Boats

Hey Stillhere, They sent mine also to St Pete from Roanoke when I filed last Jan and had two new stents placed,they upped me from 10% to 60% but the only reason why is I had a ejection fraction of 47% prior to the stent placement on a nuclear stress test and pointed it out to them in the statment of case. I don't think they would have upped my percentge if I did not have that one report. Boats

Stillhere, I feel the same as you, do not want to quit working just fulltime, maybe 15 to 25 hours a week. Think my body would lock up if I stopped...lol almost does now ;) Boats

Hey Master Chief, It is just a code they have to put in on there old computer system. I have it on mine also. If you go go to the M21-1MR, Part III, Subpart iv, Chapter 6, Section D it will explain all the codes they use. Not bad for a Boatswain Mate Huh...lol

Berta, Not sure did state his title, on the phone or letter they sent me on 8/27/07 the letter did not even have my name correct...lol they could not even get that right from the application in front of them. Oh well he said he would send denial out who knows when though. I see my Physcal Therapist with the millitary next week for my neck will see if he can write me up somthing on the knee braces. The stuff we have to go throgh to get benifits. The whole time guy was sayining we are here to help Vets ya right the VA Motto....LOL such BS Boats

Just got word from the local VAMC idiot that they denied mine.....how do you appeal or can you? He said that he thought I did not continualy wear my hinged metal knee braces, that were prescribed in the military before I retired. Have 10% SC on both knees for athritis and menicus removal. Don't use the VA fro any medical treatment because of haing Tricare and use military facilities. I saked him if he even had my electronic VA Case File in front of him from the Regional Office in Roanoke he said no he did not need it.....what. So looks like I am in for a fight anyon else have this problem before? Thanks Boats

If you go to the front page of hadit under claims sction there is a Service Connected Disabilities Calculator where you can put all your numbers in. Then come up with the VA math. Ya the last 20 to 10 takes a lot I am at 90 and will take another 70% to get to 100%...go figure Boats

Jim, Sorry to hear it did not go well, it was a QTC contract right? The office in VA Beach? I have had two done there, the last one QTC did was a local Doc they have a contract with now in Williamsburg. Here is some info from 38 on those numbers. It is under Schedule of ratings--respiratory system Boats Interstitial Lung Disease 6825 Diffuse interstitial fibrosis (interstitial pneumonitis, fibrosing alveolitis). 6826 Desquamative interstitial pneumonitis. 6827 Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. 6828 Eosinophilic granuloma of lung. 6829 Drug-induced pulmonary pneumonitis and fibrosis. 6830 Radiation-induced pulmonary pneumonitis and fibrosis. 6831 Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis). 6832 Pneumoconiosis (silicosis, anthracosis, etc.). 6833 Asbestosis. General Rating Formula for Interstitial Lung Disease (diagnostic codes 6825 through 6833): Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) less than 50-percent predicted, or; Diffusion Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide by the Single Breath Method (DLCO (SB)) less than 40-percent predicted, or; maximum exercise capacity less than 15 ml/kg/min oxygen consumption with cardiorespiratory limitation, or; cor pulmonale or pulmonary hypertension, or; requires outpatient oxygen therapy 100 FVC of 50- to 64-percent predicted, or; DLCO (SB) of 40- to 55-percent predicted, or; maximum exercise capacity of 15 to 20 ml/kg/min oxygen consumption with cardiorespiratory limitation 60 FVC of 65- to 74-percent predicted, or; DLCO (SB) of 56- to 65-percent predicted 30 FVC of 75- to 80-percent predicted, or; DLCO (SB) of 66- to 80-percent predicted 10

Berta not boring thanks for the info, was looking at the VA Training Letter for cardiovascular disabilities dated July 17,2000. Do you know if this is the latest version? But here is what it says about the effects/complications of longstanding hypertension What is hypertension and what causes it? Hypertension is present if the diastolic blood pressure is 90 mm Hg or more or the systolic pressure is 140 mm Hg or more, or if both are present. In isolated systolic hypertension, the systolic pressure is 140 mm Hg or more, but the diastolic pressure is less than 90 mm Hg. Malignant hypertension is a severe form of high blood pressure that, if left untreated, usually leads to death in 3-6 months. For rating purposes, we consider isolated systolic hypertension to be present if the systolic pressure is 160 or more. The level of blood pressure considered to be normal has been progressively lowered in recent years. Some risk factors for essential hypertension (hypertension without an underlying cause) are: smoking dyslipidemia (abnormal serum fats) family history obesity sedentary lifestyle high salt intake. In a few cases, known as secondary hypertension, there is a specific underlying cause, such as renal artery stenosis, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, or other kidney or adrenal gland disease, or a congenital coarctation (narrowing) of the aorta. What are the symptoms and complications of hypertension? Most people with hypertension have no symptoms. However, with long-standing or untreated hypertension, there may be damage to certain end organs (eyes, kidneys, heart, brain), resulting in symptoms such as headache, blurred vision, fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, and many others. What are the effects/complications of longstanding hypertension?  heart - left ventricular hypertrophy, CHF, stasis thrombi in left atrial appendage and apex of LV (that may embolize), CAD, MI.  aorta - atherosclerosis with aneurysm, thrombosis, emboli, occlusion of branches causing peripheral arterial disease.  brain - cerebral infarction or hemorrhage (stroke), TIA, berry aneurysms, hypertensive encephalopathy.  kidneys - nephrosclerosis in the kidneys.  eyes - retinopathy with edema, hemorrhages, and possible papilledema.  lungs - pulmonary edema

