Hello All,
During the summer of 2016, I noticed a blurry spot in my vision from my right eye. I only noticed it when I was driving, so I thought it was a smudge or scratch on my sunglasses. After a month or so, I noticed it inside while watching TV. I went to the eye doctor, thinking I would need glasses. After all the tests she had, she couldn't find an issue with my eyes. She ordered an MRI. She called me later the same day of my MRI to tell me I needed to go see a neurosurgeon. The neurosurgeon showed me my MRI and there is was...a tumor the size of a large avacado sitting on my optic nerve and pushing my frontal lobe backward. He explained that this was the reason for my personality changes (quick temper), loss of interest in things I used to enjoy, and of course, the vision. Within a month I was scheduled for my craniotomy. The day of the surgery, I could no longer see out of my right eye. The good news; after surgery, it was confirmed as a benign meningioma and my sight returned to normal. The bad news; my olfactory nerves were engulfed by the tumor and subsequently, removed along with it. I no longer have the ability to smell anything; candles, food, fire, noxious fumes, toxic chemicals, etc. Also, I have memory issues, mostly short-term, and I get headaches. Sometimes very bad and lasting for days. I served for over 23 years in the military and deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. I was exposed to burn pits during both deployments. Also, I worked with hazardous chemicals in the military. I retired in 2012, but the meningioma wasn't discovered until 2016. My neurosurgeon gave me a letter stating that in his medical opinion, this tumor started growing well within my military service, due to the slow-growing nature of meningiomas. However, my claim to have this included as a service-connected disability was denied by the VA. The VA requires more proof that this tumor had been growing while I was on active duty. I am having a VERY hard time finding a study, paper, article, or anything that I can site as evidence that this tumor was growing then. I recently found out that it is back, but so small right now that it isn't a concern. I am to continue getting annual MRIs to keep an eye on it. Has anyone come accross information on the growth rate of meningiomas? I am now without one of my original 5 senses and have no doubt it is connected to my military service.