Heart Attack And Working Through The Va System

[mcarter985]

Good Morning!

I had a heart attack on the 24th of May and ended up with a single stent. After researching why it happened to me I found the AO tie-in (I was a medic in Viet Nam for a year with the Infantry 1969-70) and filed for disability soon after (a couple of weeks later) with the DAV as my rep. I have my C & P this Monday and will see what I get. I am on meds for the rest of my life so I guess I'll get at least 10% with the METS testing results possibly getting more.

Some of the threads on this forum are heartbreaking with some of the crap veterans are going through with their health through no fault of their own. My own health isn't anywhere as bad and I feel like a wimp compared to some of you but did want to report my efforts to get disability for someone just starting out and not knowing how to start.

I guess this whole process is going quickly...heart attack in May with a C & P Monday. I did submit a Fully Developed Claim (Discharge Summary from the hospital and also gave them my in-patient records from that admission and my DD-214 proving my time in VN) so for me, that seemed to speed up the process.

I'll let you all know on Monday how things went with the C & P!

[georgiapapa]

Good luck to you. I hope you are receiving good follow up care for your heart condition.

[Computer Tech]

Good Luck on your claim. Follow your doctor's advice.

Rick

[Stretch]

You will do just fine. Don't expect any imediate results on the C & P as it might take some time. No reason for feeling whimpy your injuries are substantial. You shouldn't feel that way anyhow. Good luck and welcome to hadit.

stretch

[mcarter985]

So, I went to visit my new friends at the VA for my C & P today and it turned out to be an interview only. The doctor told me she would submit her report today and the VA would have them for the disability amount. She told me I wouldn't need a stress test or determine my METS. I can only assume because I had a heart attack, my in-patient records were available to her and proof I had boots on the ground in VN was enough? Kind of strange. Frankly, I think she was more interested in why I haven't filed for PTSD after all these years. I told her my appointment was on the 28th of October at the PTSD Clinic.

The whole visit was taken up by taking my BP (within normal limits) if I was short of breath (yes, 6-7 times a day) and could I exercise (yes, walking for 30-45 minutes daily). I was expecting to use the treadmill for a hour! What do you all think about this?

[Pete53]

Good Luck

I had a stent in 2006 and no real problems but your really have to be your own advocate with VA as they are not prone to do anything except prescribe meds for our condition. I had a single stent

[mcarter985]

Thanks Pete. I guess since I'm on meds for the rest of my life I'll be getting 10%. Anything above that would be gravy. If they just give me just the 10% I would have my cardiologist test me and see if I deserve more. I may do that anyway.

[john999]

I would appeal any rating less than 60% if I was you. I was rated 0% after a C&P by some Nurse who did my exam. She did not even ask for testing of any sort beyond what I had in my record. I appealed and got 60% as secondary to DMII. This was before you could get it on its own due to AO. If you don't like your rating appeal. I just do it as routine because the VA are lying rats. You don't even need new evidence to appeal. Often you can just get lucky. However, having some new evidence to support a higher rating helps. If you had a heart attack you should get more than 10%. A heart attack is not mild heart disease. My father had one heart attack and it killed him.

John

[Computer Tech]

If your left ventaical is enlarged you should get 30% and if you had a heart attack there is a good chance that it is. Check your heart xray reports there may be something written by the doc.

Rick

[mcarter985]

You guys are encouraging to say the least! As soon as I get my rating I'll let you all know and we'll take it from there.

[jbasser]

Get a copy of the heart cath report. Look for the Following. LFEV Left Ventricluar Ejection Fraction. If it is over 50 to 60 it should be 30 percent rated. If less than 50 and more than 30 it is 60 percent

That report is at your VA. Medical Records department.

Basser

[mcarter985]

Just check E-Benefits and my claim now reads "Preparation for decision." I know it can drop back down for gathering evidence but it is exciting to see someone is taking a look at the claim.

[FormerMember]

I hate to say this but I'm willing to bet regardless of what your METS # is or any other ejection fraction that you get either 0 or 10% rating initially. VA lowballs you to see if they can roll you regardless of what the medrecs show. Always have and always will. Read your decision very carefully and examine the logic. Chances are you are going to discover they "overlooked" some more recent evidence of the smoking gun that would entitle you to the 30 or 50% rating. When it is finally sorted out, they'll act conflusticated and say something inane like "If you had timely mailed in the evidence showing increased ejection fraction, we could have included it in the evidence we reviewed". Watch out also for the trick rating where they give you the 50% later and an effective date that is newer than your filing date. Cross reference that by asking here or familiarize yourself with the diagnostic code in Part 4 of 38 CFR. You have just begun to fight unless I miss my guess. Presumptives on AO claims should be a walk in the park but VA tends to become difficult and feign stupidity until they realize you are not going to settle for a 10% doggie milk biscuit.

Win or Die (and go for accrued benefits)

Edited September 17, 2014 by asknod (see edit history)

[mcarter985]

Thanks Asknod for the honesty and you're probably right and I won't have a problem appealing a low rate. BTW...I owned a 1974 TR-6 for years and miss it every day!

[mcarter985]

I finally have access to my medical records online and can see what the doctor wrote down during the C & P for my heart attack. My METS is 3-5 and LVEF is 55%. I guess there is a chance my LVEF may drag down my rating. Time will tell.

[georgiapapa]

You should be rated at 60%. The key word in the ratings schedule is "or." Mets 3-5 "or" EF of less than 50%.

If they rate you at less than 60%, appeal. JMO

[Chuck75]

If I remember correctly an LVEF of 60% is more or less normal.

Since I'm below that, I haven't bothered to keep track of what the VA is doing

when an LVEF is between 50 and 60%.

If a heart attack occurred, and was treated with stinting, there is also a temporary rating

of 100% that can be assigned, based upon hospitalization, etc.

[john999]

I would not let the VA care for my cardiac condition. Get the best cardiologist in town. You can get compensation from the VA for this heart condition, but not treatment only from the VA. You cannot spend or save compensation if you are not around to access it. I met a guy at the VA hospital who had allowed the VA to do brain surgery on him. He had other insurance, but wanted to save a buck. He needs brain surgery.

John

[mcarter985]

If I remember correctly an LVEF of 60% is more or less normal.

Since I'm below that, I haven't bothered to keep track of what the VA is doing

when an LVEF is between 50 and 60%.

If a heart attack occurred, and was treated with stinting, there is also a temporary rating

of 100% that can be assigned, based upon hospitalization, etc.

Hi Chuck...I was told by another poster on this site that in order to get the temporary 100% you have to have had a diagnosis prior to the heart attack. I also had an attack and had a stent put in but since I wasn't diagnosed previous to the heart attack I won't get the temporary 100% rating. I am, for sure, not an expert in any of this but just what I was told by someone who seemed to know what they were talking about.

[mcarter985]

I would not let the VA care for my cardiac condition. Get the best cardiologist in town. You can get compensation from the VA for this heart condition, but not treatment only from the VA. You cannot spend or save compensation if you are not around to access it. I met a guy at the VA hospital who had allowed the VA to do brain surgery on him. He had other insurance, but wanted to save a buck. He needs brain surgery.

John

Actually, my Primary Doctor at the VA told me it would be a big mistake to transfer to VA Cardiology...he wasn't impressed with the caliber of care at the local VA Hospital.

[georgiapapa]

Listen to John999 and your primary doctor.

You do not want to trust the VA with any condition (cardiac condition, cancer, etc.) that could be life threatening.

Good luck with your health and your claim.