I had a TIA(Mini stroke) in 2004 and they gave me a temp 100% for 18 months, then residuals of headaches 10% PN left upper 10%, and left lower 10%. The rating code they used trying to remember now just looked at ita couple days ago was anougolous or something like that, because it was not defined in 38. Strokes are presumptive to Hypertension so they SC pretty easy for me. Boats

Jim Good Luck, have to lov our RO.... Boats

Looks good, good luck I have the same situation that goes back to my first C&P 10 years ago, was a trusting soul back then...lol. But found out they should of inferred another 6 chronic items that showed up at then. Now I am having to fight to get them SC even though they are in SMR's. Good luck Boats

Thanks, was just wondering put in for it last week but requested that it be SC'd back to a lifting injury. I had in 1990 on active duty, and was put on bedrest for two weeks. But did not complain after that about it, until started having severe pain problems last couple years with it. Was just seeing if there was a fall back if they say it has been to long. Boats

Hello, Question if you are rated on Degenerative disc disease DDD of the Cervical Spine from the VA, then 10 years later are diagnosed with having degenerative disc disease of the Lumbar spine and Thoracic spine. Do you think they will SC the entire spine for DDD? Or will they say it stops at the Cervical spine? Thanks Boats

VA is supposed to inform them, my dfas retirement account was updated with my new CDRP amount about 2 days after I had my new rating letter from VA. Boats

Good questuion exactly waht happened on my claim, had a C&P 2/28/2007 Doc did whole spine, had in for cervical increase. The xray I sent in Jan when filing claim was for whole spine showed Pars Defect and other lumbar problems. When I called 1 800 in May they said it was listed as an issue Lumbar strain. But just recieved rating decision with increase for cervical but no mention of any Lumabar strain, I did file for it though day after getting decision, had injured in 1990 on Active Duty and was placed on bedrest for two weeks. Submitted copy of smr and most recent mri. Guess somtimes they will and somtimes they won't.....LOL Boats

Hey Jim, See you are in my neck of of the woods in Virginia. You just got a claim back right? Did Roanoke send yours out also? They sent mine to St Pete Fl. Was just wondering how many they were sending out. Boats

will do, hopefully they will send me for a C&P for it and make a Nexus at it, but who knows...may have to get an IMO. I asked my Pricare Doc to do it (Tricare at Army Hospital) and he blew me off. Just have to see if the VA will give me a C&P. See if the cost of the IMO is worth the 20% and will get me to 100% Boats

Thanks, trying to tie it to Service Connected Hypertension, Hyperlipdemia, Myocardial Infarction, and Medication Prescribed for Service Connected Disabilities. Plavix, Topamax, Toprol, Vytorin, Aciphex, Flonase, Claritin, Lisinopril, Ambien, Zanflex, Darvacet, Ultram, Niaspan and Chronic Pain from all my Service Connected Musculoskeletal Problems. Which has aggravated my Glucose Level to this stage. What do you think? Also gonna ask for reconsider on headaches getting letter from boss now. Had the medical doc just not the economic impact. Should get it to at least 30 What a meat grinder these guys put us through, the Navy retired me at 20 because of a Permanent Disability 10 years ago. Have not hassled them at all since then on anything but now asking for help and they give you crap. Feel better now...lol Boats

will check again have had 3 caths done first was in 2003 at a civ hospital that showed a lef on report. The last two were done at a Navy Hospital and cant find it on either of these reports just the percentage of blockage, type of stents, and the flow rate of the artery before and after. Will ask the Navy Doc if one was done when they did it. But he is the one who sent me to get the echo last month because he did not have a LEF. Well anyway filed for my DM II this morning was waiting for them to finish this claim up, was hoping to get to 100% with this claim. Thanks Boats

ya me also was on plain metaformin before and seem to control it better anyway

Could not find it on any of the reports just the artery percent of blockage

just had a regular echo done last month showed hypokinesis of lateral wall, with lef 50- 60% internal medicine doc diagnosed CHF and sent me for a regular stress test again. Had a cath done in 1/18/2007 with two stents to LAD.

Pete, Yes it is that is why I am concerned with my heart problems already and one MI, but my cardiologist and internal med Doc both say its benifits outweigh risks...hmmmm there the experts right...??? I hope maybe they want to lighten there case load...LOL Boats

Good morning, Is anyone using Avandamet for there DM II? Have been on it for 4 months now just wondering with all this crap with Avandia maybe I should ask doc to switch me to regular metaformin. Thanks Boats

I think they did also just sent for the c-file today was waiting for them to finish with claim before requesting. the ROM numbers were way off from what the C&P doc wrote done also unless they made him change them after the fact. Also on the stress test I had at C&P was never mentioned it would of warranted a 100% 1 Met had to stop due to short of breath, fatigue, and dizzines. instead they went with a cardolite perfusion test of last July with a LEF of 48%. So just waiting on copy of c file to write up NOD. It is a shame that they do this crap. Most people would accept it, I guess and not bother. So they get to cheat the Vet hope it helps them sleep at night. Boats