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Transient Ischemic Attack (Micro/minni Strokes)

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chiefhouse00

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Greetings

I may have ask this question before but don't know for sure. I have a history of mirco strokes and would like to know how I can get it service connected. CT scan and MRI of my brain showed that I have a history of micro strokes...a surprize and scare to me. I submitted a claim but the VA denied it saying it was not service connected. What should I do next?

Best Regards

Chiefhouse

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Greetings Berta

Good News! I was finally granted service connected for my TIA condition. I have attached my BVA Decision Letter.  How do you think it will be rated?

Best Regards

Chiefhouse00  

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I am very familiar with this facet of neurology- but I have never seen TIAs rated by the VA at all.

They are symptomatic of something else.

When the VA did the CT and MRI they had to prepare a full narration of the MRI findings.Have you obtained a copy of that yet?

What did VA say was the cause of these TIAs?

If you have DMII from AO or IHD from AO this would be a way to claim the TIAs.As long as there are no serious residuals then this would already be a service connected factor even if they rate at Zero SC if you ever have a major stroke.

If the VA had properly assessed my husband's TIAs (I took him to the ER every time they happened)

he might well be alive today.

There are many medical causes of TIA as well as preventive medical steps the VA can take. The VA needs to assess the cause of the TIAs and then treat the cause.

Their lack of proper diagnosis and treatment for the initial multiple presentations my husband had of this symptom (TIA) of his undiagnosed and untreated IHD and DMII was a very strong factor in my FTCA case and 1151 claim.

Cardio embolism, HBP, cerebral atherosclerosis, cerebral thrombosis – there are numerous types of TIAs as well as many causes.

The VA has to diagnosis the cause for you and then provide proper treatment.The cause could be something you potentially could have service connected.

When I get my IHD claim resolved, there might be a statement or even a rating for my husband's TIAs as I proved all of his brain trauma was due to his IHD.His CVA which VA rated but incorrectly should be 100% for 2 years in that decision.I have no guess on the IHD rating.

VA told me Friday they want to get all AO Nehmer claims resolved by end of October.

If I do receive a rating fr his TIAs I sure will post that here but I really dont expect any rating on them,nly on the Stroke that resulted from leaving them untreated.

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Their might be ratable TIA cases at the BVA web site-and this info indicates there could be a ratable residual.

My husband as a VA employee at time of his TIAs, had a definite and documented decrease in his work performance. His vision changed abruptly that fall. The year before he had the first deer kill in the county on opening day of Hunting season (and 20/20 vision without glasses)but after these TIAs, the next fall, I pushed out 7 deer to him in our woods and they all ran by him but even with a new scope on the Mossberg he didnt take a shot.He didnt trust his vision anymore and asked for a documented accomodation at the VA job because the glasses VA gave him didnt help with his damaged peripheral vision.

Your question here made me realize that I did send this info to the VA and if they dont rated the TIAs maybe I will appeal that.

Everyone needs to know symptoms of TIAs:

“The warning signs of a TIA are exactly the same as for a stroke:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body

Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

Sudden, severe headache with no known cause”

From:http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/AboutStroke/TypesofStroke/TIA/TIA_UCM_310942_Article.jsp

and

“American Stroke Association meeting report:

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 24, 2010 — Nearly four in 10 transient ischemic attack (TIA) and minor ischemic stroke patients may experience mental impairment, according to a study presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2010. “

http://newsroom.heart.org/pr/aha/948.aspx

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Greetings Berta

Sorry to hear about your husband but very glad that you are still fighting for justice.

Here is an clip of my claim for TIA and results:

Service connection for ischemic strokes and seizures as secondary to the service connected

disability of hepatitis C {also claimed as short term memory and concentration levels}.

We have considered but denied your claim for service connection for ischemic strokes

and seizures because there is no evidence of a chronic condition incurred in or as a result

of active military service; nor were strokes manifest to a compensable degree within a

presumptive period following your discharge from active military service. Additionally,

the VA examiner also noted there is no association between hepatitis C or interferon

treatment, and no seizure activity was found. Also short term memory or concentration

levels are considered symptoms only, and by themselves are not subject to compensation.

Service treatment records are negative for any complaints, diagnosis, or treatment for

strokes, seizures, or problems with memory or concentration.

VA treatment records document ongoing evaluation and management for multiple

medical conditions. There are no records of any confirmed diagnosed or treatment for

strokes or seizures. A record dated August 18, 2009, noted you had received emergent

care on May 29, 2009 in Virginia, when you had an elevated blood sugar up to 399, with

associated limb twitching. The results of subsequent diagnostic testing that included a

computed tomography (CT) scan dated June 4, 2009, showed findings compatible with

multiple small nonacute infarcts in the bilateral parietal deep white matter and is also

chronic ischemia in the white matter. There was no evidence of any brain swelling,

circumscribed tumor or hemorrhage seen. Mild frontal and temporal lobe atrophy was

also seen. An electroencephalogram study was also accomplished, which was noted as

normal. The examiner noted it was unlikely for you to have epilepsy, and the seizure you

were most likely experiencing in the emergency room was due to hyperglycemia, due to a

blood sugar of 399. The examiner attributed it to your diabetes mellitus, and noted the

best way to avoid a repeat episode was to have good control of your diabetes mellitus.

