Dm Ii

[dremer2rn]

This topic is about DM type 2 and the difficulty we are having getting a positive decision. My husband is a Vietnam Vet, spending 1 year at an airbase, where he worked on planes. The planes that dispersed agent orange. He has had 2 c&p exams, one with a physicians assitant and one with a nurse practitioner. Both exams denied because he is on insulin. He is also on oral agents. Of interest is he does see an endocrinologist at the VA who has documented that he is a type 2 diabetic. Both examiners have denied claim, because he has been on insulin. We have appealed once again, and this time we are going to ask for a physician, preferably an endocrinologist.

The examiners have disregarded the documentation we have provided and the documentation in his file. He has had none of the hallmark problems of DM type I, and the progression is clearly that of type 2. We have entered a disagreement again and will await the next step. I have found this entire process so very frustrating. Anyone have any comments or suggestions? We can certainly use them Thanks

[jbasser]

Type 1 diabetes is different than type 2. Usually you are born with it.

Type 2 is acquired when the blood glucose readings get high. The first round of treatment is Oral meds and the second round is Insulin injections.

Where was he in Vietnam. If he was in country then he is a Nehmer member and they VA has to connect on presumptive basis.

If he was elsewhere then you are going to have a very hard battle unless the location of his servuice has been recognized by the VA as AO being used.

J

[dremer2rn]

He was stationed in , 'DaNang at the air force base. Entered in 1971 and left 1972. Applied for a job and was told he was diabetic, fall of 1972. This is about 1 year after he was discharged. Unfortunately there are no records of this. His endocrinlogist at the Va writes that he is type 2, yet the examiners disregard this information.

They are basing their opinions on the fact that he started on oral agents however did require insulin shortly after due to the high blood sugars. With diabetes, the treatment is the same. One cannot take a snapshot at a specific time and diagnose, you must consider the history of the disease and its progress

[dremer2rn]

The last c&p was with the nurse practitioner, she wrote that his hypertension is due to Agent Orange exposure?? But not the diabetes because he went on insulin too fast.

Treatment of Diabetes is the same, to diagnose one must look at the onset and progression.

[carlie]

Welcome,

I am moving your topic to the AO forum.