Cardiomyopathy "congestive Heart Failure"

[jazz991]

Hello, I have the below problem and was told that I might face a MEB board. My ejection fraction at first was 18% and now it's 25%. I'm going to have a implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placed in my chest in Jun 10. Correct me if I'm reading this the wrong what. Is the below stating that a person with a automatic implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (AICD) in place, receives a 100% disability rating?

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 %

7020 Cardiomyopathy:

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 %

[carlie]

bump

[Pete53]

I don't know but I wish you the best on your surgery and recovery.

I do know this I had an stent put in almost 3 years ago and my heart made a major improvement from like 36% to 75%. I don't know if that was the reason also helped my blood pressure and especially my pulse rate that dropped from over 100 to 70 and 80's

The stent was considered an emergency intervention.

[Berta]

http://www4.va.gov/vetapp06/files2/0602892.tx

ratings for 7011 diagnostic code

http://www4.va.gov/vetapp07/files4/0731110.txt

mentions 7020 diagnostic code but contains this statement to keep in mind:

“The Board also notes that other diagnostic codes for

cardiovascular disabilities provide for ratings greater than

10 percent. However, there is no objective medical evidence

of myocardial infarction (Diagnostic Code 7006); hypertensive

heart disease, (Diagnostic Code 7007); heart valve

replacement (DC 7016); coronary bypass surgery (DC 7017);

cardiac transplantation (DC 7019); or cardiomyopathy (DC

7020). See Butts v. Brown, 5 Vet. App. 532 (1993) (choice of

diagnostic code should be upheld if supported by explanation

and evidence).”

In your case -say the VA found one DC offered only 60 % to you (possible )- then the other DC should kick in for your receipt of the highest possible rating-

You should consider applying for TDIU as well as Social Security Disability as soon as you leave the service.

If you go to the VA web site, then to Board of Appeals, then to the search feature and put the diagnostic codes, or your conditions into the browser cases will pop up that show how they rate these disabilities.

In my opinion you should receive 100%SC from VA or TDIU at 100% rate comp as well as receive SSA disability benefits.

Apply for both as soon as you leave service and use whatever award comes first to support the other claim.

[Berta]

This past hadit discusson might help:

http://www.hadit.com/forums/index.php?show...p;mode=threaded

And there are other discussions and links under MEB searches here.