N4XV

I remember a number years back I was sent something to opt in/out of a class action suit but I forget what it was for. Anyway I opted in and sent the form back. A year or two later I got a check in the mail and a statement saying the case was settled and that my portion of the settlement was inclosed. The check was for 25 cents. It cost more to send in the form.

Smoking as a risk factor for diseases or medical conditions has the count at about 61 different diseases or medical conditions. If the VA were to adopt a policy now to deny claims based on risk factors it would void the whole concept of presumption altogether. The new regs. might not come out exactly like we would all want them to but the process has to unfold before we jump to conclusions.

As a presumptive, IHD is caused by AO exposure. Smoking is considered a risk factor and is not in and of itself the cause. Other high risk factors include age, family history, Diabetes Mellitus, Lack of exercise, Obesity, Heavy alcohol consumption, Personality and a multitude of other things. AO exposuse is the cause and risk factors only increase the chance of getting IHD.

I think this John Miterko guy's only accomplishment with his statement in that last paragragh is striking fear and anxiety into AO exposed vets that are Dx'd with IHD. Now that IHD is/will be a presupmtive condition added to the AO list I think it has to be considered the cause of the disease. Smoking is just a risk factor that increases the chances of someone developing the condition but is not in and of itself the cause. Causes of IHD The cause of IHD is multifactorial; not single; and a number of risk factors are factors that make the occurrence of the disease more probable. Some of the risk factors are modifiable i.e potentially changeable by life style modifications or medical treatment; but others are not. Presence of any one of these risk factors places an individual in a high risk category for developing IHD. The greater the number of risk factors present, the more likely one is to develop IHD. The important risk factors are:- Fixed (not modifiable) Age : Risk increases as the age advances Sex : Man has more chances than pre menopausal women Positive family history : In whom first degree relative has developed IHD before age of 50. Genetic factors: Modifiable (potentially changeable with treatment or life style modification) Hyperlipidemia Cigarette smoking Hypertension Diabetes Mellitus Lack of exercise Obesity Gout (increase uric acid) Contraceptive pills Heavy alcohol consumption Personality Homocystinemia Blood coagulation factors; High fibrinogen, factor eight High C reactive protein So how could the VA conceivably pinpoint the cause as anything other than AO?

I became disabled due to heart problems back in 1991 and my cardio Dr said I'll never be able to work again and his office filed all the SSDI paper work for me and while I was waiting for the SSDI I was collecting union disability for 6 months. As soon as the 6 months were up I got the check for 5 months retro and a few days after that I started getting the regular monthly SSDI checks. You will need a DR. to say you are totally disabled and can't work for at least one year or more because with SS it is 100% or nothing. Depending on how long the DR considers your disability will last will determine how long before SS will rerate you. In my case they were supposed to rerate me in 7 yrs but actually it took them 10 yrs before they rated me. I don't know how SSDI reacts to just up and quitting your job. I really think it would go much better for you if you can get your DR to say you can't work anymore.

Would that be possible? Can IHD be solely attributed to cigarette smoking or to obesity and then denied even if the vet was exposed to AO? I've heard of nam vets getting granted claims for lung cancer due to AO exposure and they were 3 and 4 pack a day smokers. If a nam vet is AO presumed and is Dx'd with IHD that is all the VA should be looking at. N4XV I heard you guys all had smokes in your C rats – as Gov issue in Vietnam.SO much for that etiology. I started smoking while in the nam mainly because of the free smokes and and being bored when off duty. Every "C" rat had a minnie pack of 4 or 5 smokes depending on the brand LRPS came with a carton of smokes. It would be cool if one could claim smoking due service in nam. T

Trapper, Here's what I did - called the Social Security 800 number, told them I need my medical records relating to my SSDI disability, they said the would send me a form to request my records and that I should fill it out and take it to my local SS office (they provided the address). Took it the next working day and and had all my requested info in less than 1 1/2 hours. N4XV

Thank you very much Berta. I don't know why I couldn't download it from the other post But I was able to download it now from your last post here. N4XV

Thanks but still no go. Tried it on both my browsers - IE and Opera

Tried to download DMII_VA_TRAINING_LETTER.doc ( 135K ) but get: The error returned was: Sorry, but you do not have permission to use this feature. If you are not logged in, you may do so using the form below if available. I don,t understand why - I am registered and logged in. How do I get permission to use features?

I was diagnosed with CAD by the VA back in 1986 after an angiogram revealed two blockages, one 70% and the other 90%. The VA decided surgery or angioplasty was not warranted so they released me with meds. At the time I wasn’t SC and it was really hard getting the VA to treat me after that so I found a civilian cardio and he recommended angioplasty in 1987. The angioplasty went south on the table and I was rushed into open heart surgery for what turned out to be a triple bypass. Within 1 ½ yrs I suffered a heart attack as two of the three bypasses clogged up. A year after that the third one clogged causing another heart attack. My cardio said I’d never work again and he helped me apply for SSDI and it was approved at 100% disabled. So at age 44 I retired to FL. In 1993 I was diagnosed with DMII and treated with oral meds and restricted diet ever since. In 2001 I claimed to the VA for DMII by reason of AO and thru in CAD and CHF for good measure. They granted the DMII at 20% but denied the CAD and CHF because it developed before the DMII was diagnosed. Later I claimed tinnitus and it too was granted at 10%. 1. Now that IHD is AO related do I reopen my original claim for CAD or open a new one? 2. How will this affect any retro on the basis the original claim was filed in 2001? 3. If I am granted the CAD & CHF claim does the VA take into consideration that I’ve been 100% disabled for it in determining its’ rating? Here’s hoping someone out there has some answers to guide me in the right direction.