bm6546

After almost 3 years and 2 denials from the VA, I thought I had the answer from my private cardiologist. I had an appt with him approx 1 month ago and after listening to me and reading all my notes he indicated that he wanted to help me with a letter to the VA that would help me with my claim. Well he sent a letter to my VSO lady and basically said that I have 2 different heart conditions and that they are not related and that is why the VA has denied my claims. I was stunned and my VSO lady was also upset and couldn't believe it. I don't know which way to go now. A little history on my claims- I was discharged from the Navy back in 1966 with a heart condition known as PAT (Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia). The US Navy determined it was bad enough that they discharged me after 2 years. They said it was SC and gave me 10% for a little over 1 year and then took it away for no apparent reason. I have been in and out of hospitals the last 35 years and I had a heart attack almost 3 years ago that has disabled me to the point that I am not able to work any more. I started collecting SSDI and that is what I live on, barely. I also suffer from anxiety, depression and a mild case of PTSD, all related to my heart attack. I have seen VA shrinks, physcologists, counselors and cardiologists and not one of them wants to get involved and help me. I have had 2 C&P exams and have failed both of them, meaning that my claims were denied based on what the NP from the C&P exams wrote. I know that I need a nexus letter from a private cardiologist to help me with my claims, but I can't afford to pay for one, as I am on SSDI and my wife got laid off 6 months ago. I just don't know which way to go now and my VSO lady has indicated that she is also not sure what she can do for me anymore. I would appreciate ANY help from the Hadit members as my back is against the wall. Thank you in advance, Brian

Berta or anyone, sorry but I tried searching for "Getting an IMO" under the search button but all I get is an error. Am I looking in the wrong area? Thanks in advance, Brian

LarryJ, I am trying to get an appt with my VA Phsychologist and my private Cardiologist. Unless I can get my heart condition, and especially my SC heart condition connected with my heart attack and associated problems like depression and anxiety, the VA will just keep denying my claims. I will need some doctor to say that all my conditions are connected to my SC heart condition. Thanks for your help. Brian

rentalguy1, thanks for the info. I think my vso is going to file a NOD. Supposed to call next week and sit down with her and plan our strategy. Yes, I am still 0% sc. I am trying to get any rating and work my way up from there. I'm at least trying to get my 10% back that they took away from me over 40 years ago. Stay tuned.

john999, no I don't have any combat awards. The only proof are the VA doctors notes that they are treating me for these different things.

I received a large brown envelope that said their decision was as follows: 1. Entitlement to individual unemployability is denied. 2. Service connection for erectile dysfunction is denied. 3. Service connection for post traumatic stress disorder (also claimed as anxiety disorder) is denied. 4. The issue of your SC heart condition (Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia) which is under appeal will be addressed separately. The VA is telling me that they need evidence of my current PTSD and anxiety disorder as well as evidence showing a connection between my PTSD and anxiety disorder disability and my service connected heart condition (which is Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia. I guess they don't consider the fact that I have been under the care of the VA Phsychiatrist and VA Phsychologist for the past 2 years with plenty of documentation to show that they have been treating me for PTSD and depression and anxiety disorder. "As of this date we have received no evidence that your PTSD or anxiety disorder is due to your service connected disability alone. We also do not have any evidence associating your service connected disability of Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia with your heart attack on January 25, 2006." I am not sure how I am going to find a link or connection that they are asking for. I am living on SSDI and can not afford an IMO from a private doctor. Hopefully someone can help me to figure this one out. Thanks in advance, Brian

I had my C&P for ED by a NP. She said yes I have ED but it is most likely than not SC. They also prescribed me with Viagra to help, but have yet been approved for it!!! My exam was VERY detailed and she also asked me a million personal questions. Still waiting very patiently for something to happen with the VA.

broncovet, I have been getting my SSDI for over 2 years. According to the Social Security people I am 100% disabled. I just went on Medicare on July 1. As far as will getting SSDI help with receiving disability from the VA, they know I am on SSDI for the same reasons as my 0% SC heart condition...but they don't seem to care and they still have not decided on my claims. You have to be 100% disabled in order to receive SS benefits but you only have to be disabled, in the VA's eyes, in 10% increments. The big difference that I have found is the people at SS are a whole lot nicer and you can usually get approved anywhere from 6 months to a year. In some cases, not all. I still don't understand the VA or how they operate. I too am going with the saying "NEVER GIVE UP", because for 1 thing, I have nothing but time. Hang in there...Brian

