Question:
I went to the VA for an evaluation on some bad varicose veins I developed while in the military. I had some of them removed by surgery while in the military and since then many more have appeared that cause me pain. I went in for an evaluation and this I estimate, 26 year old doctor asked me why I thought this condition was service connected and made me feel I was wasting the VA's time. I just thought the nerve of this guy that has probably been pampered since day one. I wonder if he had ever been on his feet for 36 hrs straight during a mobility operation or ever put his ass on the line for anything. I would like to hear from fellow vets there opinion on this.

Answer: -Vericose veins is not a typical military caused ailment. Reportedly, it is due to fatty deposits or conditions in the skin forcing capilaries to seek less incumbered routing... usually upward to subepidermal. This doctor may have thought that his time could have been better spent on a veteran who still suffered from painful combat wounds. -And your definition is way off, not to mention that you spelled it wrong: varicose- 1. designating blood or lymph vessels which are abnormally dialated, knotted, and tortuous. 2. Causing unusual swelling. phlebitis- Inflammation of a vein. thrombophlebitis- inflammation of a vein with with the formation of a thrombus. thrombus- a blood clot occluded in a blood vessel or formed in a heart cavity. Varicose veins and phlebitis are very common ailments produced by military service. Where did you get the idea that it was not? Was this by you sitting on your ass throughout a military career? While I was in the Army we were not even allowed to sit down except to write notes, solder on electrical stuff, etc. Virtually all of my working day was on my feet, standing, walking, running, jumping, etc. I personally know NUMEROUS Veterans with these conditions, some of which would embarass Granny when you look at their legs. Perhaps you should do more research before you make such blanket statements. Not only are varicose veins and phlebitis extremely painful, but phlebitis is a time-bomb just waiting to release a deadly blood clot into your system and then...Lights Out. What the VA does is try to downplay such conditions as normal aging, which it is not. These conditions do not usually appear until after age 40-50 and I developed varicose veins and phlebitis of the legs in my early 20's while in service.