Reopen Claim?

[Hardtyme]

First off, I am a 73 year old Vietnam Vet with 70% SC as follows:  10% Hypertension, 20% Impotence, 10% Tinnitus, 10% lumbar spine, 10% Right Ankle, 10% both knees, heart 10%%, Right Shoulder 10% and Left Shoulder 10%.  The hypertension was of course diagnosed in the military and now I have Cardiomegaly, Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Coronary Artery Disease and on Statins.  The Kidneys are I think with Grade II insufficiency, my left shoulder had a total Arthroplasty and is sore on a daily basis with minimal limitation of movement, right ankle has limitation of motion and pain often severe and now my left hip is hurting. (?Secondary arthritis).  My PMD has given me Tramodol to alleviate the pain along with Naproxyn.   My condition has progressively grown worse in my opinion even though I was awarded 100 IU in 2005.

I would like to know if the heart and renal coupled with the left shoulder and right ankle worsening is worth reopening my claim?  Would someone please advise me which way I should go on this?  I cannot find out anything on the heart, ankle or shoulder which the VA replaced and the doctor later told me that I have subluxation of the shoulder.

One final thing, I had hypertension diagnosed in 1983 in the military and subsequently was placed on hypertensive medications which I used tor maintain control until such time I was diagnosed as having Sleep Apnea and issued a CPAP Machine.  After around 4 years of the CPAP my blood pressure reduced to normal pressures and I think I was misdiagnosed with hypertension when I had Sleep Apnea.  I was never treated nor is there any mention of SA in my military medical records but I remember waking up gasping for air on several occasions but I thought it was saliva choking me.  Opinion?

[broncovet]

Since you are IU, you are at 100 percent, and the only way to increase compensation is through SMC.  

There is a "possibility" of you getting 100 percent, plus another combined 60 percent for SMC S, but that seems somewhat unlikely, tho it is possible with sleep apnea if service connected. 

Do you have "loss of use" of any appendages or, for example your reproductive organ?  Given you are rated for impotence, SMC K seems likely, tho.  

Do you require "aid and attendance"?  

Are you "housebound in fact"?  

Does your Knee issues cause "loss of use" of your legs?  

     I really dont know the answers to these questions, but you can read the regs on SMC to see if you may qualify for additional compensation.  SMC K, however, seems very likely, given what you posted.  

[Hardtyme]

I'm afraid I don't know what SMC or SMC K means, could you please tell me?  I'm not housebound and do have use of legs.

Edited October 25, 2017 by Hardtyme

[broncovet]

Dont feel like the lone ranger.  Alex has pointed out that attorney's and VA also does not "get" SMC.  Look on this list and see if any of these apply to you, then apply for them.  

http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/specialmonthlycompensation.html

Also look at his post on SMC S.  

https://asknod.org/2014/08/25/cavc-howell-v-nicholson-what-smc-s-really-says/

SMC, if awarded, means from about 100, to about 5000 plus per month additional compensation, depending upon the degree of SMC awarded.  You should apply for SMC K..and you should get it back to the date you were awarded for impotence.  Its an error, in my opinion, that VA did not already award SMC K.  

SMC K is only about 100 per month, but, if you go back 5 or 10 years, that can mean a retro of Thousands.