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Jayco

Second Class Petty Officers
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About Jayco

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  • Service Connected Disability
    100
  • Branch of Service
    Army

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  1. Filed a claim for worsening condition of my service connected heart disease. Since I was first service connected for heart disease, I have had a heart attack and diagnosed with hypersensitive carotid artery which required a pacemaker. VA paid for both the heart attack and the pacemaker. VA wears me out, so I have to take time to build up the fortitude to file a claim. After a couple of years filed a claim for both of the above as worsening condition. Heart attack was approved, but rated 0. HCA was denied claiming it was not related to the heart, so it was also denied. Found an article on Pubmed where it said HCA was a marker of heart disease. Later received an error letter reversing their decision on HCA. They made it part of heart disease, but the heart disease rating did not change. On the same claim I filed for Parkinsons' which was approved. It put me to 100%. Not 100% P&T. If HCA and a heart attack doesn't qualify for worsening condition rating, then what does. The HCA alone required a pacemaker, quarterly visits to check the pacemaker, months of heart rhythm irregularities before getting the pacemaker set right, and an operation roughly ever 7 years to change the battery. Is the fact I hit 100% have anything to do with not being approved for a rating for worsening condition of heart disease? Thanks in advance.
  2. Filed a claim first part of 2022. In Sept. 2022 received an email from VES for a records review. Heard nothing from the review. Figured everything had been finalized. Now fast forward to Feb. 2023 and I get 2 emails from VES on consecutive days stating they are doing a records review. Each email lists a separate doctor. Has anyone ever got two at the same time especially this soon after the last one and should I be worried? First thing that popped into my mind was an issue I have with the Foreign Medical Program. I'm not happy with them and they are not happy with me. They are not processing my reimbursement claims and they say they are. They're blaming the foreign mail services for me not getting my reimbursement checks. I mentioned in a couple of emails to them unless something starts happening that I would hire an attorney. Boy that did not go over well. Is it possible the FMP could have prompted the two records reviews out of anger about me hiring an attorney? I do not want to pi** anyone off, but I have $7,000 in claims that some go back two years +. I am at a loss what step to take and how to take it. Thanks, Mike
  3. In 2017 had a pacemaker implanted for carotid hypersensitivity. VA paid for it. I am service connected for heart disease. This year I decided to file a claim for worsening condition of heart disease. Found an article on Pubmed that said carotid hypersensitivity was not a separate disease, but a marker for heart disease and arteriosclerosis. VA rejected my claim for worsening condition and said it had nothing to do with the heart. Said it was not service connected. I think they are absolutely wrong. If it is not service connected, why pay for the pacemaker. I've taken this claim as far as I can. I'm limited to what I can do. Would like to turn it over to maybe an attorney or some other professional individual or organization. Can anyone make a recommendation? By the way. I recently reached 100% disability. I have this claim and one other that can be pursued but wondering if I should leave well enough alone. Thanks in advance.
  4. Jayco

