Rate Org. Ihd Finding?

[LWF]

What do you think? Will the VA rate AO IHD conditions when it was first discovered (damage done at this point!) or, use your most recent exam?

Now that most of us are doing better with medication and treatment and, I am glad, will they compensate for your org. condition?

[Aga]

I have EJ 45% METs 6 and 34.1% ventricular paced with my pacemaker. I have afib and Neurocardiogenic syncope and yet my doctor said I don't have IHD. I have had been with this condition since 1994 and still going. I just want to know if IHD is what I have?

[Berta]

Not all heart disease is ischemic in nature.

Here are two links of many definitions on the net as to what IHD is:

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heart_vascular_institute/conditions_treatments/conditions/coronary_artery.html

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4720

What is the actual medical diagnosis of your heart disease?

Any atherosclerotic involvement of the heart usually is considered ischemia.

[Chuck75]

By chance is the doctor a VA doctor, and is he/she a cardiologist?

the numbers and problems you mentioned (without any other considerations) usually indicate damage to the heart, generally due to restricted blood flow.

(However, there are other causes of heart damage, such as rheumatic fever, viral or other infection, etc.)

If you haven't already done so, I'd think about getting a "second opinion" as to IHD, from a qualified specialist, preferably one associated with something like a regional heart treatment center, and not the VA.

A problem with the VA's "narrow" definition of IHD is that restricted blood flow can also lead to damage to the nerve system controlling the heart, and result in problems with heart timing, rate, and beat strength.

6 METs seems high for the numbers you mentioned. For instance, an LVEF of ~ 30% usually results in 2-4 METs.

I have EJ 45% METs 6 and 34.1% ventricular paced with my pacemaker. I have afib and Neurocardiogenic syncope and yet my doctor said I don't have IHD. I have had been with this condition since 1994 and still going. I just want to know if IHD is what I have?

[Chuck75]

The VA generally compensates for a condition as it is now. They can get into "staged" compensation, as a means to reduce retro payments.

An example of how complicated this might be would be a an A.O. Vietnam Veteran with IHD.

The veteran applied for service connection in the past, and was denied.

Nehmer applies. What is supposed to happen is that the IHD condition gets rated based upon the changing severity

during the period between that immediately before the application, and over the intervening time to the granting of the claim.

Part of the problem is that the VA can drag feet, forcing the veteran to go to multiple C%P exams, due to the amount of delay caused by the VA.

What do you think? Will the VA rate AO IHD conditions when it was first discovered (damage done at this point!) or, use your most recent exam?

Now that most of us are doing better with medication and treatment and, I am glad, will they compensate for your org. condition?

[stillhere]

The VA generally compensates for a condition as it is now. They can get into "staged" compensation, as a means to reduce retro payments.

An example of how complicated this might be would be a an A.O. Vietnam Veteran with IHD.

The veteran applied for service connection in the past, and was denied.

Nehmer applies. What is supposed to happen is that the IHD condition gets rated based upon the changing severity

during the period between that immediately before the application, and over the intervening time to the granting of the claim.

Part of the problem is that the VA can drag feet, forcing the veteran to go to multiple C%P exams, due to the amount of delay caused by the VA.

I wonder on this staging stuff.

In 2002 echo with LVE 50%

In 2003 heart pain/shortness of breathe after xray and walking treadmill denied.

2004 appeal denied again after xray and walking treadmill

2005 appealed C&P Sept.05 denied walking treadmill test xray.

2005 Oct. 2 heart attacks over weekend blockages of 100%,70% and 50% two stents placed damaged heart at 40%

Granted heart disease for MI only back to date of Heart attack!

I have put in for an earlier effective date to 2003 based on the 2002 test and the lousy testing the VA did!

I could have very easily died because of their inept testing procedures. Which I might add have been changed in the past two years.

[john999]

When you talk about staged ratings this is a big deal for those of us who have CUE claims going back many years. Even if we win the VA may stage the rating percentage. Any way to cheat a vet out of some retro is sop.