Vietnam Vet with various health issues

Question:

 A friend of mind was in Nam 1969. He is VA rated for prostrate cancer.  He also is diagnosed by his own doctors with autoimmune diseases  "dermatomyositis" he has skin rash, muscle weakness, 18 inches of his colon removed " cancer ". He had no health problems in the military. So can he file a VA claim for autoimmune diseases “dermatomyositis"? Or the colon cancer?

Jim's Reply:

Any veteran can file a claim for anything he or she believes is service connected. Once the claim is filed, the veteran must provide proof that the alleged condition is service connected. If your friend can get that process started, he probably should.