VetsLady

Wonderful news on a successful adjudication...!

Great news to start the new month ! Thank you for your service Tami.

Outstanding and positive reinforcement to never give up ! As Carlie states, spend wisely.

Been through the waiting game before but my gosh, submitted documentation including completed IHD form from the cardiologist a long time ago and still no movement. Incidentally, VA closed the IHD claim "in error" without reviewing it....and, we have documented proof they did so...their error. There were 2 Agent Orange issues they were suppose to look at - one was irrelevant, the other very relevant (IHD) If a Veteran doesn't keep lighting the fire under the VA, who will?

Great news - hopefully some retro to come with this new decision. What percentage were you prior to this increase? At 50 % SC - no more co-pays and medical care for your needs is to be provided to include NSC conditions. Also, if you have paid co-pays in the past - compare them to the effective date of your 50 % and get those past co-payments reimbursed. Carlie, Reimbursement for co-pays only applies to co-pays paid for services at a VAMC, right ? VetsLady

What a GREAT feeling for you !!!!

My husband takes a VA contracted med and the day it arrives I mark it on the calendar. The next morning, I call the refill in for the following month. MyHealthyVet is where I order the rest of his meds and can also verify the refill for the contracted pain med is listed. Only once did we have to pick up his pain med at the VAMC counter and that was when he first started taking it, actually it was the 2nd months supply because no one had told us "how to" re-order a pain contracted medication.

Vets Wife, Congratulations to you and your husband for enduring and receiving a good decision. Here's hoping his conditions stabilize and you can both enjoy some well deserved RnR.

Good Luck, hope progress continues to be positive.

I found a VCAA form on the VA web-site. Is it necessary to send this form in with this new evidence or, should I generate a letter requesting the RO to decide the claim as this is all of the additional evidence in our possession at this time ? I wasn't able to find a link on the hadit site to a post about this topic so I posted my question here. Thank you.

I have wondered why his muscles are atrophying .... I'll have to add this to the list of questions for the endocronologist appt tomorrow. I had thought it was due to other conditions, and it may be, but worth asking. His pain is pretty severe most of the time, pain meds do help but there are limits with them. Difficulty walking due to burning pain in the calves and yet, he needs some form of exercise (perhaps swimming) for heart health. I am sorry for you pain, I do understand. Pain affects the whole person.

It's Autonomic neuropathy that I am thinking of. We have an appt set for tomorrow with his private DM2 doctor; I will talk to him about this He has a diagnosis of Peripheral Neuropathy, quite severe in both legs he is rated at mild, it has worsened and there is a request for increase in place already) - his arms and hands are affected also, more moderate than the legs which is what concerns me.

Thank you Lorraine, I am ever so thankful for the support of the members here, Berta's story and a couple members who suggested an office call with his private cardiologist was in order.

Thank you for your response Berta. Yes, at your suggestion several months ago I contacted NVLSP who advised me to call them when the IHD decision came in and they will review it for accuracy; the young man I spoke with said my husbands name was in their system already. I do find it ironic that during his VA "annual" exam yesterday that his doctor, after reviewing the cardiologist report said "I was going to suggest a treadmill test but the cardiologist has already done what I would have" ---- not really, the cardiologist went a step above and did a CT scan of the heart. The treadmill test QTC did at the VA's request in '09 didn't show the blockage, the plaque build-up, nothing else....but it did say "Normal Study" The cardiologist told us last week this plaque and blockage didn't happen overnight. I am very proactive in my husbands claim(s) and will be watching this one like a hawk. Monday I will be mailing the RO the IHD disability questionnaire and the report. Seems like his claim has sat stagnant (as so many have) for a long time. With this evidence, and what they have already, there should be no reason not decide it and rate it and I will include a VCAA statement saying the same. Will read up on 1151 and get educated, just in case I need it or, if I can pass it along to someone who does. Again, thank you for the response. More importantly, thank you for sharing the story of your husband. As I mentioned, it got us into the cardiologist office pronto.

