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Cardiac Ablation
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LILS
Howdy, Masters of the VA system,
I'm not sure if you can answer my questions, but I thought I would ask anyway. Here's some history on my issue. I've had cardiac issues for many years now: On blood pressure meds for 15 years due to high BP/rapid heart rate. Since about 2004, I've noticed increased palpitations. I got checked in 2005 and had a holter monitor done and I had approx 7,300 Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs) in 24hrs. The doctor (Internal Med) didn't know what to make of it since all my other basic tests were normal. I was stationed overseas on an island, so the docs were limited. He said maybe it was anxiety and I should go see a psychiatrist. I felt he just didn't know how to fix it, so he used that as a cop out, even though I knew I didn't suffer from anxiety. He said PVCs can be pretty normal and it was no big deal.....maybe he was secretly working for the VA. Anyway, I blew off my PVCs for 4yrs, until I noticed them increasing. Unlike some people, I can feel each one of those arrhythmias; thousands a day are annoying! A few months ago, I went to see a cardiologist and had all the holter monitor tests (3 of them), electrocardiogram, etc, done. My PVCs had increased to over 12,000 a day. He said that yes, PVCs are normal, but not if they are over 5,000 for a extended amount of time. He said the doc should've followed up better. Well, the cardiologist referred me to an Electrophysiologist (EP) and I am scheduled for a cardiac ablation later this month.
Below is an excerpt from the VA ratings. Ok ladies and gents, here are my questions: What in the hell does the below excerpt mean?? I'm being admitted for the ablation, but it's only overnight, and according to the EP will more than likely be on anti-arrhythmic medication for the rest of my life, even after the procedure. Is this something I can claim, and if it is, how in the world would I know what category I fall into? Does the ablation procedure count separately from the high blood pressure claim, since the anti-arrhythmic med will take care of both? I know there are a couple of people on this site that had cardiac ablations done in the past; hopefully you're still out there and can fill me in on how you handled everything. Thanks to anyone that can help decipher the below excerpt for me. Because the way I read it, I would get 100% and I know that's not right! LOL.
7011 Ventricular arrhythmias (sustained):
For indefinite period from date of hospital admission for initial evaluation
and medical therapy for a sustained ventricular arrhythmia, or; for
indefinite period from date of hospital admission for ventricular
aneurysmectomy, or; with an automatic implantable Cardioverter-
Defibrillator (AICD) in place........................................................................... 100
Chronic congestive heart failure, or; workload of 3 METs or less results
in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or; left ventricular
dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 30 percent.......................... 100
More than one episode of acute congestive heart failure in the past year,
or; workload of greater than 3 METs but not greater than 5 METs
results in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or; left
ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30 to 50 percent............... 60
Workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs results in
dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or; evidence of
cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation on electrocardiogram,
echocardiogram, or X-ray.............................................................................
...... 30
Workload of greater than 7 METs but not greater than 10 METs results
in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or;
continuous medication required........................................................................
.. 10
Note: A rating of 100 percent shall be assigned from the date of hospital admission for initial evaluation and medical therapy for a sustained ventricular arrhythmia or for ventricular aneurysmectomy. Six months following discharge, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination. Any change in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of §3.105(e) of this chapter.
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