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Gerd As Secondary Due To Aggravation By Va Meds

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I have service connected knee problems and must take arthritis medication Salsalate which triggeers my acid reflux. I am on omeprazole to help protect my stomach from the salsalate. I applied for secondary, to stop having to pay for the omeprazole. Been denied as no objective evidence showing service connected knee problem aggravated my acid feflux. My VA doctor has stated that the omeprazole should be service connected med, because it is needed due to the salsalate.

Any one else have this problem?

Any suggestions on how to proceed?

Thanks

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I have service connected knee problems and must take arthritis medication Salsalate which triggeers my acid reflux. I am on omeprazole to help protect my stomach from the salsalate. I applied for secondary, to stop having to pay for the omeprazole. Been denied as no objective evidence showing service connected knee problem aggravated my acid feflux. My VA doctor has stated that the omeprazole should be service connected med, because it is needed due to the salsalate.

Any one else have this problem?

Any suggestions on how to proceed?

Thanks

You definitely need to appeal. If you have any other medical records or such from doctors saying that you had no problems with this before you started the salsalate, then you should win on appeal. I think it is standard procedure for them to deny first time around. Seemed that way to me. You might see if you can get your VA doctor to write down that you need the omepraz because he has given you the salsalate and it bothers your stomach. Maybe that would get through to them.

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  • HadIt.com Elder

Have your PCP write a statement in your progress notes that states: GERD, secondary to required medications for SC knee condition, IS service-connected. This has kept me from having to pay for my opmeprazole. I am in exactly the same boat, except I have to re-file my claim for GERD. I was denied back in 2003, but I have to ammo now to win. Good luck!

90%, TDIU P&T

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  • HadIt.com Elder

If the VA is prescribing the Meds and its for a non service connected condition it seems that if they deny cause the meds are not service connected you may be able to go in back door using an 1151 claim and if you win could ask to service connect it. I really am sort of weak on 1151 claims so hopefully someone can explain it better?

Good Luck

Veterans deserve real choice for their health care.

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"My VA doctor has stated that the omeprazole should be service connected med, because it is needed due to the salsalate."

Makes sense to me- does the VA have that statement?

But I also I agree with RentalGuy-that the GERD-caused by the salsalate- should be service connected.Did the doctor state anything like that?

SCing a med doesn't get more comp- a secondary disability (the GERD) would have to be service connected and rated and might give you more comp as well as come under the regs that say you would not have to pay for it.

Also if the VA med mailer shows GERD problems as possible side affect if this med- a copy of that too would bolster your claim.

Edited by Berta

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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Thanks for all of the advise. I have 60 days to get the appeal in. So I am writing it up now. Just wanted to see if anyone else had the same problem.

I have been using Omeprazole. (several years) before the va put me on Salsalate for Gerd. Now what the va is stating that there is no objective evidence that the salsalate has increase the gerd. My dr has double the omprazole on a daily use. 'Omeprazole 20 mg sa cap take two capsules by mouth every day for acid reflux'. He has also stated "Pt requires omeprazole to relieve discomfort from his nsaid, this is a sc medication have designated this as such."

On the Va medical document information sent with the salsalate, it states for side effects: 'Upset stomach, dizziness or nausea may occur. Report any stomach pain, heartburn, etc.' I did report these side effects to my dr who then double my use of Omeprazole.

One note: I have never had a EGD exam by the va. My dr has schedule one for Feb 2008. for me. Hopefully I will not have to do it, because it sounds rought. Anyone else had a EGD done?

Thanks

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