hypertension Having A Pacemaker Put In

[Testvet]

Since I am already rated 100% PTSD P&T then after the BVA granted my CAD and hypertension claim the VARO granted 60% and 10% and in the award letter stated I was housebound and given SMC S rating effective back to Dec 2003 for which I am happy with now due to the CHF and the worsening of my CAD they are going to install a high tec pacemaker and defib as my ejection fraction is down to 10%

it is my understanding that with the implant that I should be rated 100% due to the pacemaker is that in addition to the CAD or will they raise the CAD to 100% and what effect if any will it have on my SMC rating?

This is a new stage for me

I was having trouble breathing Friday might my wife took me to the ER and it is the first time I actually remember being there the past 2 times I was out of my head and did not remember anything about the ER experiences or the people who worked on me I was really happy to go out the door the same night, it was just a light build up of fluid on my lungs and the docs said I did right in doubling my lasix but he added an IV dose of lasix before I left I am trying to learn to maintain this so I dodn't end up in the hospital every other month for 3 weeks at a time as close as we can figure the VA has paid in excess of 100,000 for April and June they say this implant will run about 60,000 not counting surgical fees but hell I think I am worth it

[broncovet]

Yep, test you are worth it. If they spend 100,000 on you thats 100,000 less that they have to dole out for VA exec bonuses, and you deserve it more than they do. Let Shinseki worry about the VA's bills. Your job is to get well, as you already did your service.

My father in law has had a pace maker for about 7 years. His helped him tremendously.

[johnjjr]

After what they did to you, HELL YES you're worth it. At least a hundred times over. Like Bronco said, it's now your job to get well. And I might add get mean with the VA and keep on collecting those checks for a long, long time.

[jbasser]

Since I am already rated 100% PTSD P&T then after the BVA granted my CAD and hypertension claim the VARO granted 60% and 10% and in the award letter stated I was housebound and given SMC S rating effective back to Dec 2003 for which I am happy with now due to the CHF and the worsening of my CAD they are going to install a high tec pacemaker and defib as my ejection fraction is down to 10%

it is my understanding that with the implant that I should be rated 100% due to the pacemaker is that in addition to the CAD or will they raise the CAD to 100% and what effect if any will it have on my SMC rating?

This is a new stage for me

I was having trouble breathing Friday might my wife took me to the ER and it is the first time I actually remember being there the past 2 times I was out of my head and did not remember anything about the ER experiences or the people who worked on me I was really happy to go out the door the same night, it was just a light build up of fluid on my lungs and the docs said I did right in doubling my lasix but he added an IV dose of lasix before I left I am trying to learn to maintain this so I dodn't end up in the hospital every other month for 3 weeks at a time as close as we can figure the VA has paid in excess of 100,000 for April and June they say this implant will run about 60,000 not counting surgical fees but hell I think I am worth it

Trst, It could get you an SMC of L. It is the same as aid and attendance if I remember it correctly.

J

[FrankieG23]

My husband's heart disease was increase to 100%, but I believe it was for having the defib more so than the pacemaker. His implant does both. When I looked at the rating schedule it looked like pacemaker only gave a person 100% after surgery for a few months, but under the defib it has no time limit. He gets SMC for 100% + 60%. Maybe someone else can see if I have this right.

[Testvet]

thanks to all who replied Frankie I am already SMC S due to PTSD and CAD I am just curious if adding the pace/defib to it would move me to a higher SMC level I have been SMC S back to Dec 2003 but now my congestive heart failure is kicking up big time this is the type of device my cardiac doc wants installed and the VA clinic says if I meet the guidelibes for it they would authorize it I meet all the guidelines http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/services/tests/procedures/biventricular_pm.aspx

People with heart failure who have a poor ejection fraction (<35%) are at risk for fast, irregular and sometimes life- threatening heart rhythms. Ejection fraction is the measurement of how much blood is being pumped out of the left ventricle of the heart. CRT may be appropriate for people who: (EF is 10%)

have severe or moderately severe heart failure symptoms (mine is consideredd end stage are taking medications to treat heart failure (lot's of them)

have delayed electrical activation of the heart (such as intraventricular conduction delay or bundle branch block) (my last heart attack was a delayed electrical event) (I spent a week in a drug induced coma)

Have a history of cardiac arrest or are at risk for cardiac arrest (9 heart attacks and a stroke since 1992, 2 of them in April 2011)

Together, you and your doctor will determine if this treatment is right for you.

I am pretty sure I meet their guidelines I read somewhere this may give me a possible 4 years with what I am looking at now I will take them

Edited July 19, 2011 by Testvet

[jbasser]

An implanted ACID or defibrulator is an automatic 100 percent rating regardless of the ejection fraction.

J