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cathyjourdan

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About cathyjourdan

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  1. I have a question. A dear friend of mine has Spina Bifida and has been getting a level I rating for it since he was a kid. His dad was Agent Orange exposed. Anyway my friend is 40 years old now and his health is declining due to his condition. The question is, can he apply for a higher rating? If so, how does he go about it. He doesn't live near a VA and has no clue so I told him I would ask. Thanks in advance for any input!
  2. Hi everyone. Okay just so that others may know. I got the death certificate and as soon as I did it completed the app for the DIC, the month of death payment and the service connected burial thing. I mailed them in using overnight mail just to make sure it got there. Within one week it showed on ebenefits that it was processed and closed within one week. I called the 800 number and they told me that all was approved and I would be seeing a deposit any day for the two death related things and on May 1 my first DIC payment! Everything came just as they said, including my DIC payment today. I must say with all the years I've been dealing with the VA I've never seen such a fast response and I am grateful to them! A special thanks to all of you for answering my questions along the way!
  3. Wow...thank you all for your responses. As soon as I get the death certificate I will see a rep. My husband got his 100% for IHD in December then died March 11 and the coroner sent me a draft of the death certificate and it says he died of Congestive Heart Failure. Thanks again everyone.
  4. I've had such great help from so many of you. My husband finally got his 100% P&T for his heart. However, he didn't get it for long because he passed away. Cause of death Congestive heart failure So from what I have read, I should get DIC. I have the app completed, but do not as yet, have his death certificate so when I get it I will apply. I'm just wondering how long it takes to get approved (or denied) once you applty? Thanks so much.
  5. Okay so here is what happened. I called the regional guy that is at our local VA. I explained and he looked up my husbands file. He said okay it looks like they switched out the lung cancer 100% to zero percent! Then they took his heart percentage up to 100% permanent and total! Yay! He told me to have my husband call the 800 number and cancel the claim for his lungs because he is set. I asked why they took the lung one down to zero and he said they often manipulate the numbers and that was best because theorectically lung cancer can potentially be cured at which point he could lose his 100% because it is always put in as temporary unless the docs state terminal. If his cancer comes back I just need to put it in and they will move it up tho it won't make any difference on his status. So we cancelled the one claim and within two days had the notice for his 100% P&T. Thanks every one for you help!
  6. When we thought it was over we went in and a regional person printed my husband his Tag letter and told us he is permanent and total and that the 100 for his lungs was permanent. I would have talked to her then but I thought that meant we were done until yesterday when they called to see about scheduling his c&p for his lungs...that's why I'm panicking.
  7. HI, Okay quick question and I hope I get some quick advice before its too late. Okay so I put in for an increase in my husband's ihd, and his lungs because he's had terrible residuals since he had radiation for lung cancer. We applied for the caregiver program and was approved but the lady told me that his 100% for his lungs was temporary (which I knew) and that I should be trying to get him increased or made P&T so that his overall average would never go below 70%. So I put it in. Well the rep at the VA went in and said that he was Permanent and Total...yay. So I thought they were done because I saw the notice saying a decision letter was being mailed. However, today a lady calls and says she will be scheduling him for a c&p for his lungs. Well as it stands he has 100% for his lungs. They have not set the appointment yet...should I go in and request this cancelled? THere is nothing to gain and I'm thinking the wrong doc could certainly give something to lose especially since she said they will be using a community doctor. It's a moot issue right now right? If they haven't made a decision which obviously they haven't can I cancel or is it too late?
  8. Hi, My husband and I got ours Friday. I happened to be there and asked what they status was and they said to call in to the hospital and ask for a covid vaccine appt. I did and they forwarded me to someone who was making the appointments. It only took us three days to get in and following the shot they scheduled us for the second one. We are in Biloxi, but try calling your VA They may actually be giving them.
