Peripheral Edema

[Carl the Engineer]

All,

I have started to develop peripheral edema in my lower legs.  

I am service connected for Hypertension (HBP) and also for heart disease (LVH).

Could or is, these maladies or the "medications" for same causing the peripheral edema?

Also, I am service connected for Achilles Tendinitis and I just read this, "Leg edema may also be caused by others factors such as Achilles tendon ..." 

Can it be claimed?  Maybe I will claim it secondary to all three (or, four if I include medications) and let them sort it out. 

Is there a rating?  

I have been to my PCP and my VA Clinic doc recently, but have been waiting to go to my Cardiologist on the 12th.  I will be pointing my lower legs out to him to see if he will tell me what's going on.

On Thursday, I had a C&P for something else, but the examiner put it in my notes that I have it, as I did point it out to her.  So there is that.

Thanks,

Hamslice

 

 

[broncovet]

Probably.  Talk to your doctor and ask him if your edema is related to heart disease/hbp.  If he says, yes, ask him to make a note of that in your file.  That is, after you submit a new claim for it.  Why risk it?  Ask for both an increase to hbp and an increase in IHD, to cover your bases, or check the rating schedule.  

I think the edema may be another symptom, but dont take a chance.  You are not a doctor. So, my suggestion is your application sounds like this:

Edema...both primary and secondary to HBP and IHD, as a doctor may diagnose.  

Increase..both HBP and IHD as these may be symptoms of HBP and IHD as a doctor may so state. 

 

Dont try to practice medicine without a license..juust apply, leave open your options, and let the doc and the va figure out whether or not its related to ihd, hbp, or something else.  It could be related to both.  

[broncovet]

The VA "should" already do this, but I have learned "not" to count on VA employees doing their job.  Some do, and some dont, so we dont know which one we will get.  

[Buck52]

 Yes it can , Secondary Claim the peripheral edema to your heart disease , (name that disease) peripheral edema is one of the main causes of  heart disease especially congestive heart failure. or A BETTER WAY TO DESCRIBE  IT, heart disease is the leading cause of the peripheral edema.

not sure what broncovet meant claiming it primary?

check this medical link out out at the bottom of this post the cause of peripheral edema.

NEVER THE LESS HAMSLICE YOU NEED TO STAY ON TOP OF THIS  IT IS SERIOUS.

If it continues check with your Dr...sometimes if the edema is pretty bad  they will admit you in the hospital and inject two different type fluids  a saline mixture for hydration and heavy doses of lasik  injected every  2-4 hours or so until the swelling goes down. will probably have to up your potassium too.

 The Dr may want to do further testing and a Heart catheter will be done so they can look in there and see what's happening.

Time to see your Heart Dr cardiologist  my friend he/she may up your meds or figure out another med....if your heart is not pumping correctly either to fast or to slow  they have to figure out why and will probably need to confer with  heart specialist...to get to the problem...but don't go leaving it untreated.

I wish you well my friend

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0072593/

Edited June 3, 2018 by Buck52

[Buck52]

Ham  your rated at 80% combined..if you get a rating for this and like broncovet and you mention  claim everything related to this PE and heart disease  b/c if one or the other conditions  can be claimed separate  then you also have the secondary conditions to claim as well...this can lead to the SMC and possible A&A or even higher up the SMC Latter.

don't let them throw the IU at you, check the rating charts on each condition you claim,  if awarded  then they can clime fast to the 100 % scheduler and then the SMC will kick in. if the combined ratings are high enough to meet the SMC Criteria  Which I believe they would be  unless they low ball you.

[Carl the Engineer]

Buck,

I have a raw score of 81.  I need 20% more, either a 20 or two 10's to get to 85 rounded up to 90.  For me to get to 100 would require at least a new 75% which I don't see happening. 

Also, I am still working , so IU is out.

I will be sending in a claim after I see the Cardiologist.  I will try to point his report in the direction I need it to go in.  You never know.

I will be also claiming for other stuff I seen a podiatrist for and hopefully out of the bunch I can get another 20 or 30%.  I did tell the podiatrist that I need her report to address a couple things (for the VA) and she said that she would.  She did send me to therapy.  I will be getting her report and another one from my new PCP  and from the therapy for these claims as well.

I will let  you know what the Cardiologist says.

Thanks,

Hamslice

 

[Buck52]

Its possible Ham to get to the 100%  just need to be careful of pyramiding  but if you have other conditions that will help but I am thinking they may increase your HBP  LVH to 100%.

If you get the 100% scheduler  you can still work and earn up to a said amount  not sure what that amount is?...IU you can't be working.

just throw it all out there and let the VA decipher.