Category Archives: HCV Health

HCV patients: Drink coffee, not tea, to slow liver disease progression

A large well- funded study,  Coffee Intake, is Associated with Lower Rates of Liver Disease Progression in Chronic Hepatitis C, was first published in Hepatology (2009) and is now free to read.  The Discussion section summarizes the good news:  This prospective study … Continue reading

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VA study: HCV can cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Are veterans the last to know?

We know that HCV can lead to liver cancer, but blood cancers too? Yes. HCV isn’t just swishing around in a body’s blood stream happily replicating in liver cells.  HCV makes changes to other bodily systems and structures in some “small … Continue reading

Posted in Guest authors, HCV Health, HCV Risks (documented), Medical News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SOVALDI–THE NEXT GENERATION OF HCV CLAIMS

I have recently been contacted more times than I can count by Veterans with the “What if I go SVR during my claim?” or the “How will this affect my rating now that I am cured?” Quite simple, actually. 38 … Continue reading

Posted in HCV Health, HCV Risks (documented), Sofosbuvir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

BVA–THE SQUEAKY WHEEL THEORY

For years and in my book, I’ve tried to impress on VA claimants the absolute necessity for continuing to pound home the appeal-even if it involves remand after remand after Joint Motion to Remand. Here it paid off in a … Continue reading

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BVA–LITTLE THINGS THAT YOU DO

I always look for explicit examples of VA tricks and try to advertize them as a “Buyer Beware”. VA has a propensity to stretch the truth like no other agency of government. They have a tendency to cite to medical … Continue reading

Posted in BvA HCV decisions, HCV Health, HCV Risks (documented), Tips and Tricks | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Harvard Law Report (2013) on HCV cites Fast Letter 04-13

There is a huge disconnect between policy makers and the VA/VHA–and it’s been working really well to keep the public ignorant of the many service-connected factors that relate to the veteran HCV epidemic.  If any institution can assign people to … Continue reading

Posted in BvA Decisions, Guest authors, HCV Health, HCV Risks (documented), Jetgun BvA Decisions, Jetgun Claims evidence, Vietnam Disease Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

SOVALDI–IT’S SHOWTIME

After a five month fight to obtain this magic elixir, I am finally going to proceed on to a six month fight to kill the Dragon. The Decon arrived late today and zero hour’s 9 AM. Protein pills and helmet await me. … Continue reading

Posted in Food for the soul, HCV Health, Sofosbuvir, Vietnam Disease Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

What’s the news on reactivation of HCV after SVR?

The VA has stopped testing my husband for any possible HCV viral load because he attained SVR after treatment (in private health care) almost ten years ago.   He’s considered (99%-100%) cured. His private gastroenterologist still tests him. Here’s one definition … Continue reading

Posted in Guest authors, HCV Health, HCV Risks (documented), Interferon claims | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

ER rapid HCV testing results support HCV infection projections for baby-boomer cohort

Kudus to James Galbraith, MD, a professor at University of Alabama, Birmingham (UAB).  He designed and conducted an HCV free screening study of baby boomers at UAB’s Emergency Department (ED).   This is a 51-bed, Level 1 trauma center.  Infectious … Continue reading

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Evidence Alert!: Bloody shared razors from “Barber’s Assistant” Dirty Jobs, Season 6, Episode 5

I have queried my spouse about the practices of  village barbers in Vietnam and learned that their methods were unsanitary.  (Village barbers also came to the compound to cut hair and shave soldiers.)  Therefore a show on the Discovery Channel, … Continue reading

Posted in Guest authors, HCV Health, HCV Risks (documented), IMOs/IMEs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments