VA has assigned a brand new sliding scale of the odds of getting Hepatitis C and what each ratio is. I had no idea they went into such detailed scientific research to obtain this. This is utterly mind-boggling.
>Intravenous drug use (odds ratio of 49.6) >Blood transfusion (10.9) >Sex with an intravenous drug user (6.3) >Having been in jail more than three days (2.9) >Religious scarification (2.8) >Tattooing (2.12) >Having been struck or cut by a bloody object (2.1) >Pierced ears or body parts (2.0) >Average incidence of seroconversion to HCV (hepatitis C virus) after unintentional needle sticks or sharp exposures from an HCV-positive source (1.8) >Immunoglobulin injection (1.6)
Does anyone notice the dichotomy here? Despite numerous grants of SC with accompanying nexus letters proving the “plausibility”, we can’t even get them to do any comprehensive study on the risk of obtaining it from jetguns. In fact, as one can see above, the odds of this occurring are unknown because VA hasn’t bothered to find out. It’s akin to a gaping black hole next door to Jupiter and not one scientist even remotely interested in examining it to find out the implications for mankind.
Something else is missing from this study and I do not think it is a coincidence either. There is no mention of the risk ratio associated with mass consumption of adult beverages. In fact, where’s the study on the risk of smoking left-handed tobacco and contraction of HCV? VA regularly tars and feathers claimants who admit as much. Now we see there was no risk- at least on April 7th, 2011.
These findings were divulged in a Board decision attached below. They are not old data, but the latest, cutting edge revelations of a doctor trained in the art of odds. Its funny how they can be so detailed as to the odds of “Religious Scarification” which I wasn’t even aware was a risk. What about regular, atheistic scarification? In fact, nowhere is alien abduction with resultant percutaneous piercing quantified. No, I’m sorry. This medical finding is lacking numerous untold and unmentioned risks. If you and I presented this as evidence, it would be discounted as not being probative and inherently incredible. This study raises more questions than it answers, I’m afraid.
http://www.va.gov/vetapp11/Files2/1112433.txt
Need I mention the Vet lost? No. I suppose not. That would be horribly redundant.
P.S. I just realized why they didn’t discuss the ramifications of alcohol. This emanated from the Louisville, Kentucky VARO. I believe that’s a dry county. No booze ergo no risk.
asknod
Bethanie Spangenberg
kcraveiro
robinhoodesqvetsatty
Wesley McCauley
Veterans Claims Help 
Tricia Lupole commented on your post.
Tricia wrote: “Finally published after almost 2 years- VA Study 488- Elevated Prevalence of Hepatitis C Infection in Users of United States Veterans Medical Centers-
No risks specifically associated with military service or military combat were identified. ..In summary, we (the VA) estimate that 5.4% of VA users are HCV-seropositive, exceeding …the general population by more than 2-fold. Although Vietnam veterans had the highest prevalence (11%) in our sample, military-related exposures were not found to be significant risk factors. That this estimate differs considerably from some prior estimates used to determine health policy…
According to the study, spending 2 days in the local jail was a bigger risk factor than combat.
How the VA Used Study 488 to Deny Millions of Retired Military and Veterans Help.
The study 488 is used for the bases of a questionnaire that decides the need to test Retired Military and Veterans for Hepatitis C. The study results show 7% of Veterans attending VA clinics, reported having Hepatitis C and receiving a Jetgun injection during service. However, some clinics didn’t get the right survey. The wrong survey data did not included the Jetgun option.
Both, the wrong and new surveys, did address the lifestyle risk involving multiple partners. Jason A. Dominitz, et al, reports 5.5% association to infection, if the patient had between 2 and 49 partners. Ironically, this risk is listed to determine the need to test Vets, but the Jetguns, with a higher occurrence rate (7%), are not. http://hcvets.com/data/transmission_methods/image/488Table3.gif“
Well now…is there a great deal of Religious scarification about the place? Whatever the blue blazes that is?
That study was for the bobbleheads in Washington. Anyone with an ounce of brains can see through that. How does average working stiff Joe American who takes his four kids and wife to church on Sunday get HCV or HIV?
Clinics…hospitals…dentists
Since most of the people in this Country who have HCV are Veterans: How did the Veteran become infected?
MEDICAL AND DENTAL TREATMENT including JETGUNS!I
It might be more useful to have a study done that shows just how many people infected in this Country are Veterans. That study could also find out when and where those infected Veterans served. Oh, that’s right the VA already did that back in 1998. The parrots in Congress then crapped all over themselves and buried the HCV issue along with the whitewash.
I had a PA at a VAOC tell me that she thought most Veterans who are infected got it from intra-nasal cocaine use….she had the sniffles though. I have to wonder if this study was done by a bunch of cokeheads who got together to play spin the bottle.