    Hypertension

    Back in 2012 I applied for disability with the VA: diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. They were all presumptive at that time. They approved all three and I received back pay and started receiving monthly checks. Then a few months later they removed hypertension but said I could keep all moneys already paid and that the monthly payment would stay the same. Removing hypertension happened to a couple of other guys I know. Monetarily no damage but would not be able to receive any treatment expense for the disease. Now I see as of 2022 hypertension is on the presumptive list. See anything wrong with applying for disability again for hypertension? Thanks in advance.
  5. Been doing some research. Let me run it by you. Pacemaker was installed and paid for by the VA back in 2017. At that time, I was Agent Orange connected for diabetes and heart. For them to have paid for it, at least at that time they felt it fell under heart. I am just now filing a claim. Since it fell under heart when they paid, I filed a claim as worsening condition. Apparently, the coronary system and carotid artery system are two different items. One feeds the heart and the other feeds the brain. Argent orange covers the coronary system, but not the carotid artery system. If I understand their letter correctly, they are not going to let me file a carotid artery problem under coronary. So far, I cannot find any medical support for connecting agent orange to carotid sinus hypersensitivity. In fact, there have been 2 or 3 passages where they said agent orange had nothing to do with the carotid artery. I did find one study where dioxin was credited for plaque buildup in the carotid artery. Workers worked in a chemical plant that made agent orange. So, agent orange did have an effect on the individual's carotid system at least in the above study. I do not think there is going to be anything to support the carotid sinus problem. Not enough studies and not enough general information. Must be a small problem, so drew no interest. I was exposed to dioxin and the VA says they think that is the cause of the problem. But they want a doctor to provide a letter and scientific evidence to support his opinion. But the doctor has got to have information in order to do that. I will continue to search, but I believe unless I can go an around-about-way, I am not going to find anything. Thanks for the comments above. They were helpful. Any other thoughts? Thanks, Mike
  6. Filed a claim for Parkinsons', hypersensitive carotid artery requiring pacemaker, and heart attack. Parkinson's was new. The latter two were filed as worsening condition of my already service-connected heart disease. Parkinsons' approved. Heart attack rated 0. Carotid artery deferred. VA letter says they believe artery problem is caused by dioxin. Wants a letter from a doctor supporting that it is caused by dioxin and evidence supporting her claim. According to this I found on the internet: "Dioxin is a member of the class of persistent organic pollutants which resulted from the deliberately accelerated production of 2,4,5-T, one of the components of agent orange". Since dioxin resulted from the production of agent orange, why are they questioning? Why isn't dioxin presumptive as part of agent orange? Coronary artery disease is on the list of presumptive conditions due to agent orange, so why even mention dioxin? Also, why the 0 rating on heart attack? Any thoughts on why VA is doing what they are doing would be appreciated. Thanks for your help.
  7. Neither. I just submitted the claim for Parkinson's and saw Parkinsonism. It threw me.
  8. Been diagnosed by one doctor that I have Parkinsonism, but in parentheses states most likely Parkinson's. Another doctor diagnosed my condition as just Parkinson's. For some reason VA has picked to rate me on Parkinsonism. At my physical doctor said it was definitely Parkinson's. Should I be concerned? Does VA rate both conditions in the same manner? Thanks.
  9. Service connected for ischemic heart disease back in 2012. Since then I've had a heart attack and a pace maker implanted due to a hypersensitive carotid artery. Due to these two subsequent events I have filed a claim asking for a ratings review on my heart condition. That was what I originally planned to do. I received a message asking if I want to file a new claim or secondary claim or worsening condition review on the two above health events. As I stated I had planned to file for a worsening condition review. Never thought about filing a new or secondary claim. From a layman's view point I cannot see how either event could be considered secondary to ischemic heart disease. Too me it is part of the disease and not secondary to it. But then I am not a doctor. Also do not see why I would file a new separate claim for either event. I am concerned I may pick the wrong category which could cause me problems. Should I file using worsening condition as I originally planned? The carotid artery condition while related to the heart is different in nature to ischemic heart disease. One deals with blocked arteries. The other deals with the sensitivity of the carotid artery. The carotid artery may require a new claim. Your opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
  10. Due to a heart attack and a pace maker since being service connected, I would like to request a review for a rating increase. Because I had heart disease and diabetes at the time of original filing, some people were surprised I did not get a 100% rating instead of 70%. Maybe the heart attack and pace maker will put me to the 100% mark. Also would like to file for a new condition. I have developed hand tremors and to a certain extent upper body tremors. Makes it difficult to function on a day to day basis especially eating. From what I have read you use the 21-526EZ for both the review and the new condition. Can I do both on the same form or do they each need a separate filing? Thanks in advance.
  11. I am submitting medical bills to the VA under the Foreign Medical Program. Payments have slowed to an absolute trickle. For instance I received an EOB dated 2020 May 4 with a check dated May 6 just yesterday. Looks like the check just sit for 5 months after being printed. This is not counting the bill being 4 months old before they printed the the EOB and check. I know there is the pandemic going on. Is that the reason? The amount of money I am owed is becoming a burden. Thanks.
  12. I have had a couple of people say that I was rated too low when first rated 7 years ago. I was rated at 70%. I was rated basically on heart disease and diabetes. Since being rated I have had a heart attack and a pace maker implanted. Other things I have wrong that have not been service connected is tremors in hands, 3rd stage kidney failure, and brain seizures caused by the side affects of the diabetes pill I was taking. I want to file a claim for a review. Do I put in the claim all conditions or just the service related. Kidney, tremors, and brains seizures again have not been service related. Thanks
  13. Wanting to file a claim for third stage kidney disease as secondary to heart disease and diabetes type 2. Was diagnosed with kidney disease this year. Eight years ago cysts were found on my kidneys, but were claimed to be filled with water. Just need to keep a watch on them which I did not do. Reason being the doctor said they should be okay as long as they did not get too big. Blood work the last 8 years said kidneys were fine. This year blood work is coming back saying things are not fine. A few years ago I filed a claim for sleep apnea and got denied. I believe it was due to my inexperience in filing claims. I have severe sleep apnea, but yet could not get approved. If I file the kidney disease claim I want to be sure I am during it right. If I can find an attorney I will turn over to him. There is article after article on the internet showing how kidney disease is caused by heart disease and diabetes which I could use for support. But it is my understanding that is not what they want. VA wants proof of connection of "my" kidney disease to "my" heart disease and diabetes. Not general articles from the internet. I have a doctor treating me for kidney disease. I take medication. I get blood work done every two to four weeks. How do you connect to heart disease and diabetes? I could get a letter from my doctor, but I did that with sleep apnea and it did no good. Can someone tell me what the VA is looking for? Thank you in advance.
  14. Living in a foreign country I am in the foreign medical program. Rated for heart disease and diabetes. I have to pay the bill and then get reimbursed from the VA. They only reimburse bills that are related to those two diseases. If I were in the states I would be treated free at a VA hospital for free whether related or not. I have submitted several bills to the VA for reimbursement via both email and regular mail. The amount of money that is owed me is mounting to the point it is creating a financial difficulty. The VA is not responding with an EOB or any correspondence concerning my claims. I do get a check on occasion, but no where near what I am owed. Anyone else having the same problem? Is the foreign medical program closed due to the virus? I was not sure what forum to post this, so if I posted wrong I apologize.
  15. I have been diagnosed with cystic kidney disease. One about 8cm in size, another a little smaller, and then several small cysts. They are filled with water and pose no danger at the moment. If they grow, then they could pose a problem. Kidneys operating at 50%. Doctor says there is nothing to do at this point. Just take an ultra sound of them once a year and monitor their size. Is this something I can file a claim on and if so, file now or wait until the disease progresses. Thanks.
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