hypertension Need To File Claim - Lots Of Confustion

[chr49]

Sorry this is so long. I'm 61 - Vietnam Vet and I'm currently rated 50% PTSD.

I have the following diagnoses on private and VA records:

. R leg PVD- with superficial femoral occlusion per private hospital-2002

. L leg PVD- for which had angioplasty/stent per VAMC -2008

. R carotid occlusion per ultrasound(told inoperable)VAMC -2008

. L carotid stenosis per ultrasound VAMC -2008

. Hypertension - since 2005 per private & VA records

. ED - since 2002 per private & VA records

Private hospital records from 2002 show a diagnosis of 440.0 Aortic Atherosclerosis and 440.21 Ath Ext NTV AT w Claudct on my Diagnosis Summary. Procedures were: Contrast Aortogram & Contrast Arteriogram-leg. The Contrast aortogram findings: " Single right & left renal arteries are widely patent. There is slight atherosclerosis of the infrarenal abdominal aorta. There is no appreciable infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. There is no moderate or severe stenosis of the infrarenal abdominal aorta." It then goes into description of the Arteriogram which shows a greater than 20 cm occlusion.

Since then, I have gone thru several tests and procedures with the VA, for which I have not received records at this point.

Several questions: Should I file any of the above diagnosis's secondary to my PTSD? Do I have a claim for IHD? Should I simply let it all go? I believe the fact that I avoided all medical care from my discharge in '71 - '98 would make a claim difficult to prove.

I would really appreciate any advice I can get since I have very little knowledge on filing VA claims.

Note: I do not have health insurance so it would be very difficult for me to work outside the VA right now.

Edited July 21, 2010 by chr49

[JRW]

>>>Private hospital records from 2002 show a diagnosis of 440.0 Aortic Atherosclerosis and 440.21 Ath Ext NTV AT w Claudct on my Diagnosis Summary<<<

Char49,

I don't think there should be any confusion here on your diagnosis for IHD. Since your above private records show atherosclerosis, proving a IHD diagnosis to the VA is a moot point. It should not matter whether you can locate your previous VA medical files that may have more information on this or not. Your private records will speak volumes to the VA. Once the VA sets you up for IHD C&P exam, they may perform some further tests on you to determine the progression of your IHD to establish a rating. But, as stated earlier, your diagnois has already been shown on your private medical records. IHD does not go away. It stays with you forever. If you have access to those private medical files (I'm assuming you do), you can submit those with your claim.

From the description of your private medical records, I still say your case for IHD compensaion to the VA, will be handled in a routine manner.

You've already proven the two most important requirements for this additional compensation. They are:

1. Boots on the ground in Vietnam

2. A diagnosis of IHD (atherosclerosis) in 2002

You've cleared the most important hurdles already. Let nature (the VA) take its course, my friend.

[vperl]

Being diagnosed maybe the easiest part, you have to have the right sores, the right lousy terrible scores that show how ill you are.....

Not good for you as a person, but good for the higher percentage of compensation....... I also have IHD so we share this crap also...

The tests and recent tests in last 6 months the VA C&P guy danced around me like little girl in toe shoes.... asking me questions that the 5 inches of medical records showed and the three tests the VA gave me... ( My VA C&P guy did not care about the tests I took in 1999, he wanted recent tests... guess he thinks my heart healed it's self..)

These tests measure blood flow.... the lower the number the higher the compensation and the worse your health.

I posted many times in this thread what METS Scores you need to get 30 % 60% and 100 % with all different added other reasons you

can get a higher compensation rating......

The VA by regulation has to give you 60% disability for 29 METS....

The information is posted below.... for all to read...

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

QUOTE (hawkfire27 @ Mar 28 2010, 03:41 AM)

HI chr49,

It seems to me that as long as you have atherosclerosis on your list of diagnoses, then you have an IHD claim. because you don't have a lot of records???? Then they will schedule a c&p or two to gain more information about your atherosclerosis.

Now the question is what % you get. Well that all depends on the MET's etc.

Even if you get SC at 0% that is still a connection, so that if things get worse (knock on wood) that it will be easier to upgrade than get it SC'ed from the start.

Thanks to all...

I'm pretty thick sometimes but I'm sensing a conflict of opinion on this. Please forgive all my questions, I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to this VA stuff so it's best to stick to the point with me. I simply want to do things right the first time around.

If the proposed regulations state the following why do I need a clear cut diagnosis of IHD?

"According to Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (Harrison's

Online, Chapter 237, Ischemic Heart Disease, 2008), IHD is a condition

in which there is an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to a portion

of the myocardium; it typically occurs when there is an imbalance

between myocardial oxygen supply and demand. Therefore, for purposes of

this regulation, the term ``IHD'' includes, but is not limited to,

acute, subacute, and old myocardial infarction; atherosclerotic

cardiovascular disease including coronary artery disease (including

coronary spasm) and coronary bypass surgery; and stable, unstable and

Prinzmetal's angina. Since the term refers only to heart disease, it

does not include hypertension or peripheral manifestations of

arteriosclerosis such as peripheral vascular disease or stroke.

[chr49]

Being diagnosed maybe the easiest part, you have to have the right sores, the right lousy terrible scores that show how ill you are.....

Not good for you as a person, but good for the higher percentage of compensation....... I also have IHD so we share this crap also...

The tests and recent tests in last 6 months the VA C&P guy danced around me like little girl in toe shoes.... asking me questions that the 5 inches of medical records showed and the three tests the VA gave me... ( My VA C&P guy did not care about the tests I took in 1999, he wanted recent tests... guess he thinks my heart healed it's self..)

These tests measure blood flow.... the lower the number the higher the compensation and the worse your health.

I posted many times in this thread what METS Scores you need to get 30 % 60% and 100 % with all different added other reasons you

can get a higher compensation rating......

The VA by regulation has to give you 60% disability for 29 METS....

The information is posted below.... for all to read...

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

vperl...

Sounds like you've been put thru the mill! I hope all goes well for you. With your medical history it sounds like a sure thing.

I do appreciate the VA regulation info you've attached to this topic. I actually understood requirement wise, etc. Just don't know if I fit into the picture at this point. I guess time will tell on all of this. Thanks for your help and good luck!

[vperl]

vperl...

Sounds like you've been put thru the mill! I hope all goes well for you. With your medical history it sounds like a sure thing.

I do appreciate the VA regulation info you've attached to this topic. I actually understood requirement wise, etc. Just don't know if I fit into the picture at this point. I guess time will tell on all of this. Thanks for your help and good luck!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

in the area of the IHD and getting a 100% P&T rating I qualify for the 100% because of my ICD. ( Google ICD ) for more info.

[chr49]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

in the area of the IHD and getting a 100% P&T rating I qualify for the 100% because of my ICD. ( Google ICD ) for more info.

No need to Google ICD- That's something I know about! I just can't figure out why you still have to be questioned and put thru the mill. Doesn't make sense...but then you know how it goes.

[vperl]

No need to Google ICD- That's something I know about! I just can't figure out why you still have to be questioned and put thru the mill. Doesn't make sense...but then you know how it goes.

&777777777777777777777777777777777777777777

The VA C&P people do not know the regulations that concern heart conditions or know the regulations

that concern what tests they are by regulation CFR 4.104 they can or cannot make a veteran take for heart tests,

if the veteran has an ICD. I expect to be rated at 60% becasue they, the VA RO's are incompetent