Posted on Sep 17, 2021
How does the change in Burn Pit registry affect Sailors on ships at sea navigating through burning oil wells?
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I recently read, and then lost, an article about ships at sea in the Gulf being added to the registry.
How does this affect me, that’s my question. I’m already SC for acute rhinitis and loss of sense of smell, 94+% cumulative, 100% U/I.
I was on the USS Bonhomme Richard (yes, I know it’s misspelled, I’ve talked before about how bad the commissioning CO was, he misspelled it on purpose, minus 10 points on the crew morale scale) in 2000 while we were in the Gulf.
Are there medical treatments or protocols that the VA has developed to help? It’d be nice to smell my wife’s wonderful dinners.
How does this affect me, that’s my question. I’m already SC for acute rhinitis and loss of sense of smell, 94+% cumulative, 100% U/I.
I was on the USS Bonhomme Richard (yes, I know it’s misspelled, I’ve talked before about how bad the commissioning CO was, he misspelled it on purpose, minus 10 points on the crew morale scale) in 2000 while we were in the Gulf.
Are there medical treatments or protocols that the VA has developed to help? It’d be nice to smell my wife’s wonderful dinners.
Posted in these groups: 
VA Burn Pit Registry
VA Burn Pit Registry
Edited 3 y ago
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 2
I'd recommend you start here:
https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/registry.asp
And, I would like to ask....On your profile you have yourself making CPO in '85, then Ensign in '87, then SCPO in '88, then LTJG in '89 then MCPO 91. Are you a retired MCPO or a retired Officer?
https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/registry.asp
And, I would like to ask....On your profile you have yourself making CPO in '85, then Ensign in '87, then SCPO in '88, then LTJG in '89 then MCPO 91. Are you a retired MCPO or a retired Officer?
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MCPO Hilary Kunz
Thank you!
Great question, I probably should put the answer in my profile. The story is long, heartbreaking and a little heartwarming. It’s also rare, I’ve never heard of anyone else, but the Navy’s reputation for this was always there.
The Navy had a program that didn’t penalize enlisted people for going officer, so enlisted promotions, which I never planned on, continued while I was a temporary officer.
I was a Chief, got a temporary promotion to LDO Ensign and went to the Midway, homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. Everything was going well, I was in numerous operations, and my daughter got sick.
They laid on a flight from the Philippines to Atsugi to pick her up (no blood donation in Japan, so the blood for transfusion had to be imported) and took her to Trippler Army Medical Center on Oahu, where we stayed for several months. I was launched off the Midway via COD, then trekked across the Pacific hitchhiking on MAC flights from island to island.
I negotiated Hums orders to be near the best oncologist the Navy had. My DIVO on the Midway, a full bird, and I talked for quite a while, he was a great guy, told me that this would hurt my career, but I made the choice of my child over career, and we were all cool with that.
As a seagoing designator, shore duty wasn’t promotable, and I couldn’t get orders to sea until the whole event was over. I got a promotion to LTJG, I passed the “fog a mirror” test, and in the background the Navy did the admin on my enlisted record.
While she was passing, over the course of 2 years, I had missed my promotions to LT, so the Navy reverted me to Master Chief. I spent almost ten years there, first to get to retirement, then because I was having so much fun, and doing so many great things.
The Navy really stepped up. Transport, treatments, transplants, medications, radiation, even a huge memorial service on base laid on by the CO.
I saw one bill over $500,000 in 1990 dollars. They sent the CIA out to the Manila slums to find donors (she was adopted) and “mailed” them to me in Miramar as six no-visa no-passport packages I had to sign for. They even had luggage tags tied to their clothes. They also sent them back, all free of charge, after we found the little girl was a match for transplant. The little girl got a complete health and dental work up, she was malnourished and had severe caries, so they treated her as well. By this time I was her guardian, so I was very happy about helping her.
Bottom line, the Navy stepped up in ways that I’ve EVER heard of from any other employer.
Even promotions…
Great question, I probably should put the answer in my profile. The story is long, heartbreaking and a little heartwarming. It’s also rare, I’ve never heard of anyone else, but the Navy’s reputation for this was always there.
The Navy had a program that didn’t penalize enlisted people for going officer, so enlisted promotions, which I never planned on, continued while I was a temporary officer.
I was a Chief, got a temporary promotion to LDO Ensign and went to the Midway, homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. Everything was going well, I was in numerous operations, and my daughter got sick.
They laid on a flight from the Philippines to Atsugi to pick her up (no blood donation in Japan, so the blood for transfusion had to be imported) and took her to Trippler Army Medical Center on Oahu, where we stayed for several months. I was launched off the Midway via COD, then trekked across the Pacific hitchhiking on MAC flights from island to island.
I negotiated Hums orders to be near the best oncologist the Navy had. My DIVO on the Midway, a full bird, and I talked for quite a while, he was a great guy, told me that this would hurt my career, but I made the choice of my child over career, and we were all cool with that.
As a seagoing designator, shore duty wasn’t promotable, and I couldn’t get orders to sea until the whole event was over. I got a promotion to LTJG, I passed the “fog a mirror” test, and in the background the Navy did the admin on my enlisted record.
While she was passing, over the course of 2 years, I had missed my promotions to LT, so the Navy reverted me to Master Chief. I spent almost ten years there, first to get to retirement, then because I was having so much fun, and doing so many great things.
The Navy really stepped up. Transport, treatments, transplants, medications, radiation, even a huge memorial service on base laid on by the CO.
I saw one bill over $500,000 in 1990 dollars. They sent the CIA out to the Manila slums to find donors (she was adopted) and “mailed” them to me in Miramar as six no-visa no-passport packages I had to sign for. They even had luggage tags tied to their clothes. They also sent them back, all free of charge, after we found the little girl was a match for transplant. The little girl got a complete health and dental work up, she was malnourished and had severe caries, so they treated her as well. By this time I was her guardian, so I was very happy about helping her.
Bottom line, the Navy stepped up in ways that I’ve EVER heard of from any other employer.
Even promotions…
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MCPO Hilary Kunz
Do you have a link to a site that allows for regular VA login? DS doesn’t work, I’ve never been able to use it. I’ve tried several times, but the VA doesn’t have a feedback loop where I can fix it.
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Answer the questionnaire for the registry. The worst they can say is you don't qualify. VA's just going to deny or low ball everyone for a couple of decades anyway.
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MCPO Hilary Kunz
Yes, I tried that. The VA security protocols secure the information from me, but not hackers. Nothing has changed there for decades. The most frustrating thing? I understand electronics at the micro level, but can’t logon.
I’m hoping to find another way, as I have no ds login and apparently can’t get one in a timely manner. My son has been home sick all week and I don’t have the hours of uninterrupted time to figure it out. Perhaps if he’s well enough to go to school next week I’ll give it another shot.
I know about the denial and lowball, lol, I had to take them to court. Twice.
I’m already 100%, not sure if this would affect me.
Thank you for your answer.
I’m hoping to find another way, as I have no ds login and apparently can’t get one in a timely manner. My son has been home sick all week and I don’t have the hours of uninterrupted time to figure it out. Perhaps if he’s well enough to go to school next week I’ll give it another shot.
I know about the denial and lowball, lol, I had to take them to court. Twice.
I’m already 100%, not sure if this would affect me.
Thank you for your answer.
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