with no known cause due to little research. Less than a 1000 diagnosed a year. Stage four does not happen over night and I definatly had it while I was in theater, but there is no way to prove a cause.