Hep.c Treatment Complications

[gp747]

Ok i am sc for bipolar disorder and have been suicidal ,been recently hospitalized. I also hep. c positive.

In the past i discussed getting the inteferon treatment,but after talking to the doctors they decided i was not a candidate for treatment due to my mental status,as the treatment has severe side effects mentally.

I put a claim in for hep. c and on my decision they said the docs said i was not a candidate for treatment ,leaving out the fact that it was due to my mental illness,wonder why?

So what i am saying is i dont see why since i cannot take the treatment due to my service connected illness and hep c is getting worse hep.c can be secondary in my case.

I know i got this s--t in vietnam i just do not know how ,without it was because i had a lot of drugheads around. At that time i did not know what a marijuana cigarette was.

Did not use drugs at all.

WHAT I AM SAYING IS IF I COULD GET THE DAMN TREATMENT I WOULD PROBABLY FEEL BETTER ,BUT I CANT DUE TO MY MENTAL CONDITION,I HATE THE B------S !

Edited March 5, 2010 by skunk

[gp747]

As it is with hadit, it would be a good idea to search "Nod's" website, (link posted below) to see if your question has already been answered before asking.

I wanted some opinions from this site. I will research nod ,and have used it before ,but it takes a long time to get an answer thankyou.

[gp747]

You could make a good argument in your NOD that the SC Bi polar has "aggravated " your NSC hepatitis as the interferon treatment has been found medically unfeasible due to it's side affects that would aggravate the mental condition.

There is medical info on the net to support that-

"I put a claim in for hep. c and on my decision they said the docs said i was not a candidate for treatment ,leaving out the fact that it was due to my mental illness,wonder why?"

Did the doctor's statement they used specifically state why the interferon was not feasible treatment? stating that your SC condition prevented it's use?

Ok here are the exact words "due to his history and present condition of depression he is not a candidate for treatment at this time"

The point i am trying to get across is when i got my denial letter they said " not a candidate for treatment " and left out the reason why trying to minimize the extent of my illness. On the tests i got back said strong results for hep c. ,something to that effect.

was going to get the shots of interferon and after talking to doc about the mental health aspects of it they would not give me the shots.

And i do not see why this would not help my bipolar claim for an increase.

Edited March 7, 2010 by skunk

[broncovet]

Skunk

It sounds like the Va has "hoodwinked" you too. You can overcome this, but the "VA bureaucracy" will slow it down to a crawl. I recommend a "multi point attack" to beat the VA on this. Hep C is very very serious, and you need to seek treatment for it, regardless of your benefit status. Yes, it can kill you. (Complications from hep c include liver cancer and other things)

1. Send a 21-4138 and state in it how that medical exam is deficient and ambigious and maybe ask for another one.

2. Apply for Service connection for Hepatitis C, if you havent already. In your application state something like a stun gun was used in the military, and you have been diagnosed with hep c. If you are "negative" for things like tatoo's/IV drug use, then so state it, because the VA will try to blame your hep c on those things or "willfull misconduct". If you go to another C and P exam, be sure to tell the examiner if you are "negative" for IV drug use or tatoos, as the VA will use that evidence against you. If the doctor does not say anything about tatoos/ IV drugs, the VA will automatically assume you are an IV drug user and have had 3000 tatoos with dirty needles, causing your hep c. You are guilty until proven innocent, but you can point out to the doctor.."See..no tatoos, and no IV drug marks, because I dont do either". Another "booby trap" the VA uses to deny your hep c is alcoholism. If you have hep c which destroys your liver, the Va is going to try to blame "willfull misconduct" (such as alcoholism) because excessive alcoholism also causes liver disease.

3. NOD the decision, if applicable, and also state the issues above in your NOD.

4. Keep up with hadit with any changes, and NEVER GIVE UP.

Edited March 7, 2010 by broncovet

[gp747]

Skunk

It sounds like the Va has "hoodwinked" you too. You can overcome this, but the "VA bureaucracy" will slow it down to a crawl. I recommend a "multi point attack" to beat the VA on this. Hep C is very very serious, and you need to seek treatment for it, regardless of your benefit status. Yes, it can kill you. (Complications from hep c include liver cancer and other things)

1. Send a 21-4138 and state in it how that medical exam is deficient and ambigious and maybe ask for another one.

2. Apply for Service connection for Hepatitis C, if you havent already. In your application state something like a stun gun was used in the military, and you have been diagnosed with hep c. If you are "negative" for things like tatoo's/IV drug use, then so state it, because the VA will try to blame your hep c on those things or "willfull misconduct". If you go to another C and P exam, be sure to tell the examiner if you are "negative" for IV drug use or tatoos, as the VA will use that evidence against you. If the doctor does not say anything about tatoos/ IV drugs, the VA will automatically assume you are an IV drug user and have had 3000 tatoos with dirty needles, causing your hep c. You are guilty until proven innocent, but you can point out to the doctor.."See..no tatoos, and no IV drug marks, because I dont do either". Another "booby trap" the VA uses to deny your hep c is alcoholism. If you have hep c which destroys your liver, the Va is going to try to blame "willfull misconduct" (such as alcoholism) because excessive alcoholism also causes liver disease.

3. NOD the decision, if applicable, and also state the issues above in your NOD.

4. Keep up with hadit with any changes, and NEVER GIVE UP.

thanks bronc

[vaf]

I have a close family member who was diagnosed with Hep C about a year ago. Yes, it's true that interferon can cause depression or other mood swings, but it is normally a temporary problem. Once your body acclimates to the treatment, you'll get past that point. Hep C can in fact kill you, and if you don't take it seriously, it's a very cruel way to pass away. I don't know if an anti-depression drug would help you at the same time, my relative couldn't take it because of another chronic condition, and the doctor didn't want to prescribe anything else. My relative found much comfort and relief from this side effect of the drug by calling the office and talking to the nurse, who regularly assured that the depression would pass, and in fact, it did.