Wings, I too am in Nevada County, Ca... Grass Valley to be exact. The smoke is really bothering me. I am a heart patient and it really bothers my lungs to breathe. I go to cardiac rehab twice a week at the hospital and they are telling us to try to go easy on the exercises and try not to walk very much. Are you close to GV? I'm waiting for the day the VA rates me at something other than 0% so I can use some of the State Park priveledges. Glad your home safe...Brian

ruby, it works now...very nice. GOOD JOB...nice tribute for the 4th, Thanks...Brian

Sorry but I could not open the link. Maybe you could try posting it again.

I applied for SSDI 6 months after I had my heart attack on Jan 25, 2006 and starting receiving SSDI 6 months later. I was 59 when I had my heart attack. I am now 62 and just went on Medicare on July 1. I have AARP as my supplement and am very happy to finally be able to afford health care. The shrink I was sent to by the SSDI people said I was a shattered wreck, in so many words, and that I was not able to work, physically or mentally. He also set my GAF at 50. I was very happy to win my SSDI because I had no idea how we were going to live on just my wifes income. It has helped me a lot, especially mentally. The people at SSDI have treated me very nice and were always very professional. Now the VA is another matter. I have been 0% SC for a heart condition that they discharged me from the Navy with a medical discharge for over 40 years and the VA could care less that the SSDI people have decided that I am 100% disabled and will give me my SSDI for the rest of my life. My current claims are over 2 years old and I sit here waiting for the VA to decide something. It is very pathetic the way they treat us veterans. The only other thing that I will say is DO NOT GIVE UP with the SSDI claim. If you have good medical records and work history, you will win your claim eventually. And remember, it is retro from the time you file, minus 6 months waiting period. My experience is it is a lot easier to work with the SSDI people than it is with the VA. Hang in there....Brian

Hello calnight, Just curious about you having to drive 160 miles round trip to Reno to see the VA shrink. I also live the same as you from Reno in Calif. Are you in GV or Aub. I am having problems finding a VA shrink at the Aub clinic to stay in 1 place long enough to introduce ourselves with the exception of travelling to Reno. I'm not a big fan of travelling to Reno on the van except I can't drive there myself because of my conditions. Anyway, just curious how you got hooked up with the shrink in Reno. They wouldn't let me go to any of the shrinks in Reno but they didn't have any available in Aub. Imagine that!! Thanks in advance for any help....Brian

rentalguy1, Thanks for responding with the VA regulation. I am sorry but I just don't quite understand what any of that means. I have read it several times and it still doesn't make any sense to me. Of course, sometimes I can read a story in the newspaper 10 times and it doesn't make any sense to me. Must be all the drugs, don't know. Can you or someone help me understand in layman terms what that regulation means. Thanks in advance for any help...Brian

Berta, Yes my VSO has already sent in the TDIU form approx 1 year ago. I checked out the different referenced posts for the IMO claims. I found these to be very interesting and informative. Of course I will have to wait until I hear something back from the VA before I proceed with any IMO from one of my private doctors. I will also talk to my VSO when she comes back from vacation. Thanks Berta. I appreciate your help. Brian

Berta, I am SC for the PAT. Do you think I should try to get SC for my CAD which my private doctor has diagnosed me with? I am being treated by the VA psychologist for depression, anxiety and PTSD, and also ED. These all came about after my heart attack. Mainly I am very afraid of having another heart attack. The doctors are helping me to overcome these fears. I also am on SSDI for 2 years now because of all these problems. I go on Medicare on July 1 and am very happy because it will be a LOT cheaper. I have been at 0% SC for over 40 years. My 0% sc is for my PAT that the Navy discovered that I had and they gave me a medical discharge in 1966. They also gave me 10% SC for 1 year and then took it away because they said that I was cured and didn't need it any more. I didn't fight it back then. I am waiting for a decision from my NOD that I filed over 1 year ago. Nothing yet. They sent me to a C&P for my ED. The same NP that screwed me on my heart claim diagnosed me with ED but said it was not related to my PAT. So I guess the VA wont give me the SMC for ED. I'm still waiting to hear from the VA. Thank you in advance for any help...Brian

