Broncovet,
I just saw your reply. I thank you for your wonderful info. I will try to fill you in on my husband of 57 years.
My husband is 84. He had been working on his claim for years with very little results. I took up the mantel as he could no longer handle this, however my time is limited due to full time care for him.
He has had PVC, since his first trip to Viet Nam in 1967. Attacks were frequent! Often over before arriving to the doctor. Phenobarbital was prescribed for years. Ugh! What they didn’t know back in the 60’s! No wonder he tired so but kept on trucking! This med was a temp fix. Later in 70’s VA prescribed varopromile and several others. Non of those ever worked! Took more and more meds. Attacks continued frequently in the 80’s and 90’s.
After he retired in 1977 his attacks became more frequent in the 80’s and 90’s. He searched for work, which was a trying situation. Hearing was ruined! Wrist impairment from lifting in military! There were years before he received any compensation for those! He now has 10% for PVC, 10% for Tendonitis/Ulnar nerve collapse and 20% for hearing. All were a lot of work and a long time coming!
At age 67 he suffered a hemorrhagic bleed on the brain, in 2001. Craniotomy performed! Clot evacuated! Left right side impaired. Seizures followed as did a right hip replacement when he fell. Months of hospitalization and years of therapy (physical, occupational and speech)finally got him up walking with walker and talking again, then back on his computer but was never able to work again. He began to fade again around 2010. Gave up computer and seemed mind was gradually slipping away. Kept struggling! Another two or three hospitalization for PVST, AFIB, femur break, and several other things. He is now to the stage of not doing much for himself. I am his nurse. A full time job!
After retirement, in the early working years, we knew nothing about unemployment benefits, when for a long time, he could not find a job or work due to disabilities he had upon leaving the military. He was so busy trying to find the job and keep up with his work and our educating our children. Never time for much else! When he did check with VA persons, he was received with a negative. Then the bleed came and our lives were shattered. Feel sure all the years of PVT caused the clot in brain. Surgeon could not identify how it occurred.
I thank you so very much for your host of info. When the official letter arrives from VA, I have the Nehmer phone number out and I will be calling them.
Hammer’s wife