hypertension New Diagnoses Agent Orange Exposure

[SprayedandBetrayed]

Good Evening Everyone,

I have been browsing this site for a few hours. I did not find answers to what I have questions for. So I am hoping someone can advise me.

My Father served in the Marine Corp In Vietnam from 7/1967 to 5/1970. It was determined that he was exposed to Agent Orange. Along with being on a registry for Camp Lejeune for water contamination.

My Father wears AFO leg braces for the Neuropathy. He was falling a lot and I had discussed with his Primary Care Dr a few years back that I felt my father had the beginning stages of Parkinson's. The Dr sent him to the Neurologist at the VA. Which they did a EMG, along with a MRI. They found that my dad had really bad Neuropathy. He could not even feel them shock him. He also had filed his claim for PTSD. Which initially they had denied, he appealed. He finally got it. But after seeing QTC Dr they tried to say my Dad was incompetent to manage his affairs. Which I had taken my Dad for 2 different evals to prove competence. So that did not go thru with the Fiduciary. My Father's conditions make it where he can not drive. He had an accident because he could not feel the brake pedal. My Dad has lived with me for the past 8 years. He manages all of his own money, medication refills, everything. He just needs help to get where he is going. Because of the physical limitations. Fast forward to 2015. After he got his claim for PTSD about 3 years ago my Dad was having chest pains. I took him to the Emergency Room where my father was found to have 2 major blockages in his heart. They did 2 Stents. There were still some more blockages they could not get to them because it was not reachable. I want to say they diagnosed him with CAD which I found VA referes to this as IHD. I believe he also has COPD I am waiting for his medical records. He has quite a few disc issues in the Cervical, Thorasic, and Lumbar areas. Along with the Siatic Nerve issues. My Dad was receiving VA transportation but since they say he no longer qualifies for this. With the new regulations. But he is unable to drive because of no feeling from the waist down.

We were in to see his Cardiologist a few months back and he asked me how my dad was. I had told him my concerns that he was falling a lot. That I cannot leave him at home alone. Because of the falls.We are with him 24/7 My dad has fallen and broken his ankle he was complete and total care for 3 months. He also fell before that and broke his toe and had a huge laceration. When I had addressed the issues a few years back with PCP, he said the Neurologist said all of this was from my Dad's Neuropathy.

I have addressed it multiple times with my Dad's PCP about the worsening of his symptoms with nothing being done. My Dad was finally diagnosed by outside Neuro with Parkinsons. The funny story is this Dr we did not know at the time had worked previously at the VA. I took my dads records into the office with me. He asked questions did the testing. He did another MRI to check for any issues that could cause this. He put my dad on some Trial medication with a follow up a few weeks later. My dad was falling at least 5- 6 times per week. Not small falls very hard ones. He had all the symptoms of Parkinsons. The medicine helped my dad in the past few months has only fallen 2 times which is a major improvement. So we cant chalk all of my dads issues up to the Degenerative Disc issue, Neuropathy. The medicine would not have worked. My dad had another EMG done with same Dr and his neuropathy is so severe. We follow up next week with him for results.

Sorry for the long winded history. I just thought it may be helpful. If they look at the new diagnosis will we have to go back for an appointment with QTC? Went to VA when we were into see PCP we told him of the new Diagnosis.. He said wow I know you had mentioned it a few times in the past. So with me mentioning that would they back date it? The Neuro said my dad has had the symptoms all along but the VA said it was the Neuropathy. Which is not fun either. The VA now sends my dad his meds for the parkinsons. On top of all of this my dad also had a Upper GI bleed, from the medications VA had him on. It tore his stomach up. My dad has an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm as well. They have done nothing for it. Just watching it.

The outside Neuro has filled out the DBQ saying he does have Parkinsons. His Motor Manifestations are Stooped Posture Moderate. Balance Impairment Severe. Bradykinesia Moderate. Loss of Automatic Movements Mild, Speech Changes Moderate. Tremor Yes Right Upper Mild. Left Upper Mild, Right Lower Not affected, Left Lower Not Affected. Muscle Rigidity Yes R Upper Moderate, L Upper Moderate, R Lower Moderate. L Lower Moderate. Depression he marked Yes and wrote PTSD. Cognitive Impairment None. Loss of sense of smell None. Sleep Disturbance Moderate. Chewing None. Urinary Problems 2-4 is marked Constipation no. Sexual Dysfunction Yes Mild . Financial Responsibility he marked dad in his judgement is competent. Then does the veterans parkinsons impact his ability to work he put Yes. Unable to walk because of Postural Instability.