I have been at 0% for over 40 years. I had my heart attack 2 1/2 years ago and have filed several claims with the VA in the past 2 years. The VA has denied one of my heart condition claims over a year ago and I filed a NOD. That claim is before the DRO. I had 2 stents put in and have developed depression, anxiety, PTSD and ED since my heart attack. I have been under the care of the VA Psychiatrist and psychologist for almost 2 years with some progress. I don't know anything about the VA taking away my 0% rating. I also don't know anything about the 20 year rule. Not sure what to do at this point. My VSO is on vacation and won't be back until the middle of July. I guess I will have to wait until she returns or if someone on this forum can tell me what to do. Thanks for your help...Brian

I have an appt next week with my VA doc and will certainly discuss this with him. All the VA medical records say my diagnosis is PAT. Apparently the Mental Health records have the diagnosis of Supraventiricular Arrhythmias. I have no idea how the different diagnosis shows on my records. This will probably give the VA reason to continually deny my claims because they will say my records are all screwed up.

Actually the VA has not given me the Viagra yet. The doctor prescribed Viagra but they haven't approved it yet. I need more than 4, sometimes they work...sometimes they don't!!

I have been diagnosed by the VA for over 40 years with a heart condition called PAT-Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia. I was discharged with this PAT and am SC for this heart condition. When I saw my VA Psychologist last week he informed me that he was told that he could no longer check the box that "this visit is related to Service Connected Condition" as SC for my Supraventricular Arrhythmias. That means that I have to start paying for the office visits to see him. I told him that I have never heard of this Supraventicular Arrhythmias and that I was diagnosed with Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia. He said that he can only go with what was in my records. He also gave me a GAF of 60. After my heart attack 2 1/2 years ago I have claimed my heart condition, depression, anxiety disorder and ED. Has anybody been diagnosed with this Supraventricular Arrhythmias and can help me understand what is going on with the change of condition. And what can I do about this? How does this help or hurt my claims? Thanks in advance for any help....Brian

When I saw the VA Cardiologist 3 weeks ago she prescribed Viagra for my ED. I told her that the Vardenifil that the VA prescribed just did not work. She said that because I have been diagnosed with ED that she will go ahead and prescribe 100mg of Viagra. I am still waiting for the VA to send me the Viagra. I called over to her office and when she called me back she said that it was under "consult" and it will be awhile until it gets approved. I thought that once a VA doctor writes a prescription that the pharmacy processes the order and sends it to you. They didn't waste any time cancelling my order for Vardenifil, not that it is any big deal, seeing that it didn't work any way. The same cardiologist approved my renewal for Plavix after the VA cancelled it. I got a letter from my private cardiologist and he said he wants me to stay on Plavix for 4 years (i've been taking it for 2 1/2 years). That would leave 1 1/2 years left. The VA cardiologist read the letter and said she would approve the Plavix for the full 4 years. Last week I received my Plavix and it was for 90 days with no refills. I called her back and she said that the Plavix refill was also under consult and it would be awhile before I would hear anything. Is the VA playing games with me on my prescriptions? Is this something new that my prescriptions are under "consult"? I don't even know what that means and do I just sit hear and wait until someone, whoever is in charge of "consults", calls me. Oh... wait a minute, why should my prescriptions be any different than my claims that I have been waiting on for over 2 years....I guess I'll just sit hear and wait to hear from the VA on my prescriptions also. I'm getting good at waiting. Anybody have this seem experience with their prescriptions being sent to the "consult" waiting room? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance as always...Brian

I'm still pretty new with the claims process. My claims are only a little over 2 years old, so I guess I can't complain yet. But I will give the Oakland Calif RO a D- because they are taking for ever, probably hoping I go away or die trying. I'm not going anywhere for awhile. The VAMC in Reno Nevada deserves a B+. I am happy with my appts and the people there are always very nice to me. Except the NP that gave me 2 C&P's, both negative. The VA clinic in Auburn Calif most definately deserves an A+. My appts are within a 30 day period and the people there can not be any nicer. When you call and ask them a question and they tell you they will get back to you in a day or so, someone actually calls me back when they say they will. Overall, if you take the RO out of the picture, I am very happy with my treatment at the VA......so far. Stay tuned, I will let you know how it turns out. Brian