hypertension Hypertension

[Billyboy]

I am rated for tinnitus 10%, loss of hearing 0% and MDD at 50%, (claimed as post traumatic stress disorder, sleep disorder and night sweats). My question is on the high blood pressure. First a little history; in 1962 while in the service I had the pleasure of spending some time in the Trippler mental hospital with some very serious problems. When I got out of the service I ran like hell away from the service just as fast as I could. Not knowing I could receive any help from the VA. In my service files there is no B/P checks of any kind. While in the hospital the service gave me Librium without knowing what my B/P was. My point is I want to file a claim for hypertension and I want to be sure not to screw it up. Since I have gotten out of the service (1962) my first two doctors are dead. The first report I have is 8-9-91 B/P was 142/92. The highest reading BEFORE I was enrolled in the VA system was 174/96. After enrolling in the VA Hospital Fresno I have readings from 198/105 and now getting under control 139/80. How would you go about handling the claim? What kind of evidence do I need. I know there is a loooooong gap between 1962 and 1991. Help

[mssoup1]

I guess a lot of C & P examiners are different, but each time my husband has gone to a C & P exam and we told them the various meds he has been on, we were told that they didn't care what he has been prescribed in the past. They only cared about what he was taking now that could cause him the side effects we were filing a claim for.

I thought that any meds which could cause long term side effects had to be looked at, but they didn't even want to discuss the issue of past meds.

I have been fighting this issue and will continue to fight it. They feel that side effects of past meds go away once you are taken off of the med. This may happen to some side effects, but not all. I guess this is why getting an IMO is even more important to have done even though I think you should not have to go that route.

mssoup1

[Billyboy]

Mssoup1, A lot of things I don't know. Whats an IMO?

[Guest jstacy]

Billy Boy an IMO stands for Independant medical opinion. It basically is going outside of the VA to get an opinion for a condition. There are several points to doing this. The Doctor must state he has viewed the evidence listed in the claim folder and he must issue a good opinion as to the cause or make a good nexus of a condition and a condition in the Military. For example, Hypertension secondary to PTSD is possible, However I think there is no zero percent given for Hypertension. I know the readings must be compensable to be service connected. For 10 percent the Systolic must be 160 to 199. Diastolic must be 100 to 109. for 20 percent it must be systolic 200 or diastolic 110. Diastolic of 120 to 129 is 40 and above 130 it is 60 percent. Also be advised that the VA likes to elevator these percentages. As your readings fluctuate then so do the percentages.

Edited April 18, 2006 by jstacy

[Billyboy]

My first visit to the VA on 10-7-03 my blood pressure was 174/96 the second visit was 198/105 and 10 minutes later 175/97. From then till now it is coming down but has been all over the place. VA has had a difficult time of getting my b/p under control. How do they go about figuring your b/p when you’re on meds? Also would it be worth the effort of paying a shrink for an opinion if you might get 0 or 10%? bill

[Guest jstacy]

The Tregs state that Hypertnension is compensable with Bottom line 100 with continuous medication to control, In your case Like Mine, BP is not controllable. My Bottom line fluctuates from 86 to 150. I yiake 4 different meds including Niitro and It seems to do a little better, But overall it still soars a few times per week.

A good IMO cannot hurt anything. Research the Doctor before you get one and see if his credentials are OK.

JJ

[Billyboy]

8-09-91 was the first b/p I have. I have re-requested my meds as I have NO B/P in the medical records VA, National Personnel Center or the two bases I was stationed sent me? Go figure, no B/P anywhere. What do you think the VA will say when they cannot show any B/P readings in the service? My first two doctors are dead and records destroyed, that why the first reading is 8-09-91

8-09-91 142-92

10-29-93 154-84

2-14-94 150-96

1-07-03 174-96

1-27-03 140-85

Started VA Fresno

10-07-03 174-96 Problem list, HTN & BPH

10-24-03 178-93

11-04-03 180-92 B/P remains elevated

11-19-03 198-110 Addendum: 10 min later 175-97

11-26-03 172-96

12-3-03 177-91

12-17-03 142-80

2-4-04 148-76

3-17-04 155-81

7-8-04 172-81

7-16-04 136-70

7-21-04 152-76

9-1-04 158-90

10-5-04 142-80

11-4-04 180-92

11-16-04 156-86

12-28-04 162-82

1-27-05 122-78

4-11-05 132-74

9-1-05 139-80