saddletramp

I had a C&P last week and talked to the examiner about DMII in relationship to my cateracts, in Fayetteville Arkansas. The examiner explained , Cataracts are not contributed to by DMII?? The National Institute of health states on their website (National Eye Institute) That it is secondary to Diabetes. The examiner asked me if I smoked, and I told her I started in my Late teens (Mliitary Vietnam) and quit in my early thirties. So she didn't even mention it in her report. She informed me that smoking causes Cataracts, and age. This dawned on me today, The Military gave me cigarettes and approved of us smoking! In every pack of Both C and Lrrp Rations were Government Issued Cigarettes, as a matter of fact, that is when I started smoking, along with some other people. So in essence, weren't we encouraged to Smoke??? Cigarette brands issued included Camel, Chelsea, Chesterfield, Craven "A"-Brand, Lucky Strike, Old Gold, Philip Morris, Player's, Raleigh, and Wings. So , when I was 17 in basic, we had C Rations occasionally, and in Vietnam Both Kinds of rations (With Smokes) Saddletramp

Thanks Buck!! I will, keep you all posted. I started having symptoms in the mid 70's. Records for this is scarce though. I have an ER visit in 99 that the C&P examiner mentioned in her statement of anxiety caused heart problems. I appreciate the concern!!! JImmy

Tyr Thanks for asking, I had put in a claim for Ischemia in 2010, they denied and we put in for a appeal? I had afib at the time (Still do) , so they kicked out my current claim and stated I had to wait on the appeal and then it would go through, with new evidence, but until then , not connected. I am sorry it took me this long to reply, but I had to wait on the answer. I spoke with an appeal clerk at the VA and she told me how to interpret what they were saying, in the denial letter. IT wasn't very clear to me, but I am not an attorney, and really shouldn't have to be. Thanks again Jimmy

Tyr Thanks for asking, I had put in a claim for Ischemia in 2010, they denied and we put in for a appeal? I had afib at the time (Still do) , so they kicked out my current claim and stated I had to wait on the appeal and then it would go through, with new evidence, but until then , not connected. I am sorry it took me this long to reply, but I had to wait on the answer. I spoke with an appeal clerk at the VA and she told me how to interpret what they were saying, in the denial letter. IT wasn't very clear to me, but I am not an attorney, and really shouldn't have to be. Thanks again Jimmy

Berta, Just last week, they made the decision and I haven't got the packet back. I really just posted this to show How they can screw with us. But when I called the 800 number the man said wait on the letter and I can appeal, their decision.

Berta Thanks, Like I said I am waiting for the packet. I will know more then. This is the Saint Louis VA, My Hospital is in Fayetteville Arkansas. When I actually receive the packet I will send you the letter!

Berta, I just posted this to show, what they can do, to mess with you. I must of done something to P--- Them off? HA! They haven't responded yet, just , No service connection, I will see when the packet actually comes. I spoke with the 800 number and they didn't see a reason. I guess we will see what they say soon. Thanks.

Thanks Buck, My attorney is in the process, I just wanted to show how the VA can just mess with you. I have had Hypertension since my 20's and Blood sugar problems. I have talked to a lot of my Brothers and it seems to me, we all have one thing in common, Our health issues. My C&P exam clearly shows Ischemia CAD. I had a Private Doc, do the Heart Cath with 4 blockages and it was spelled out very clearly. But it just amazes me , How they can violate the law, and there is no accountability.

I have Boots on the Ground in a Combat Unit in Vietnam, and all of the credentials. My C&P exam shows I have ischemic heart disease and they aren't connecting my VN service as service connected? I am a little confused. I hired an attorney.

Thanks for the advice, I already emailed Bergman tonight! I am very aware of the stalling tactic. When I was in Country, it was Thanksgiving 1969 and the cadre ( Generals and some politicians and a preist) Brought out a turkey dinner fit for a king, and thats who got to eat it. We in the lowly ranks waited on them in power to eat, and then they packed up the groceries and got on their slicks and flew off, leaving us some funny colored hot dogs and some stale buns to eat. That was in Song Mao Vietnam, and that actually happened!! So I am used to the old stall!!! I really appreciate the input!

Carlie You tell them, I studder!!! But I never receive the benefit of the doubt! MY luck is not good! Thanks for your help!!!!

I am going to get an attorney, this is a little too complicated for me. They will probably send me to the right doc's. Thanks for the help.

To Whom It May Concern Jim W He is a patient in my care. He has been recently diagnosed with diabetes type 2. He had previously been diagnosed with atrophic fibrillation. It is very likely that those are interrelated and the atrial fibrillation likely may be a cardiac complication of his diabetes. <br style="page-break-before:always;mso-break-type:section-break" clear="all"> RicfTW Williams, MD <br clear="ALL"> If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

Yes I have a Doctors letter stating that my AFIB and other cardiac complications are caused by my DMII. I never thought of the effective date! thanks. I will send it in tomorrow!

