Non Ischemic Heart Disease

[Berta]

Not all heart disease is Ischemic. Ischemia is the key medical term that is going to grant or deny many IHD AO claims.

Every advocate or vet rep has to be very careful in suggesting that a Vietnam vet with heart disease mght have a legitmate AO claim under the new proposed regs for IHD presumptive.

"Non-ischemic Cardiomyopathy

What is cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy is any disease of the heart muscle in which the heart loses its full ability to pump blood. Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy occurs in the sbsence of coronary artery disease and/or heart attacks. There may be multiple causes of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, including viral infections. Sometimes, the exact cause of the muscle disease is never found.

How does non-ischemic cardiomyopathy differ from other heart disorders?

"Cardiomyopathy differs from many of the other disorders of the heart in several ways, including:

it is a leading cause for heart transplantation.

it can, and often does, occur in young people.

the condition tends to be progressive and sometimes worsens fairly quickly.

it can be due to specific causes, and is often associated with diseases involving other organs as well as the heart.

Types of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy

Three types of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy are:

hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (Also called hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, HOCM; asymmetric septal hypertrophy, ASH; or idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, IHSS.) - the muscle mass of the left ventricle of the heart is larger than normal. The wall between the two ventricles (septum) becomes enlarged and may obstruct the blood flow from the left ventricle. A heart murmur may be heard."

http://wo-pub2.med.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/PublicA.woa/3/wa/viewHContent?website=wmc+ct&contentID=201&wosid=qNGXIi2i2ayx8rO0Vp1IVM

(Left ventricular hypertrophy however can be found along with ischemia.Any vet who has had any form of ischemic brain stroke has more than likely -ischematic heart disease.I hope the VA automation will be able to fully comprehend medical records.)

[john999]

What about congestive heart failure? I knew the VA would parse the IHD presumptive. This means to me that every vet who dies from heart condition should get autopsy. Not a pleasent thought but you want proof.

[stillhere]

i also believe that any vet that has had an MI/heart attack due to a blockage would be granted under IHD.

[rotorhead]

I agree with stillhere, X2