Katie

I admit I don't know anything about the VA and how it operates but............... what I'm reading is that is takes over a year to your claim accepted or denied? How can ANY organization JUSTIFY this type of response time? I fully realize that a raters job can't be all that easy, but a yr to make a decision? Isn't there someone that can help you move your claim faster? Good luck to you and my prayers are that your claim will be answered soon and things will be better. Just don't give up hope!!!! Kate

My husband died suddenly in 1996 from a sudden heart attack at the age of 49. He was in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. He had never used the VAMC for any reason, but I called the VA approx. 2 months after he died to ask if his heart attack could be related to Agent Orange, and was told no, so I never filed a claim. He was never sick and so it was a shock to lose him so suddenly and I blamed myself for not paying closer attention to him, and thought I should have seen signs that he wasn't well. I never asked for anything from the VA, not for the funeral, burial or headstone. Infact I didn't get his footstone until I filed for the DIC in August of 2010. It was delivered to the cemetary and it's beautiful and I'm so grateful to the VA for giving it to us. Getting back to the DIC, my husband had an autopsy done because he died suddenly and was so young. The cause of the death was stated as "severe atherosclerotic heart disease". I sent all the needed documents when the VSO filed (which I might add was not the most supportive person I have met ) but I didn't have a copy of his autopsy report until a couple of weeks ago. My question is...........should i send the autopsy report to be added to my claim? Basically is says exactly what the death certificate says with a little more detail. My fear is that the death certificate doesn't say "Ischemic Heart Disease" so I'm afraid I'm going to be denied. I also would like to know if it would help if I write to the doctor that did the autopsy and ask for her professional opinion as to whether or not his heart disease could have been accelerated due to Agent Orange exposure. Any thoughts? Thank you, Kate