C&P exam for AO Heart Disease

[James G.]

I have a C&P exam interview next week and a electrocardiogram in 2 weeks for heart disease . I am boots on the ground A recent CT scan & an MRI of my chest (both at a VA hospital) the reports say "patent major vasculature , atherosclerotic disease " & in the brain  "periventricular white matter hypodensity suggestive of chronic microvascular disease" . Also "thoracic aorta and great vessels : Atherosclerosis" . "Heart and pericardium : Severe coronary artery calcification". I also have several VA reports showing my METS level to be <4 . I was  given a nuclear stress test last year and the report said my LVF was 70% . This seems to contradict the METS of <4 ??? I have not yet been to see the VA cardiologist but an appointment is scheduled next month , at my request . I am presently taking no meds for heart disease except aspirin . I was previously given a prescription for nitrostat from a private doctor 8 years ago because i was having chest pains then . I rarely have them now . The script has long ago expired but I have evidence of it .

I have printed these test reports using the myhealthyvet site . I asked my VSO if they were submitted with the claim and he said no but they could access these thru the VA . Somehow this worries me that they won't see these .

Questions

1 : Will I be able to show these to the examiner at the interview and will these be part of the evidence used in my disability determination ?

2 : What can I expect to be granted for disability rating . Presently I'm receiving 50% (actually 40% +10% = 46% = 50% ).

Please give any advice you can as we can use the money in our present financial condition .

Jim G.

[Berta]

I replied to one of your posts here:

https://community.hadit.com/topic/75110-ao-ihd-do-i-have-what-i-need-to-file/page/2/#comment-468983

You mentioned some tests they gave you but have you ever had ( or is this the test you will get) 

ECHO- this is different from an MRI, CT scan, etc. It involves Doppler.

Echocardiogram

At the bottom of the test results it will states a percentage of  your Ejection Fraction.

The test will also reveal measurements of the cardiac arteries that reveal the amount of plaque build up that can compromise the arteries.

This is not the same as a Nuclear Stress test.

I had to prove my husband had IHD, never diagnosed or treated by the VA.

The ECHO results were my prime piece of evidence , and that fact that they revealed extensive IHD , and still remained untreated by VA along with EKG of a prior heart attack he had while employed at VA ( diagnosed as a sinus infection)were the basis for part of my numerous charges under FTCA.

What are your current SC ratings for?

" I asked my VSO if they were submitted with the claim and he said no but they could access these thru the VA . Somehow this worries me that they won't see these ."

I hear your concern, and I suggest to send copies of them in again, and also a copy of the ECHO and any other tests they do regarding your heart, and attach a 21-4138 Statement of the CAse as a cover letter , and list what you have sent to them.

My VARO, Buffalo, consistently ignored my evidence many times over the last 25 years, and the state reps I had were useless and very negative over my most important claim.

It was great to dump them and then send their lawyer a copy of the award I got.

Some reps are great, and they get burned out, others dont care or don't have a clue on what they are doing.

The reps I dealt with had a mantra of -" don't send them too much."

I bet many vets who used them as POA did not send them enough.

I always send my stuff via Priority mail, and I get a tracking slip and then I can print off from USPS documentation that they did receive my evidence.

I have an issue on that now- and received a letter from the Director the other day, that they are looking into that issue and one more-an audit error....only because I went over the Director's head.

It has happened to me too many times, and it happens to others here...and many who are at the BVA -the fastest way VA can deny a claim is with a bogus C & P exam, and by ignoring probative evidence from the veterans or survivor.

 

 

 

 

[Berta]

Oh- I read the link- you have 40 % SCHL and 10% SC tinnitus.

[GBArmy]

Look up the diagnostic codes for you HD conditions. Probably 7005. Ask(you might get it quickly) for the report from your stress test at the C&P and see what the results are compared to the diagnostic codes. More than likely, you have high blood pressure also, so if you don't have a claim already for that, ask the examiner during your C&P if your readings indicate a problem. If he says yes, ask him to put the comments in his report also. If he does, I would add it to my claim as well. Depending where you are on the results, you may have to get the decision and then do a NOD. If so, go to a private doc and get a full analysis.

[Berta]

Great advice GBArmy!

And even if Sec Wilkie does not put HBP onto the AO presumptives, a BVA vet got awarded aAO HBP ( I posted the link somewhere here the other day) using the same IMO NAP study that Sec. Wilkie is considering.

I will try to find that study and post it here.

Your HBP is probably deemed as "essential" meaning no know cause but the report says it has a sufficient association to Agent Orange exposure, as compared to their past reports s, that HBP had a limited or suggestive association.

It is on Page three and page 10 of the actual  716 page 2018  report.

https://www.nap.edu/read/25137/chapter/2?term=hypertension#10