Being stationed in the UK in the 80s did anyone claim mad cow disease with the VA and now unable to donate blood?

TSgt Mark Carrico — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 12:26:27 -0400

Response by TSgt David L. made Apr 20 at 2016 12:39 PM

TSgt David L. — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 12:39:45 -0400

That is an interesting question. I was in Germany and it basically applied to anyone in the European theater. I wonder if a guy could pull it off.

Response by SPC Matthew Eccles made Apr 20 at 2016 12:46 PM

SPC Matthew Eccles — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 12:46:55 -0400

Just asking, but how does "not being able to donate blood" make a person disabled?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2016 1:36 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 13:36:30 -0400

TSgt Mark Carrico You are unable to donate blood because the blood banks are erring on the side of caution. Now if you have Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), then you have a valid claim with the VA.

Does Mad Cow Disease Affect Humans?

A human version of mad cow disease called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is believed to be caused by eating beef products contaminated with central nervous system tissue, such as brain and spinal cord, from cattle infected with mad cow disease. For this reason, the USDA requires that all brain and spinal cord materials be removed from high-risk cattle -- older cattle, animals that are unable to walk, and any animal that shows any signs of a neurological problem. These cow products do not enter the U.S. food supply. The USDA believes this practice effectively safeguards U.S. public health from vCJD.

According to the CDC, four deaths from vCJD have been identified in the U.S. However, it's believed those cases were caused by consumption of meat outside the U.S.

It is important to clarify the differences between variant CJD and another form of the disease, referred to as classic or sporadic CJD. Classic CJD has no known cause and occurs each year at a rate of one to two cases per 1 million people throughout the world, including in the U.S. and countries where mad cow disease has never occurred. It is not linked to eating nerve tissue from mad cow disease-affected cattle -- both vegetarians and meat eaters have died from classic CJD. CJD most commonly affects people over 65 and is usually fatal within six months from onset of symptoms.

Response by SSgt William Quinn, MSSCM made Apr 20 at 2016 1:49 PM

SSgt William Quinn, MSSCM — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 13:49:12 -0400

I know every time I go to donate at the Red Cross they ask if you were there during that time frame and will not take your blood.

Response by SFC Thomas Howes made Apr 20 at 2016 5:52 PM

SFC Thomas Howes — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 17:52:54 -0400

Are Vets really claiming this to the VA I have never heard of anything like this

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2016 1:36 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 01:36:08 -0400

You don't have to claim mad cow disease. Just having been in Europe in the 80s is an automatic DQ. It comes up in the sceening process

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 21 at 2016 9:42 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 21:42:36 -0400

I don't think not being able to donate blood qualifies as disabled. Do I have the Tremors, No. Was I stationed in the UK in the 80's yep. So Far So Good.

Response by Sgt Kerry Kujawa made Apr 4 at 2018 4:48 PM

Sgt Kerry Kujawa — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 16:48:31 -0400

Just got denied for donating plasma

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 5 at 2018 11:26 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 11:26:58 -0400

It is not claiming "Mad Cow" disease- it is the simple fact of being stationed in or spending certain amount of time in during the Mad Cow time frame. I get asked the question everytime I give blood, but only trained in UK for 3-6 weeks, a couple of times.

Response by A1C Cathy Kaiser made Apr 21 at 2018 1:45 PM

A1C Cathy Kaiser — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 13:45:20 -0400

I was station in the 86-89 in the UK. Now I've been given a diagnose a auto dz, brain tumor, depression etc. I still can not give donate blood, so my question is should we file with VA for exposure to mad cow dz?