Hypertension and Sudden Death

[Tmon82]

Hello,

First I just want to say that I love this community. I always come here to search through posts when I need to find an answer. I’m a vet and the daughter of a vet. I don’t know why I took so long to finally create an account.

My current situation: my father passed away a few years ago at the age of 48. His cause of death is listed as “sudden death” on his death certificate. No autopsy was performed. He had a 20 year history of poorly controlled hypertension that kept him in and out of the emergency room and the doctors office.  I just received a copy of his c-file and learned that they service connected his hypertension...a decision they came to 3 weeks after his death. I knew he was going through the VA disability process prior to his death but we (my mom and I) never received any follow-up or were alerted of their decision. Wish I knew then what I know now as far as navigating the VA system. I was going through his c-file and noticed as recent as 2 months prior to his death, he had a C&P exam where they did an EKG. The EKG that was considered “borderline” showed “PACs arrhythmias and leftward axis, abnormal T-waves in anterolaterial leads, prolonged QT”. However when they referred him for a stress test, that came back normal with supposedly no signs of heart disease. I looked further into the file and came across several notes that same year from his private doctor. One of the entries noted how they had a serious talk with my father about his BP and how he was at risk for a stroke or heart attack.

I am helping my mom file a DIC claim. Our plan is to request records of emergency room visits that we noticed were missing from his c-file. We will also request the records from the night he was pronounced dead. We want to submit all those records, along with his c-file, to an. MD who can hopefully write a nexus letter. I’m not sure if one is needed or not (maybe someone could chime in) but I just want to make sure this is done right. 

I guess what I’m asking is for any advice or useful tips that would help us be successful with this claim. Does anyone think we would have a problem with it? If you need any more info, I can provide. Thanks in advance.

Edited November 5, 2018 by Tmon82

[vetquest]

That is awesome.  Do not get too excited yet though.  I am working on a lady who needed an updated death certificate for her husband and the VA is really taking their time about getting back to her case.  It was originally filed in February and the RO told her it would take less than three months.  Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

[Tmon82]

1 hour ago, vetquest said:

That is awesome.  Do not get too excited yet though.  I am working on a lady who needed an updated death certificate for her husband and the VA is really taking their time about getting back to her case.  It was originally filed in February and the RO told her it would take less than three months.  Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Thanks for the heads up. 
Just curious, was hers sent as a supplemental claim? 

[vetquest]

17 minutes ago, Tmon82 said:

Thanks for the heads up. 
Just curious, was hers sent as a supplemental claim? 

Yes, hers was a supplemental claim.

[Berta]

You stated:

"  I just received a copy of his c-file and learned that they service connected his hypertension...a decision they came to 3 weeks after his death."

Unfortunately there is only  a one year window for accrued benefits:

https://benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/general/accrued.pdf

The only exception is a Nehmer claim ( meaning a veteran was exposed to Agent Orange, in Vietnam- or a survivor of certain Blue Water Veterans who served within a 12 mile limit off the coast of Vietnam, per HR 299, during the Vietnam war)

The earliest date of the DIC will be the date of the formal DIC application.

This does sound very positive for you.

Was your father a Vietnam incountry vet or Blue Water Navy veteran ?

 

[Berta]

I am so glad we helped your mom get DIC!!!!!!

I had to copy your post here this AM as this thread is all mixed up:

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Posted 1 hour ago (edited)

"Berta, no my father was enlisted during the gulf war era. And he never served in a war zone.

Final update:

Last month the claim was approved! HOWEVER, immediately following the decision I filed a notice of disagreement and sent for a higher level review. While reading through a ton of BVA decisions throughout this process, I learned that when someone applies for death benefits with the SSA, it is also to be treated as an application for DIC. My mom applied for SSA benefits a month after my dad passed in 2009. Apparently this lack of communication between the VA and SSA creates a loophole that allows for benefits to be backdated all the way back to a persons death. This week my mom received back payment going all the way back to 2009. I am so happy this is OVER. I highly recommend anyone reading look into this. I have no doubt there are many, many, many people who are owed a crapload of money and don’t even know it. I ran across this information by accident or else I wouldn’t have known either. 

Here’s one of the BVA decisions I ran across to give everyone an idea. There’s many more if you run a search."

https://www.va.gov/vetapp18/files8/18131017.txt

Edited 1 hour ago by Tmon82""

You said:" I have no doubt there are many, many, many people who are owed a crapload of money and don’t even know it"

You bet and many are widows like your mom. Not to mention the BWN AO vet and their survivors that fall into the new AO Blue Water regulations.

You did an excellent job and as soon as I get time I will read that BVA decision carefully-----