hypertension Smc S And Question About Dmii

[FrankieG23]

A friend of mine was rated at 30% (20% for DMII and Hypertension 10% he has tingling in foot but I dont know if that was rated). He received an implanted defrib/pacemaker. He was increased to 100%. I told him the implanted device, the defrib, was 100% by itself, and he should try for another 60%, so he can get SMC S. He talked to someone at VA and they told him 100% is as high as it gets, he had no idea about SMC's. He is on insulin for DMII, so that should be increased to 40%. He has tingling in his hands as well. Can anyone make suggestions. I hate for him to ask for increase in DMII, and they take that away. Has anyone heard of anyone being consider DM1, once they get on insulin. It's just that the meds don't control it after awhile. I also thought DM1 was juvenile diabetes, but a nurse at VA hospital said it is really DM1 once you start on insulin. And if that's true, does the VA try to take away the DMII status?

[Philip Rogers]

DM-1 is juvenile onset diabetes, generally starting before age 16. They usually start insulin when the oral meds no longer work. He could apply for peripheral neuropathy for any extremities that have numbess in them. I get 10% for each of my legs. Better for him, to me, would be to try and control the DM-II, as eventually it can lead to blindness, amputations and death. jmo

pr

[FrankieG23]

Thanks Phil, this is true. He's taken pills for long time, but doctor told me many people on DMII will end up on insulin no matter what. I agree that should be a priority. Will increase in DMll to 40% and hypertension and 4 (10%) for arms and legs be enough to get S?

[Philip Rogers]

It should be, unless the VA considers them all of the same disease/system. My PN is not considered part of my DM-II.

pr

[SP4RVN1971]

Make sure you have outside doctor to check the level neuropathy. That could help the level of percent of compensation. In the my case mine was secondary to DMII,which VA gave 60% left leg, 40% right leg and 10% both hands. This condition continues to get worst.

Never give up!

[Ridehard2208]

DM-1 is juvenile onset diabetes, generally starting before age 16. They usually start insulin when the oral meds no longer work. He could apply for peripheral neuropathy for any extremities that have numbess in them. I get 10% for each of my legs. Better for him, to me, would be to try and control the DM-II, as eventually it can lead to blindness, amputations and death. jmo

pr

Hey Phillip, They Now have a surgery for PN in Diabetic Called Decompression Surgery usually done in the Podiatry side of the VAMC 85% of diabetics who get it have less to no Amputations, anyone having problems should check into it. I don't have diabetes but have sever case of PN so done at VAMC Salem VA. By a DR. Bonk who I.m told has Vets Come from all parts of the country to him for the surgery Rich.

[boomer2]

Frankie

I'm posting the code of regs for DM II you need to find out if your friend has had any of the problems in the regs. When you are DM II that is it. You do not go to DM I. It sounds like you friend is not controlling his diet. If he doesn't get it under control he could have some major problems. I have a friend who had it who just passed away recently because he didn't control his diet. He was rated at 100% by the VA for it. He was also on insulin. I have another friend who is rated at 30% for DM II and he just takes pills. I have a claim now for DM II.

The regs are below

7913 Diabetes mellitus


Requiring more than one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities (avoidance of strenuous occupational and recreational activities) with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider, plus either progressive loss of weight and strength or complications that would be compensable if separately evaluated
100

Requiring insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year or twice a month visits to a diabetic care provider, plus complications that would not be compensable if separately evaluated
60

Requiring insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities
40

Requiring insulin and restricted diet, or; oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet
20

Manageable by restricted diet only
10

Note (1): Evaluate compensable complications of diabetes separately unless they are part of the criteria used to support a 100 percent evaluation. Noncompensable complications are considered part of the diabetic process under diagnostic code 7913.


Note (2): When diabetes mellitus has been conclusively diagnosed, do not request a glucose tolerance test solely for rating purposes.