My questions are 1 with him already being at 90% SC, with Unemployability making it 100%. Does he have a claim to compensation for the following Diagnosis's

Parkinsons Diagnosis.

IHD or CAD ( I will check his records and see exactly what it says)

Sleep Apnea

Severe Peripheral Neuropathy ( it says on the report Length, Dependent, Predominatly axonal peripheral neuroapthy. 2 Sensorimotor median neuropathy across the right wrist consistent with carpal tunnel syndrome. Acute C8-T1 radialculpathy on the right. Chronic L2,3,4 and S1-S2 radialculpathy on the right. Acute on Chronic L4-5 radialculpathy on right. absent responses of the lower extremity sensory nerves. In short his Neuropathy has worsened.

Hypertension

Drop Foot

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

ED ( You guys will know what that is)

My dad gets a lot of swelling as well retention of water. Which he is taking meds for.

The person down at VA we had stopped in to get the clothing allowance form. We had asked a question. He said my fathers case when he pulled it up he had no clue why he wore the AFO's we told him the Neuro had ordered them a few years back. He said well if it was correctly put in there he would have seen why. He also said that if my dad wears those. Then he should be getting more compensation. ( He briefly explained how it all worked) We have an appointment to go and talk to a rep there about my dads case. We did submit the DBQ for his Parkinsons. The Dr will fill out a DBQ for the worsening of the Neuropathy. Should I take a DBQ to the cardiologist? My dad takes blood thinners for life with the heart issue. He also gets very short of breath. But is not on O2 yet. He gets also SMC (I)

My father had applied a while back for Aid and Attendance when he broke his ankle. The PCP at VA filled out the paperwork. To date we have heard nothing. I cannot even see the claim status on the ebenefits. Nor do I see the Parkinsons claim

My Dads conditions says below that this is all service connected to Agent Orange. Will we have to go and see numerous Dr's if he files for benefits for these since there is a trail already?

The guy we spoke to at Clothing Allowance said there are some grants that will modify or add onto a home for him to have accessibility. We own our home, but it is in our name. Will my Dad still qualify for these to make things accessible for him. or do an addition of a downstairs bedroom for him? Below are his ratings.

Disability Rating Decision Related To Effective Date diabetes mellitus, type II with diabetic nephropathy and tinea pedis 20% Service Connected

Agent Orange

02/2004

early peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity

10% Service Connected 02/2005

early peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity

10% Service Connected 02/2005

hypertension

0% Service Connected 02/2004

peripheral vascular disease left lower extremity

20% Service Connected 12/2008

peripheral vascular disease right lower extremity

20% Service Connected 12/2008 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/major depressive disorder 70% Service Connected 10/2008

Thank You for all of your help. I will honestly say that it is an honor to take care of my Father. But it is also the hardest to see his decline with his physical abilities. My Dad has always been my best friend and Hero.

Thank You to each and everyone of you for your Service and Sacrifice for our Great Nation. Welcome Home!

[jamescripps2]

Nobody has mentioned an automobile grant with adaptive equipment due to the foot drop. Loss of use should be a sure thing with consideration of the AFO.

[Gastone]

Just be sure all his VA and Private Medical records have been forwarded to the VA Rating Dept. Then file the FDC for everything you think is a Primary SC or Secondary SC. Let the VA Rater Figure It out. As long as your absolutely certain that all his DX'd conditions are in his S-Claims folder, you should be good to go. If in doubt, scan them and attach to the New FDC.

Think SMC for eventual Housebound and Aid & Attendance award. Some of his DX'd conditions might be difficult to link to AO Exposure, other not. Let the VA figure it out while you continue your research.

Most of us Nam Vets would be considered OLD Dogs and it's very difficult for us to give up driving. Heart condition, Neuropathy, SA etc, kind of make him a possible Miss-guided Missile, why chance it?

Semper Fi