Sinus Bradycardia, Cardiomyopathy

[shann]

My question I guess is there anybody else out there that knows about this and have you filed a claim for it. I had shoulder problems about my third year in the Air Force. I went to the base clinic and complained about my shoulder. It did not hurt all the time but I was weak and fatigued not to mention constipated but they never made a relationship to my heart even though my heart rate at times when I was complaining was down to 52, 56 beats a minute. I got out and went to the VA hospital in fort lyons colorado and they showed on the ecg or ekg that I had sinus bradycardia. They never did an ecg on me in the service even when I got discharged or this would of showed. I seperated from active duty in January of 1993. I started going to school at KU lawrence ks in the fall of 93 and joined a reserve unit at Richard-Gebaur AFB MO. In the spring I went back to western kansas cause I wasnt feeling good and wanted to be closer to family after being in the AF for five years. I seperated from the reserve unit in dec of 93. I went to school at a juco in Garden city ks and my feet swelled up huge and hurt. I went to the va at fort lyons and thats where they diagnosed me with gout and also the sinus bradycardia. I am filing a claim on both. I currently get treatment at the kcva. I have a blood test when on active duty showing high uric acid level. I also have copies of records showing my heart rate being low. My status right now is DRO appeal on heart, shoulder and ear infections. Initial claim on gout started Feb of 2007. Heart started in Feb of 2006. I filed an initial claim when I first got to the va at the DAV office and was rated 0% in 1994. That was for deviated septum I had it operated on while in the service. I have had it operated on since then. I had never thought to appeal their decision since that time but as I have gotten older and developed problems I am scared that i will one time reach a point where I wont be able to care for myself financially. I have had several bouts where my legs and knees have swollen up on me and I have struggled through them. I have no other medical care right now but the va. They say I have gout but a couple of years ago the rheumatologist said it wasnt and might be rheumotoid arthritis. At that time both my knees were swollen up three or four times there size right now. They had me on alpurinol I think but with that my legs hurt bad and they were putting me on steroids at times but that is no good. I have gone to the health food store and when my feet, ankles, or knees start to hurt or swell I take some joint medicane and heart medicane not medicane but health food supplements from the health food store and msm gloucosamene. This has helped me. I still have the problem but this is my way to keep it under control. The heart is another story I went for a physical in 2003 for an environmental job we had to wear a gas mask. They took a ecg and said I had a heart attack. I thought they were full of something and anyway I ended up going to the VA. They confirmed that I had Cardiomyopathy, mitral valve regurgitation and sinus bradycardia. They sent me to KU Medical center and did a cardiac MRI. I guess my question is do I have a chance of winning my claim?

[Vike17]

shann,

You stated that your claims are currently before the DRO. What was the initial decision for your gout and heart condition. Did they flat out deny them, or did they service-connect them with a percentage and you're appealing that evaulation? If they denied them flat out, what was their rational (stated in the "reasons and basis" of the rating decision.

If they denied the claims out right, I'm willing to bet that the nexus from from your current conditions to the symptoms while in service are missing. If this is the case, the best thing you can do, as Berta said, is collect ALL of your medical records i.e SMR's and private treatment records, and get an IMO to connect everything. Did you request a hearing with the DRO?

Vike 17