ptsd Secondary Issues

[kate7772]

Okay, I am having a brain fart moment. What is it called when you are awarded for a condition that is caused from another condition? Something like ED as a result of PTSD. And how is the rate figured on this?

Thanks

Kate

[Gastone]

Kate: Secondary to SC or condition that was DX'd prior to SC condition and has been aggravated by the SC condition. The ED is a SMC-K award, $100 and change. Check the SMC's for the exact amount.

Semper Fi

Gastone

[kate7772]

Kate: Secondary to SC or condition that was DX'd prior to SC condition and has been aggravated by the SC condition. The ED is a SMC-K award, $100 and change. Check the SMC's for the exact amount.

Semper Fi

Gastone

What about something like hypertension due to something else service connected?

[john999]

It could work but you need medical opinion to say that the primary condition caused the secondary condition in some way. Some are easy like the many secondary conditions related to diabetes. Some are harder where their is less agreement among medical opinion on secondary conditions. For instance, if you have PTSD and claim your sleep apnea is secondary to the PTSD. The best secondary opinion I ever got was from the VA itself. They used to be able to have their doctors do this for you. They had a computer application or document that delivered the best secondary nexus you could wish for, but it was too good. The VA nixed that idea in a hurry.

John

[kate7772]

It could work but you need medical opinion to say that the primary condition caused the secondary condition in some way. Some are easy like the many secondary conditions related to diabetes. Some are harder where their is less agreement among medical opinion on secondary conditions. For instance, if you have PTSD and claim your sleep apnea is secondary to the PTSD. The best secondary opinion I ever got was from the VA itself. They used to be able to have their doctors do this for you. They had a computer application or document that delivered the best secondary nexus you could wish for, but it was too good. The VA nixed that idea in a hurry.John

But if an issue is granted as secondary, how then do they rate it? Is it rated the same as if were the primary issue?

[georgiapapa]

It is rating just like a primary condition using the rating tables in 38 USC part 4.

[Gastone]

Kate: Hypertension is a tough nut to crack as a Secondary Issue, especially if DX'd prior to the SC your trying to link it to. If it develops post SC condition, much better chance. It comes down to the old DBQ and is it "More likely or 50% as likely as not caused or aggravated by your SC condition." How do you stack up against the usual causative conditions leading to HBP?

Good luck, it appears to me that the large majority of Dr's believe Hypertension is just part of the aging process. Nam Vets would like to see it added to AO Presumptives. I doubt that will ever happen but you never know.

Semper Fi

Gastone