hypertension Hypertension And Herbicides Exposure

[Guest terrysturgis]

For information purposes here is an article from the Michigan Overseas Veteran newspaper.

Hypertension and Herbicides Exposure by Dan Crocker VFW Service Officer.

The National Academy of Sciences announced recently, after an extensive review of studies and medical literature published since 2004, hypertension satisfied the "limited or suggestive evidence of an association" for those exposed to herbicides while servind in Vietnam. In addition, AL amyloidosis, a rare condition, was also found to have a limited or suggestive association to exposure to herbicides.

Previously, the VA has accepted the NAS determination of limited or suggestive evidence of an association to herbicides and established a presumption that allows VA to grant service connection for those vietnam veterans who develop any of these conditions to a degree of 10 percent or more following service taking into consideration 38 CFR 3.311.

For many Vietnam veterans, service connection for hypertension has been denied by the VA as a direct occurrence, or as secondary to diabetes type II, because the hypertension was diagnosed before a clinical diagnosis was rendered for the diabetes. Having said that, if hypertension was diagnosed after the onset of DM Type II, the claim would also be denied because there was no kidney involvement.

It may be months if and before the VA moves to amend VA regulations. In fact, should the VA amend the regulations, it may still be another 6-12 months after that date before the VA can decide a claim. Considering the current backlog within the VA, it still could take up to two years or longer. However, the VFW Service Office here in Michigan is strongly encouraging those who previously have been denied or those who have never filed a claim, to contact our office. If you have been clinically diagnosed with hypertension and are currently receiving compensation for any service-connected condition, then we just need to amend your claim.

If you have never filed a claim with the VA before, contact our staff so that we can refer you to someone in your local community that will assist in the completion of your claim. We will be keeping a database so that no one slips through the cracks.

Our hours of operation are as follows: 8:15am - 4:pm. Monday through Friday. 477 Michigan Avenue, Suite #1215, Detroit, MI 48226-2588. Phone: 313-964-6510. Fax: 313-964-6545. E-mail: marlene.khaireddine@va.gov.

If you decide to e-mail or call us, please leave the following: the veteran's name. Social security number and/or Va claim number and phone number where you can be reached during our normal working hours. That way we can check the VA database and our own database and see if a claim was previously filed. Dan Crocker

Has anyone heard of the the studies refered to in this article? Terry Sturgis

[jbasser]

It is not an agent orange presumptive. It is connectable only secondary Diabetes.

It is presumptive during the first post service year and only if the readings are compensable.

That means top line (Systolic) 160 or bottom line (diastolic) 100.

Get a doctor to state it is caused by DM and you should be OK. you can do it as a NOD if it is a denied claim.

if not file it as a new claim with an effective date of high BP reading taken at the VA. Remember effective date is date of claim or date entitlement arose whichever is later.

7101 Hypertensive vascular disease (hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension):

Diastolic pressure predominantly 130 or more 60

Diastolic pressure predominantly 120 or more 40

Diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more, or; systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more 20

Diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or; systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, or; minimum evaluation for an individual with a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more who requires continuous medication for control 10

Note (1): Hypertension or isolated systolic hypertension must be confirmed by readings taken two or more times on at least three different days. For purposes of this section, the term hypertension means that the diastolic blood pressure is predominantly 90mm. or greater, and isolated systolic hypertension means that the systolic blood pressure is predominantly 160mm. or greater with a diastolic blood pressure of less than 90mm.

Note (2): Evaluate hypertension due to aortic insufficiency or hyperthyroidism, which is usually the isolated systolic type, as part of the condition causing it rather than by a separate evaluation.

Note (3): Evaluate hypertension separately from hypertensive heart disease and other types of heart disease.

Edited October 31, 2007 by jbasser

[jbasser]

Did you have a C@P examination for that issue?

You are right, I have seen several claims approved for HTN secondary to Hypertension.

I am SC for hypertension and Hypertensive heart disease. I am going to file for DMII as aggravation on both ends.

I have also seen cases for DMII as aggravation factors of SC hypertension and heart disease. It is called excarbation.

If you have the copy of the exam, email me.

J

Edited November 1, 2007 by jbasser

[navyvet]

3 years ago I submitted a claim for Hypertension when I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer . I was denied for hypertension as being caused by the Agent orange ,but successful for the cancer. 1 Year ago I was diagnosed with Diabetes and put a claim in for Diabetes and Hypertension secondary to the Diabetes . I was again denied for the Hypertension and successful for the Diabetes . Is a successful claim out of the picture now ? Will my wife get anything if they add Hypertension to the list after I am gone ?

Its looking bleak !!!

[Berta]

It is admirable that you are thinking of yuour spouse now-

hope the day is far off that she has to deal with the VA.

If you are 100% P & T due to service for ten years prior to death, the VA awards DIC.

If any service connected condition causes or contributes to death, then they award direct DIC.

Unfortunately DMII can cause heart disease through it's affects on peripheral arteries, and in many other ways.

My advise here is always tell the spouse if you are an organ donor-and if the Organ Bank does an autopsy (I think they have to in every donor case) it is free-

Sometimes an autopsy can be the only way a wife can get DIC because it can reveal more than a simple death certificate.

[john999]

With DMII secondary conditions you almost always need a doctor's statement that the secondary condition is a result of the DMII. They will not connect the dots for you.