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Linking Heart Disease To Ptsd

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TiredSgt

Question

Without an IMO/IME, is it possible to link heart disease to PTSD?

I got a letter from Dept. of Veterans Affairs,KY that says:

"1. If you have any additional evidence to submit, please submit medical evidence on your current congestive heart failure and severe cardiomyopathy as well as evidence showing a connection between these two conditions and your service connected PTSD condition. We will consider service connection for your congestive heart failure and severe cardiomyopathy as secondary to your service connected PTSD condition."

I am currently receiving percentages on: 10% Tinnitus, 20% Cervical Spine, 10% Degenerative Disc Disease and 10% PTSD. (50% is what I get).

I'm considering requesting an increase for DDD when I reply to their letter, is this a good idea? Or, should I wait to see if they service connect my heart disease (linking it to PTSD). How do I request an increase from 10% DDD to 50%? Do I just request an increase on the standard "Statement in Support of Claim" form?

My goal is 100% TDIU, any help you guy can give will be greatly appreciated. I remember a while back I asked you guys for advise on getting service connected for PTSD - I took your alls advise and was awarded 10%! Now I need help getting 100%. I have CHF and my back is stiff as a board, unable to bend over to tie my shoes - unbelieveable, constant pain in the middle and lower back. I need some help.

Thanks, Tim

Only God Can Judge Me

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Were you incountry Vietnam? and if so has the VA ruled out diabetes as cause of your heart disease?

Diabetes-a major cause of heart disease - is presumptive AO disability in Vietnam vets.

Is there any other medical evidence in your SMRs that could show a potential link to the heart disease?

Would these docs be willing to state that your SC PTSD contributes to and aggravates your heart disease?

You could file a claim on that basis also-

I posted a topic here as to how a SC conditions can aggravte a NSC condition and the VA has to rate the degree of aggravation that the SC causes to the NSC one.

It is available under search Aggravation of NSC by SC disability.

Then again I hope you Nodded the 10%-and have medical evidence to put you into higher rating category for the PTSD.

A vet is always better off to try to get another disability as secondary to an initial SC disability if possible- then trying for direct SC on a separate disability.

I say try both ways but secondary SC can be easier sometimes then direct separate SC rating.

GRADUATE ! Nov 2nd 2007 American Military University !

When thousands of Americans faced annihilation in the 1800s Chief

Osceola's response to his people, the Seminoles, was

simply "They(the US Army)have guns, but so do we."

Sameo to us -They (VA) have 38 CFR ,38 USC, and M21-1- but so do we.

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