hypertension Diabetes Claim Advice

[sburrows]

I am looking at filing a disability claim for diabetes secondary to my service-connected asthma, lower back, achilles tendon rupture, hypertension, and migraine headaches. Because of my service-connected injuries and illnesses, it makes it extremely difficult to exercise properly and limits the types of exercises that can be done. This has caused a dramatic increase of my weight from 190 lbs to 250 lbs, even reaching 276 lbs.

Does anyone have any advice or strategy on how to proceed with a claim such as this? I can't seem to find another issue like this. Thanks

Scott B.

[Pete53]

Good Luck

[Berta]

If a medical doctor could give a full medical rationale for that type of claim-ruling out all other possible etiologies for the diabetes,except for service connected disabilities- it could possibly be awarded as secondary.

This will be difficult. I studied diabetes medical info and studies quite a bit for my claim and nothing like any of the disabilities you mentioned caused it.AO did. I assume you are not an incountry Vietnam Vet?

[sburrows]

Correct ... not a Vietnam Vet. I was told by my DAV representative that if my pulmologist, orthopidic, and internal medicine doctors each write an opinion stating "more likely than not" statement, he could argue effectively.

Also, can you direct me to articles or studies about diabetes and inactivity and obesity? Thanks

[Berta]

There should be some good info at the American Diabetes Association Web site.

I used the ADA site,Diabetologica abstracts for my claim,also Merck, Johns Hopkins, the VA's own Diabetes training letter, and medical abstracts from all sorts of studies.

My IMO doc used two medical texts that are difficult for vets or widows to access and they are costly.I researched my claim continually for the 6 years the award took.

The word Diabetes never once appeared in any of my husband's med recs. Just a note that said DVD with a left arrow and cf diag (after a fingerstick test was ordered but the VA failed to do).The doctor had just told my husband he thought his major CVA was from diabetes and noted the fingerstick test was to be done. It never was.

I tracked this VA doctor down across the country and he gave me a brief 2 sentence IMO. The BVA gave considerable weight to his statement and to my 2 IMOs.and to my competent lay evidence.

I dont have any specific links to obesity causing diabetes but this is a well know medical fact-

I think you are using the fact that you are sedentary from SCs

causing the diabetes.This makes sense.

NOTHING is impossible with the VA-

but the DAV is right-

I saw a widow's case where the vet died of heart disease with hearing loss as only service connection.

She proved the Hearing loss caused him to be sedentary and that he could not exercise or do much at all.I think vertigo was also part of his HL problems.

She was awarded DIC due to HL contributing to his death from heart attack.

The DAV is right but if they mean independent opinions- do you have private doctors?

Sometimes treating private docs will do an IMO for free.

I paid 4 thousand for my IMOs and had just sent 1750 for another one when I succeeded on my claim.They can be very costly.

And often the only way to succeed.

[sburrows]

Really appreciate the help and encouragement !!!! I always like to thank those who attempt to help rather than post negative comments.

[john999]

That is going to be a very difficult claim to win. Even as secondary I don't see it.

There are fat people who have DMII and fat people who don't. How do you explain that? That is what the VA will ask.