Help! Starting Va Appeal

[trpadilla]

I have a short time to get this finished and mailed. I was given no rating for my heart. I was diagnosed with long QT syndrome, moderate but I was nearly kicked out because I could no longer PT and I have to take 160 mg of Inderal for the rest of my life. I wasn't diagnosed with until after 16 years of service. The VA says its not military related but there is no proof that its not. So I want them to reconsider the decision. Should I fill out the Notice of Disagreement (NOD)? Should I reach out to my local VA office to make this happen or just fill it out and mail it off? I don't no who to even send it to. I did my original claim in Camp Pendleton, CA, now I'm in Arkansas. I just need some guidance to know who to contact, and what to fill out and how to fill it out. Please help

[jbasser]

The VA is full of crap on this one.

You were presumed sound when you entered service.

NOD this denial asap. You may need an IMO. He needs to state you have this:::

Acquired long QT syndrome

More than 50 medications, many of them common, can lengthen the Q-T interval in otherwise healthy people and cause a form of acquired long QT syndrome known as drug-induced long QT syndrome.

Medications that can lengthen the Q-T interval and upset heart rhythm include certain antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, diuretics, heart medications, cholesterol-lowering drugs, diabetes medications, as well as some antifungal and antipsychotic drugs.

People who develop drug-induced long QT syndrome may also have some subtle genetic defects in their hearts, making them more susceptible to disruptions in heart rhythm from taking drugs that can cause prolonged Q-T intervals.

J

[Navy04]

I definitely agree with J on this one. I get a letter or a call every other day about the side effects of different meds, boosters or vaccines that the Navy performed on me while active. Why is that, because the Govt knows that we were exposed to a lot of bad crap, and now they want to retreat or use fancy words that we don't understand.

[Gastone]

TRP: The VA Appeals Train, get on board! My personal recommendation, File your own NOD requesting A DRO Review with a "Personal Hearing," ASAP! It will probably take 1/1/2+++ years for the actual DRO Hearing to be Heard. Meantime get educated regarding your condition Vs VA Appeals. Knowledge is POWER when it comes to VA Claims & Appeals. From the date of your recent award/denial letter, any and all "New & Material Evidence" received post decision, is supposed to Automatically Trigger a VARO Review of your recent claims decision by a Sr VA Rater or actual DRO. Sooooooo, if you have N&M Evidence, get it in to your VARO. I have no idea of time frame regarding the RO Review but it has to be quicker than your NOD Hearing. If you end up using a VSO-Rep, Trust but Verify everything that is done relating to your claim. They mean well but their busy. In the end it all falls on you. Your Claim, Your Responsibility.

Semper Fi

Gastone

[Berta]

Have you been diagnosed with arrhythmia. ?

" Long QT syndrome is an uncommon but serious heart condition. It can cause fainting and episodes of an abnormally rapid heart rhythm, called arrhythmia."

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/long-qt-syndrome/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Do your have a copy of your complete SMRs? Were there any notations in them of fainting spells, or abnormally fast heart beat.?

Inderal is used for treatment of Arrhythmia

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Arrhythmia/PreventionTreatmentofArrhythmia/Medications-for-Arrhythmia_UCM_301990_Article.jsp#

I found very few claims at the BVA and none of them seemed to help ...one was denied because the VA said the veteran's Arrhythmia was a pre existing condition and his miltitary service did not aggravate it.

Another denial said that long QT Syndrome was a congenital disorder.

These days C & P docs seem to be searching the interenet for the best medical info that can Deny a claim.

"moderate but I was nearly kicked out because I could no longer PT and I have to take 160 mg of Inderal for the rest of my life"

Can you prove that you didnt have any more PT? This might be in your 201 personnel file as well as medical evidence of the problem in your SMRs.

"I wasn't diagnosed with until after 16 years of service" Do you have any medical rtreatment records that would reveal symptoms of the LQT syndrome during those 16 years?

I wonder if the claim should have been stated differently, as Arrhythmia due to LQT syndrome.

Can you scan and attach here the Reasons and Basis part of the denial and the Evidence list from it? (Cover C file #,name, address etc prior to scanning it.)

Can you tell us what the 80% breakdown is for?

Were you employed when they rendered the last award taking you to 80?