Thanks for the response, I do not have IHD, I went and had a C&P for that. My Afib is caused by my DMII. I didn't find out until may, that the AFIB was caused by the DMII. As far as the TBI, I was being medevaced for heat stroke, and got hit in the head by debris from the dustoff chopper. I filed for all of my records over a year ago, and haven't received any, they sent me a letter and said the records were loaned out to the VA and they didn't have them. I was medevaced twice out of Vietnam for Psychiatric reasons, and was on Thorazine. For several weeks , once to the 249th army hospital Camp Drake japan, and the second time stateside. I can't remember any people except my CO. He was General Abrams Son , at the time Capt John Abrams, retired general Abrams.( I don't think he would remember any of my stuff) I got my C&P exam for PTSD and the Psych changed my inservice diagnosis from Schiziphrenia and a lifelong personality disorder to PTSD from 1969. I am a little hesitant to fill out the form for Unemployability, because my afib isn't service connected yet. I am on BP meds, Heart rythm meds, thyroid and blood thinners, and am very tired a lot! Thanks

Please submit medical evidence on your current disability as well as evidence showing a connection between your disability and your service connected condition. We will consider service connection for your as secondary to your service connected condition. Note: Temporary or intermittent flare ups of a condition are not considered aggravation, unless the underlying condition, as contrasted by symptoms, has gotten worse. 2011-11-28 2011-12-28 You may be entitled to compensation at the 100 percent rate if you are unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation because of your service-connected disabilities. If you believe you qualify, complete, sign, and return the enclosed VA Form 21-8940, Veterans Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability. 2011-11-28 2011-12-28 You were previously denied service connection for atrial fibrillation. You were notified of the decision on January 3, 2011. The appeal period for that decision has expired and the decision is now final. In order for us to reopen your claim, we need new and material evidence. Your claim was previously denied because the evidence does not show that your claimed ischemic heart disease began in the military or that it has been treated continuously since your discharge from service. Therefore, the evidence you submit must be new and relate to this fact. 2011-11-28 2011-12-28 We need evidence showing that the following condition(s) existed from military service to the presen...t time: atrial fibrillation secondary to Diabetes Mellitus Type II 2011-11-28 2011-12-28 As we consider your claim, you may submit evidence showing that your service-connected Post-Traumati...c Stress Disorder (PTSD) [[has][have]] increased in severity. 2011-11-28 2011-12-28 We need evidence showing that the following condition(s) existed from military service to the presen...t time: hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, traumatic brain injury(TBI), diabetes mellitus type II due to Agent Orange Exposure 2011-05-10 2011-06-09 Send us medical evidence that shows the diagnosis and earliest symptoms for each disability below th...at resulted from your exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange): diabetes mellitus type II due to Agent Orange Exposure If you are claiming a skin condition, we need medical evidence that shows your skin condition was present during the first year after your last service in Vietnam. 2011-05-10 2011-06-09 Show Less My medical records are really fragmented, and only half there. From 1/25/68 to 10/15/69 they are missing. That is when I had a TBI in 9/69, How to prove that ? I have a doctors nexus letter with AFIB being secondary to DMII, and my TBI was in sept 69 they say they lost my medical records until oct of 69??? As far as not working, my health is pretty diminished with my heart and everything else. I am afraid of filling out the . 21-8940 form, because my afib is service connected yet, and my PTSD is only 30% I get 10% for DMII> Any help would work!! Thanks in advance.

I don't know, what they will say, we just put in the claim for TBI, last week, but my other claims they turned down for lack of evidence. The say they cannot locate my med rcds from the 1st 18 months of service. So I want to locate them, for verification. I get 30% for ptsd. I was sent to japan once and stateside the next time for psych. My VA psychologist has my mental records, but not my medical. They changed my diagnosis from life long personality disorder and schizoid behavior, to PTSD last year. I fullfilled my whole enlistment??? Things happen in the Bush! Thanks

No, but I just went on line and requested the records. I faxed the 1st page as the signature page. Thanks for the info!

I had a prostate infection (A bad one) in Sept. 1969, and was hospitalized , there was a rocket attack, on one of the nights I was in. A nurse threw a mattress on me, and all of the other bed ridden patients, for flying debris. My claims people are saying they cannot find my records form Jan. 1968 to October 69?/? Does anyone know how to obtain those records form the Hospital. In late August I was medevaced from the field for heat exhaustion and during the medevac, I was hit with a tree from the wind of the chopper,as I was laying on my back semi conscious, and they had poured a couple of canteens of salt water in me. My team I was with (Can't find any of them) chopped out an LZ and when the dustoff landed, one of the trees hit me in the neck and the head.They didn't really treat me for TBI, but if I could find those records form 35th evac, in Phan Thiet, maybe it would mention a head injury and neck scrape. Thanks in Advance

John999, I kind of work at home, I don't do well in crowds. I was going to wait to get an increase after the rest of my claims went through, then go after an increase. I go to a VA counseler and am taking some intense therapy. I can't remember some things, from those dark times. My Afib Might connect to my PTSD, and I am waiting. Appreciate the Help. SaddleTramp

PAPA, Thank you for the Advice, I do sleep with the CPAP, every night. I take the synthroid pill every AM exactly as prescribed. I put in for Sleep Apnea, and am awaiting a decision. I don't think Apnea was even discovered until like 1980. I must of had it for years, 3 different wives and a long term girlfriend all said I had it. I have psychiatric records that talk of trouble sleeping and staying asleep. Thanks Again SaddleTramp

Yes I did get 30% PTSD.

I have had my blood sugar tested and it has been normal high, but still normal ( I don't eat any sugar) I went and had my C&P for Ischemic heart and am waiting on that. Sleep apnea I was diagnosed this year and had a sleep study at a civilian hospital I wear a CPAP everynight. I am currently seeing a VA Doc in Branson and taking warfarin and Metoprolol for afib. I have a civilian Diagnosis of Hypothyroid ( No Cancer)I am taking Synthroid I have asked a civilian Hospital from the early 70's for my Medical records and that is where I was diagnosed with High Blood sugar, I had a 4 hour glucose tolerance test. call sign "Saddletramp"