ptsd Mitral valve replacement?

[Titan]

I am 36 and rated 40% for asthma and PTSD. I will be undergoing Mitral valve replacement at the VA in houston in 2 weeks. What are the chances this will be given a rating by the VA? It seems very hard to prove where the valve disease came from and no one has any idea that Ive talked to.

[TexasMarine]

I attend the Houston VA (Michael DeBakey) Hospital as well.  I've had surgery there and I trust their teams to do a good job.

Mitral valve replacement, while considered technically complex, isn't applicable to VA law unless you can prove one of the items below (at a minimum):

• Something happened in-service to cause the need for the operation.
• The VA caused the need during some previous treatment.

If you have reason to believe you have a case, share it with us, and the Hadit team will try to help.

 

[Titan]

It seems to be near impossible as to determine what caused it. It's unfortunate because I could definitely use the money with being off of work for months. 

[TexasMarine]

My wife has Mitral-valve Prolapse.  She was born with it.  It put her in the hospital once (the day we learned of the heart defect).

Maybe yours was the same.  You were born with it, and the service exasperated your condition to the point where you are having surgery now.

That's quite possible but very hard to prove.  Although if you prove that, you'd have a case.  Any heart problems in your service medical records?

 

[Titan]

I don't think so. I know it could be caused by untreated strep though. I'll have to look through my records. 

[TexasMarine]

Give it a few days to think about it.  Did you fall out on runs/humps?  DId any military doc tell you (better yet, document) the fact that you had an irregular heartbeat?

If you can't remember, you may have to request a copy of your service record and service medical record, and read your record cover-to-cover.

IF YOU CAN'T link the problem to time spent in the service, or due to VA negligence, I don't see how you'd have a case, but other on this board may have a different take on it.

Wait until the site elders see your dilemma.  They may some ideas.

 

[Titan]

a family friend worked for the VA for many years, she told my parents she would try to help so she sent an email to someone. I received a call this morning and the guy asked me a few more questions about my condition. I checked ebenefits and my claim moved to preparation for decision. I filed my claim on 12/3. Any idea what this could mean for me?