Forgot to mention, cardiac hypertrophy is listed also, and yes .... he is a Nehmer veteran. I don't have the rating sheet for his DM2 Berta. After his sc for DM2, with secondaries of PN, retinopathy, cataracts, (now they are watching him for glaucoma) - the remaining issue (non DM2) was on appeal and at the BVA. His initial claim, filed in '03 included hypertension which the VA denied. Yes, EKG's were done at the VA after 2004 by his primary doctor there and during QTC exams. The only thing that showed up was a "right bundle branch blockage" ----- Interestingly enough, we received a copy long ago of the Agent Orange Registry exam done in Sept. '04 and that is all it listed on the top of the EKG - Right bundle branch blockage. Then, a couple months ago we requested another copy of this report and along with the RBBB the words "can not rule out previous myocardial infarction was listed on this AO registry exam EHG, alongside the RBBB. So it is my suspicion, they knew he had a cardiac event of some kind but did no follow-up nor told us about. More importantly, he is now receiving the care he should have - however from a non VA doctor for which we feel fortunate to have the coverage for him to do so ....... but what about the veterans who can't? His Nehmer letter on IHD is dated August 2010. His original claim was filed in early 2003. We did not appeal the hypertension due to bad advice from a former VSO - not sure what impact that will have on the present claim. He has been on continuous medication for his heart since '03, because of a truly awesome DM2 doctor he saw in the community. Thank you for your volunteerism with the AHA. Awareness and education are key. I know that my husband is now wondering if he didn't feel the heart attack (I have also heard that a diabetic can develop a neuropathy of the heart muscle, have you heard of this ?) - if he has another, will he feel that one or will it be silent also. Valid concerns, but I have reassured him and we have talked, that he needs to get this off his mind and do the proactive positive changes he can do to perhaps prevent another cardiac event or at the very least, keep it minimal. Replacing a positive thought of action with a negative reminder is extremely important, hard to do and I understand that. P.S. As soon as this IHD claim is decided, I will request a complete copy of his claim file from the RO, then I will have the rating sheets for ALL of his sc issues.

Husband had an appt with his private cardiologist for follow-up to an abnormal EKG (thank you Berta!) After testing, doc found numerous areas of calcified plaque, confirmation of a prior myocardial infarction (date unknown) although we have a normal EKG from May '04 and then an abnormal one from Sept. '04 that follow-up was done on but apparently not enough. Private cardiologist diagnosis: ASHD (I believe this is atheroscleriosis heart disease?) IHD, myocardial infarction, patient is taking 4 different medications for his heart disease (he has been for several years.) His mets are 10.1 (from a QTC exam in '09), left ventricular ejection fraction is 66% In addition to numerous areas of plaque build-up in the 25% range, the "proximal portion of the first Obtuse Marginal Branch" is totally occluded. He has a claim opened on his behalf from August '10 as he is service connected for DM2 and residuals due to Agent Orange. He has undergone numerous QTC exams for this condition and although QYC reports marginally indicate possible heart disease, this newest evidence is conclusive and the doc completed and signed the IHD questionnaire. Monday, I will be sending it along with the test report to the Regional Office. I would "think" that with this new concrete evidence, there should be no question to sc him for IHD...will have to await the decision to see what "date" they give him. I did note in the regs that the language says "or" when referring to ets, syncope, etc. Does this mean in the regs he has to have "all" of the requirements in the individual percentages "or" if I am reading it correctly, it does state "or" ...... At least now we know where he stands heart-health wise and can make changes in lifestyle and diet as best as we can to prevent further build-up. That is the most important thing for now.... Thank you Berta for sharing Rod's story....it sent us straight to the cardiologist. Most importantly, awareness of the current situation and hopefully prevention of further development.

VetsWifeIndy .... I don't know the answer to your question but I do want to welcome you to Hadit. I am certain someone with the answer you need will stop by and post, I wanted to say hello and welcome you. I am sorry your husband (and you) are dealing with health issues such as this. Please thank him for his service and, thank you for assisting and supporting him.

You can can also recoop any out of pocket medical or prescription copays from ChampVA, back to the day of your entitlement at 100% P&T - be sure to read your handbook and if you have questions, call them. You have 6 months from the date your wifes notification of entitlement to ChampVA bennies was noted. In simple terms, if she was put on their program on 1/1/12, you would have 180 days from that date to get your claims for reimbursement filed. If any are missing any piece, say a diagnosis code or an Explanation of Benefits, still mail them in because the clock starts all over again when the claim is denied due to a missing piece. My experience with ChampVA personnel has been positive, I hope yours is as well.

I just read this thread from the beginning, I have chills .... wow, amazing the powers that be.

Thank you for the response, I had not heard of this tactic by the VA up until this point. Now I know.

Hi All, Anyone ever hear of the VA sending a claim to QTC for a paper review of the claim? This is what is going on with my husbands claim. He has already undergone all of the exams needed (early last year) and VARO sent a letter early in Jan.'12 stating he they were ordering an exam to determine the "current level of disability" ..... Thanks,

Berta, Yippee-Ki-Oh-Ki-A....double-triple yowzers to you on your victory!!! You did your veteran proud, and continue to do so by sharing a wealth of information with others I am one person who is thankful I listened to your advice about following through with my husbands heart condition. I will forever be thankful to you.... Bravo to you !!!!!

Harv, Thanks for the response. First and foremost is proper medical care of course. Being proactive in his claim process, having to dig up information, question results, great note taking and learning about patience through the years (even before the VA claims were initiated) I have come to find that perseverance pays off. Yes, he is a Vietnam Veteran, boots on ground and sc for AO conditions already. Thank you for the response.

Thank you Berta.

The appt with his private cardiologist is already made. First and foremost is getting quality medical care. Lucky for us, he does have decent medical coverage through a MeAdvantage/Medicare plan. His VA doc is very nice and thorough but she is a GP, not a cardiologist. Thanks for the feedback.