  9. Oh I hadn't thought about googling....as it turns out he is a PA but I don't see where or how he is connected to the VA other than the fact that he sits in the VA C&P office. Yes, he was in the VA hospital. I appreciate your response but I'm not sure exactly what you are saying I should do right now. We have not received a decision yet. Thanks
  10. Okay my husband is rated as follows: 10% tinnitus, 30% Ischemic heart, 40% hearing loss and 100% temp lung malignancy. He's had that temp 100% for over two years. He's had all kinds of heart issues since the original heart rating to include two stents, a new aortic valve and chronic congestive heart failure, all of which are documented in his VA file. He is a mess and I take care of everything for him. I applied for the caregiver program and have just been approved. The people with that program told me I need to see about getting his heart rating up and to request he be rated permanent and total. I put in the completed claim and they did a C&P in December. I just saw the c&p report. Here is what it says: PERTINENT HISTORY:1966-1968 USA Viet Nam 1968. OCCUPATIONAL HX: Retired 1993. PMH: SC CAD, SC Lung Cancer S/P Radiation, COPD. PSH (with results): TAVR. 2019. SH: 50 pk/yr of tobacco use, stopped 2014. Denies ETOH. 1. Diagnosis ------------ Does the Veteran now have or has he/she ever been diagnosed with a heart condition? [X] Yes [ ] No [X] Coronary artery disease Date of diagnosis: SC [X] Heart valve replacement Date of diagnosis: 2019 2. Medical History ------------------ a. Describe the history (including onset and course) of the Veteran's heart condition(s) (brief summary): Veteran is SC for CAD. Reports having several stents in past several years, no stents in past year. Veteran reports a significant noncardiac hx, has a hx of COPD and non small cell lung cancer s/p radiation. Currently using 5 l O2 for COPD. b. Do any of the Veteran's heart conditions qualify within the generally accepted medical definition of ischemic heart disease (IHD)? [X] Yes [ ] No If yes, list the conditions that qualify: CAD/IHD. c. Provide the etiology, if known, of each of the Veteran's heart conditions, including the relationship/causality to other heart conditions, particularly the relationship/causality to the Veteran's IHD conditions, if any: Heart condition #1: Provide etiology Presumptive AO exposure. Heart condition #2: Provide etiology Hyperlipidemia d. Is continuous medication required for control of the Veteran's heart condition? [X] Yes [ ] No If yes, list medications required for the Veteran's heart condition (include name of medication and heart condition it is used for, such as atenolol for myocardial infarction or atrial fibrillation): ASA, Meotoprolol 3. Myocardial infarction (MI) ----------------------------- Has the Veteran had a myocardial infarction (MI)? [X] Yes [ ] No MI #1: Date and treatment facility: 1/16/2002 Fort Myers, Florida. 4. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) --------------------------------- Has the Veteran had congestive heart failure (CHF)? [ ] Yes [X] No 5. Arrhythmia ------------- Has the Veteran had a cardiac arrhythmia? [ ] Yes [X] No 6. Heart valve conditions ------------------------- Has the Veteran had a heart valve condition? [X] Yes [ ] No a. Valves affected (check all that apply): [X] Aortic b. Describe type of valve condition for each checked valve: AS. S/P TAVR. 7. Infectious heart conditions ------------------------------ Has the Veteran had any infectious cardiac conditions, including active valvular infection (including rheumatic heart disease), endocarditis, pericarditis or syphilitic heart disease? [ ] Yes [X] No 8. Pericardial adhesions ------------------------ Has the Veteran had pericardial adhesions? [ ] Yes [X] No 9. Procedures ------------- Has the Veteran had any non-surgical or surgical procedures for the treatment of a heart condition? [X] Yes [ ] No If yes, indicate the non-surgical or surgical procedures the Veteran has had for the treatment of heart conditions (check all that apply): [X] Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (angioplasty) Indicate date of treatment or date of admission if admitted for treatment and treatment facility: 1. 2002 Coronary Stent, Charlotte Florida. 2. 5/2015 Stents Mid RCA/Proximal Circumflex, Keesler AFB. Indicate the condition that resulted in the need for this procedure/treatment: 1. CAD 2. CAD. [X] Valve replacement If checked, indicate valve(s) that have been replaced (check all that apply): [X] Aortic Indicate date of admission for treatment and treatment facility for each checked valve: 12/2019 TAVR Ocean Springs Indicate the condition that resulted in the need for this procedure/treatment: Hyperlipidemia. 