hypertension Hypertension And Kidney Disease Lumped

[betrayed]

How do I fight it too get them split up?

[sixthscents]

Chief that kinda depends.... why did they combine them? Did they say? I mean, I wouldn't normally associate the two, but they have to have given some sort of reason... the only thing I can think is they are saying that either the hypertensioon and the kidney disease stem from the same nexus, or one caused the other.... even if they stem from the same nexus I dont see how they could combine them. So, my guess is they are saying one caused the other...

[Ricky]

What came first? If the hypertension was SC'ed then the kidney disease the the kidney should be rated seperatly fairly easy. This is strange as even if one caused the other, both are SC'ed, just lumped together, then one should have been secondary. However, only a doctor would be able to unfuddle it as it all boils down to a medical issue of how one relates to the other.

[Vike17]

It all depends on how your kidney is rated i.e. what DC it's under. If it's under 7505 Tuberculosis of Kidney, you'll find you answer under §4.89.

Vike 17

[betrayed]

was initially rated 30% for chronic kidney stones, hypertension was denied. Appealed at DRO level, showed them I was diagnosed with hypertension within one year of discharge. In the mean time I had a renal scan which showed my kidney is so damaged that it only function 28% and the other functions 68%.

Vike 17,

The SSOC states under issue Chronic nephrolithiasis with hypertension which is currently rated at 30%.

Under decision it states The initial evaluation of chronic nephrolithiasis with hypertension which is currently rated at 30% is retro increased to 60%.

This makes no sense I was granted 30% for Chronic nephrolithiasis alone. I was denied hypertension.

Appeal showed them I was diagnosed with hypertension within one year of discharge by private doctor and started on medicine for such.

Reasons and Bases

We have retroactivley increased to 60 percent the initial evaluation assigned for your service connected kidney disability. We based this decision on a longitudal review of the record.

I am gonna scan and attach info from SSOC.

[betrayed]

and I totally disagree with this statement from the ssoc, so Vike please tell me how to fight it.

Edited May 22, 2007 by BETRAYED (see edit history)

[betrayed]

The kidney damage is a direct result of over 17 lithotripsies for the removal of kidney stones and also due to the kidney swelling because it was obstructed and could not drain.

The renal scan was not done by order of the VA, it was done by my request.

It took a year for me to get a appointment with a nephrologist, then I almost had to come to blows to get him to order the renal scan and a ultrasound of my kidney.

The way they make it sound is the VA initiated it.

A civilian urologist wanted it done three years ago, my 80 year old PCP under Tricare wouldn't do the referral to get it done.

So when I got into the VA med system I asked my PCP for a consult with a Nephrologist (like I said I waited a year for the appointment). Then I had to argue with him to get the test done, he just wanted to add more pills to my already extensive list of meds. I told him I want it evaluated so I can make up my mind about having it removed as suggested by at least three doctors in the past.

One of the long term effects of lithotripsies is scarring of the kidney, which in turn can cause hypertension. More than likley IMO the hypertension is secondary to the kidney damage.

I have proof to back up what I am saying and there are many other studies and articles written on the damage that lithotripsies cause

Edited May 22, 2007 by BETRAYED (see edit history)

[Dorothy Kansas]

Just my opinion but if your BUN is 80 and your creatnine is 4.0 then you are most likely having acute renal failure. My number were that and I was in acuter renal failure and received dialysis.

[Ricky]

Looks like to me they are using § 4.115 Nephritis which says:

that nephritis has close interrelationships with cardiovascular disabilities. If, however, absence of a kidney is the sole renal disability, even if removal was required because of nephritis, the absent kidney and any hypertension or heart disease will be separately rated. Also, in the event that chronic renal disease has progressed to the point where regular dialysis is required, any coexisting hypertension or heart disease will be separately rated.

So unless you are absent a kidney or you require regular dialysis the close interrelationship of your condition and the hypertension would violate the pyramiding clause contained in 4.14.

bottom line is that unless you can get a doc to break it apart for you and can get the VA to accept his opinion eventhough it may be outside the accepted norm (4.115) then I can not see a seperate rating.

Just my guess!

[jbasser]

Betrayed, ask for the Hypertensionto be rated as a seperate disability as it most likely caused your heart disease. Under that criteria for heart disease, Hypertension is to be rated separatly.

Just get a doc to write an opinion about your HTN.

I have had several family members who suffered from nephritis. One of the major symptoms is a person gets irritable at the snap of a finger.People also have severe episodes of elevated blood pressure. many patients suffer strokes from this disease.