There are no records which address any problems with memory or concentration levels.

In your statements you related having an undiagnosed and untreated stroke condition

which was manifested by the treatment used for your Hepatitis C, and you related the

types of associated symptoms you experienced. You further detailed your history of the

emergent care you received in May 2009, as well as the associated symptoms you

experienced leading up to this emergent episode of care. You also provided copies of

printed web based documents regarding Hepatitis C, as well as the treatments and side

effects thereof. Also provided were multiple copies of prior treatment records which are

duplicate of records already received, and included an emergency record from the Reston

Hospital Center dated May 29, 2009, which noted treatment for a diagnosis of poorly

controlled type II diabetes mellitus with associated peripheral neuropathy. The statement

provided by your spouse relates her observations of your symptoms leading up to your

emergent care at Reston Hospital Center. She also discussed the advice you had been provided

by your primary care provider.

On VA examination, you related the history of your transient ischemic attacks which you

related to have begun in 1996. You reported symptoms of light headedness, with sudden

numbness, weakness, and blurred vision during these attacks. Your current treatment for

this condition consists of use of Aspirin. You continue to have moderate attacks of

dizziness every 2 to 3 weeks, that radiates into the arms, legs and right side of the body.

You are not able to walk during attacks, your tongue swells, and you have been

hospitalized four times for these attacks in 1996, 2003, 2009, and 2010. You also noted

you do not have seizures, but have transient ischemic attacks.

The VA examiner noted coordination, speech, memory, cranial nerve function were all

normal. Romberg's and Babinski's testing was normal. You were oriented to person,

place, and time, and are competent to manage your financial affairs, and the examiner

noted you have no cognitive impairments. The final diagnosis was recurrent transient

ischemic attacks, with associated symptoms of dizziness, numbness, weakness, blurred

vision, tremors, and swollen tongue during attacks. Based on a review of your active

military service records and history pre and post military service, the VA examiner

opined it is not at least as likely that your recurrent ischemic attacks are secondary to

your hepatitis C or the treatment provided in conjunction with that condition, as there is

no association between hepatitis C and ischemic attacks. Additionally, the examiner

noted no seizure activity was found or claimed.

Although there is a diagnosis of transient ischemic attacks found on VA examination, the

examiner did not relate it to your hepatitis C or the treatment thereof, nor is there no

objective evidence of a chronic condition incurred in or as a result of active military

service. Additionally, it does not establish this condition to a compensable degree

(severe enough to be evaluated at least 10 percent disabling) within one year following

your discharge from active military service. In the absence of a diagnosed transient

ischemic attacks that can be attributed to active military service or in relation to your

hepatitis C or the treatment thereof, your claim for service connection cannot be

established.

Best Regards

Chiefhouse

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I agree with VA that the TIAs have no association to the Hep C.

Poorly controlled or undiagnosed and untreated diabetes mellitus can cause TIAS.

And then it can cause a major cerebral vascular event.

Are you service connected for the Diabetes?

"The examiner noted it was unlikely for you to have epilepsy, and the seizure you

were most likely experiencing in the emergency room was due to hyperglycemia, due to a

blood sugar of 399. The examiner attributed it to your diabetes mellitus, and noted the

best way to avoid a repeat episode was to have good control of your diabetes mellitus."

That could have caused a TIA.

"and noted the

best way to avoid a repeat episode was to have good control of your diabetes mellitus."

"She also discussed the advice you had been provided

by your primary care provider."

These statements alarm me.

They indicate either VA is trying to blame you for these TIAs or you are not following the VA's advise as to the treatment program.

The claim-in my opinion- was written wrong if you are service connected for diabetes.

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Have you had any head trauma or other medication that might be connected to the conditions that are rated? If not, you may have a losing fight on your hands. Not that your condition isn't severe, but because the nexus (in VA eyes) is weak. By what you've posted, that's what I read.

My experience: head injury due to auto accident while on active duty. Started having migraines that lasted weeks (wouldn't wish this on anyone). I was rated for migraines - not TIA. A few years ago, I was having a migraine when I dropped to my knees in excruciating pain and facial numbness. This has happened twice since then. My neurologist said that they would become more frequent and severe over time, and potentially more destructive. I take aspirin for other reasons, but was told it may help. I also take several other drugs for other reasons that have secondary benefits for migraine prevention/reduction. I haven't had a TIA in a year or so; I feel lucky.

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