Ao/herbicide 2010 Bbe Arrived Need Advice

[jcolwell]

My skills limit me to converting , please see attachment. So Why not grant 100 % for IHD and AICD retro to 2010. Did I fail the last 2 years of learning . Please advise all you heart people.

Confused . JC and wife Colwell IHD with AICD.pdf

[free_spirit_etc]

7011 Ventricular arrhythmias (sustained):

For indefinite period from date of hospital admission for initial evaluation

and medical therapy for a sustained ventricular arrhythmia, or; for

indefinite period from date of hospital admission for ventricular

aneurysmectomy, or; with an automatic implantable Cardioverter-

Defibrillator (AICD) in place........................................................................... 100

[free_spirit_etc]

I wonder if they missed this part:

7018 Implantable cardiac pacemakers:

For two months following hospital admission for implantation or

reimplantation................................................................................................... 100

Thereafter:

Evaluate as supraventricular arrhythmias (DC 7010), ventricular

arrhythmias (DC 7011), or atrioventricular block (DC 7015).

Minimum............................................................................................................. 10

Note: Evaluate implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators (AICD’s) under DC 7011.

Edited October 20, 2013 by free_spirit_etc

[jcolwell]

Thanks for replying. I agree they messed this one up. Now to fix it ..............

[Philip Rogers]

Am I missing something, besides page 2 of your decision.?? They went back to 8/31/2010. I thought they should've maybe gone back to '09, the date of diagnosis or maybe a yr before.

As for the 100%, it is my feeling that once the AICD is implanted and working you are no longer 100%, because of the AICD. It's like having a blockage. Once the stent(s) are in there's no blockage and you are rated on ejection factor. If the AICD was implanted during that time period you would be entitled to 100% for two months or until it was stabilized. jmo

pr

Edited October 20, 2013 by Philip Rogers

[free_spirit_etc]

I thought they said they went back to 2010 because that was the time there was a change in law (Re: AO Thailand - adding Ischemic Heart Disease as an AO presumtpive condition). And the cardiac pacemakers (rated under 7018) says 100% two months, but the AICD (rated under 7011) says 100% indefinitely.

Edited October 20, 2013 by free_spirit_etc

[free_spirit_etc]

http://www.va.gov/vetapp13/Files3/1325327.txt

"Diagnostic Code 7011 is used for evaluating ventricular arrhythmias and provides that a 100 percent rating is to be assigned for an indefinite period from the date of hospitalization for initial evaluation and medical treatment for sustained ventricular arrhythmias, or following ventricular aneurysmectomy, or following insertion of an automatic implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (AICD).

The record shows that the rating for the Veteran's heart disability was increased to 100 percent, effective June 12, 2008, based primarily on the implantation of an AICD.

The Board finds that the criteria for a 100 percent rating are met as of April 11, 2006.

.....

In light of the June 2008 implantation of an AICD, the Board has also considered rating the disability under DC 7016 (sustained ventricular arrhythmias). However, prior to April 11, 2006, the evidence does not show that the Veteran was hospitalized for evaluation and treatment of sustained ventricular arrhythmias, as required for a 100 percent rating under this diagnostic code. Therefore, an earlier effective date is not warranted on this basis....

....ORDER

An effective date of April 11, 2006, and no earlier, for the 100 percent rating for service-connected residuals of rheumatic fever with myocarditis, to include coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass, status post AICD implantation with congestive heart failure, is granted, subject to the laws and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits."