I am writing to respectfully request donations for In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) support from medical providers for myself and my spouse, Anna Ochs. I am a retired U.S. Air Force veteran with 21.5 years of active-duty service and a 100% service-connected disability rating.

The primary medical condition contributing to my disability is Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), specifically Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN). I was diagnosed in March 2023. Please reference the attached Nexus Letter from a board-certified oncologist for detailed medical documentation.

Upon diagnosis, I immediately contacted the VA claims and health departments for assistance and filed a claim for BPDCN leukemia as service-connected. This claim has been denied twice, largely due to limited awareness and understanding of this rare cancer type. It is important to note that BPDCN falls under the broader AML classification. The claim is now under appeal before a VA judge, a process that may take 2–4 years to resolve. I have since been advised that submitting under the AML classification may have been more effective initially. The aggressive treatment required for this cancer, including chemotherapy and a stem-cell transplant in July 2024, has rendered me completely infertile. Fortunately, before treatment began, we were able to bank healthy sperm samples through a private facility—at our own expense.

My Wife, Anna, has also undergone significant medical evaluation and procedures, including a Billateral Salpingectomy Surgery (Fallopian Tube Removal). Her medical team has confirmed that she is now physically prepared for the IVF process.

Given my medical history, the prognosis of less than 40% five-year life expectancy, and the likelihood that my leukemia was caused by military exposures (burn pits, aircraft chemicals, exhaust, etc., as documented in the attached Nexus letter), I am requesting that the VA expedite consideration of IVF coverage for us.

We face substantial medical debt and I am currently unable to work due to ongoing treatment. While we maintain both TRICARE and VA benefits, these programs do not cover IVF unless infertility is deemed service-connected. The delay in the service-connection appeal has placed us in an impossible position — waiting years for a decision we may not live to see, while the window for starting a family narrows rapidly.

Therefore, I respectfully request donations for IVF support in recognition of the circumstances and medical evidence linking my infertility to service-related conditions.

Thank you for your time, consideration, and continued support to veterans and their families.