10. Hospitalizations -------------------- Has the Veteran had any other hospitalizations for the treatment of heart conditions (other than for non-surgical and surgical procedures described above)? [ ] Yes [X] No 11. Physical exam ----------------- a. Heart rate: 90 b. Rhythm: [X] Regular [ ] Irregular c. Point of maximal impact: [X] Not palpable [ ] 4th intercostal space [ ] 5th intercostal space [ ] Other, specify: d. Heart sounds: [X] Normal [ ] Abnormal, specify: e. Jugular-venous distension: [ ] Yes [X] No f. Auscultation of the lungs: [X] Clear [ ] Bibasilar rales [ ] Other, describe: g. Peripheral pulses: Dorsalis pedis: [X] Normal [ ] Diminished [ ] Absent Posterior tibial: [X] Normal [ ] Diminished [ ] Absent h. Peripheral edema: Right lower extremity: [ ] None [X] Trace [ ] 1+ [ ] 2+ [ ] 3+ [ ] 4+ Left lower extremity: [ ] None [X] Trace [ ] 1+ [ ] 2+ [ ] 3+ [ ] 4+ i. Blood pressure: 126/70 12. Other pertinent physical findings, complications, conditions, signs, symptoms and scars ------------------------------------------------------------------------ a. Does the Veteran have any other pertinent physical findings, complications, conditions, signs or symptoms related to any conditions listed in the Diagnosis Section above? [ ] Yes [X] No b. Does the Veteran have any scars (surgical or otherwise) related to any conditions or to the treatment of any conditions listed in the Diagnosis Section above? [ ] Yes [X] No c. Comments, if any: No response provided 13. Diagnostic Testing ---------------------- a. Is there evidence of cardiac hypertrophy? [ ] Yes [X] No b. Is there evidence of cardiac dilatation? [ ] Yes [X] No c. Diagnostic tests Indicate all testing completed; provide only most recent results which reflect the Veteran's current functional status (check all that apply): [X] Echocardiogram Date of echocardiogram: 7/10/2019 Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): 55 % Wall motion: [X] Normal [ ] Abnormal, describe: Wall thickness: [X] Normal [ ] Abnormal, describe: [X] Coronary artery angiogram Date of angiogram: 8/6/2019 Result: [ ] Normal [X] Abnormal, describe: Prior stents patent. No new significant lesions. 14. METs Testing ---------------- Indicate all testing completed; provide only most recent results which reflect the Veteran's current functional status (check all that apply): a. Exercise stress test No response provided. b. If an exercise stress test was not performed, provide reason: [X] Exercise stress testing is not required as part of Veteran's current treatment plan and this test is not without significant risk c. [X] Interview-based METs test Date of interview-based METs test: 12/7/2020 Symptoms during activity: The METs level checked below reflects the lowest activity level at which the Veteran reports any of the following symptoms attributable to a cardiac condition (check all symptoms that the Veteran reports at the indicated METs level of activity): [X] Dyspnea [X] Angina [X] Syncope Results of interview-based METs test METs level on most recent interview-based METs test: [X] (1-3 METs) This METs level has been found to be consistent a shower, slow walking (2 mph) for 1-2 blocks d. Has the Veteran had both an exercise stress test and an interview-based METs test? [ ] Yes [X] No e. Is the METs level limitation provided above due solely to the heart condition(s) that the Veteran is claiming in the Diagnosis Section? [ ] Yes [X] No If no, complete Section 14f. f. What is the estimated METs level due solely to the cardiac condition(s) listed above? (If this is different than METs reported above because of co-morbid conditions, provide METs level and Rationale below.) METs level METs level on most recent interview-based METs test: [X] The limitation in METs level is due to multiple medical conditions including the heart condition(s); it is not possible to accurately estimate the percent of METs limitation attributable to each medical condition g. Comments, if any: METS is based on general conditioning, natural age and combined medical conditions. Most middle aged individuals have a METS 5-7; and most elderly individuals have a METS of 3-5 - irrespective of heart function. Therefore, the veterans LVEF is more accurate representation of his/her cardiac function at this time. 15. Functional impact --------------------- Does the Veteran's heart condition(s) impact his or her ability to work? [ ] Yes [X] No 16. Remarks, if any ------------------- No remarks provided. Okay so I don't have a clue how this will come out. Ebenefits says that a Regulatory and Procedural Review opened on Dec 15 and closed on December 23. Decision letter mailed, allow 7-10 days. Any thoughts on this report? One issue I have with this and its a big one if he is denied or lowered and that is that my husband has Chronic Congestive heart failure and has been in the hospital twice this year for treatment of this and pneumonia. It is on his active list of things wrong with him and is documented as being treated when in the hospital. So I don't get how this guy could so blatantly say he doesn't have it. Any insight would be appreciated and who should I call if I don't get this letter soon? I'm trying to be patient because I know the mail is really messed up out there. Thanks in advance.
  11. Okay I've tried everything to figure out how to put the pics of the scans on here...no luck.
  12. Hi, My husband has been receiving 100% for AO connected lung cancer..we knew it was temporary but were told he would have an exam to see if he had an residual issues and be re-rated or put back to zero. Well we got a letter this week saying they decided not to see him and they said they will be taking him to zero three months from the date of the letter. So he did not get the exam to be able to point out the residuals even tho on the review they did they actually have info about the residuals he does have. The letter included a form 21-4138 With two big sections on it labeled "remarks". So, I don't want to mess this up. How should I proceed? Should I just write that he has residuals, list them and copy the parts in his files that talk about it? Or, should I go on e-benefits and apply for these residuals as secondary to the lung cancer? Two different VA reps told me two different things. I'd be grateful for any guidance. Thanks.
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