ptsd Ptsd And Heart Condition

[emmak]

I AM S/C 50% FOR PTSD. I ALSO FILED FOR MY HEART CONDITION AS SECONDARY TO THE PTSD. I HAD TO HAVE THREE STINTS PUT INTO MY HEART AREA. DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW THIS MAY BE RATED? I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE RATING RANGE.

[mountain tyme]

hello...

go to this web site..this has all the VA ratings on the heart and the critira

http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOO...ART4/S4_104.DOC

[Berta]

These claims have been awarded- CAD secondary to PTSD- but they replied heavily on medical evidence as to the nexus between the 2 conditions-

I know vets who sent VA Dr. Boscarini's abstracts and other claims at the BVA to support this type of claim- but they really needed strong medical opinions as to the nexus- often from a psychiatrist or psychologist as well as a cardiologist, specific to their medical situation-

abstracts and citing other BVA decisions do not help these awards -

A psychiatrist as an MD would be able to provide the nexus you need- but a psychologist's opinion would be questioned by VA unless they also had some background in cardiology.

Edited January 28, 2007 by Berta

[Pete53]

I am 100% P&T for Panic Disorder and have had high blood pressure readings going back to my Service. I mean really high for my age and weight and physical condition. I now have a stent because of a 90% blockage of my arterial vein. In March I will probably have to have a second angioplasty which really sucks but I need to do it.

I have wondered about claiming it as it is now supported by current medical thinking. I am not going to so anything as I would need a 60% rating to change my check ad I have 10 years at 100% so my wife is protected.

[emmak]

PETE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY " SUPPORTED BY CURRENT MEDICAL "

BERTA, WHO IS DR. BASCARINI PLEASE?

[BoonDoc]

I have had high blood pressure, and on meds since 19 and on active duty. I also have hyperlipidemia since the same time. I was skinny and in good shape.

I'm SC for the HTN, but was told hyperlipidemia isn't a disease so I couldn't be SC for it. I guess that there are disease that are related to having a high lipid level, and until yoiu have on eyou have no claim.

Has anyone heard of hyperlipidemia being related to PTSD?

I have always found it strange since I was so young, and no family history of such so young, and read this and it made me wonder if therer might be some relationship with PTSD.

Boondoc

[Berta]

Dr. Boscarino as well as other doctors (such as Dr. Robert Eliot-former VA Chief of Cardiology-Gainesville) have done extensive studies as to why veterans with PTSD seem to incur heart disease and even death at what appears to be a rate higher than then general population.

Dr. Eliot's book (which I swiped from the local VA and sent in to support a PTSD to CAD claim I had) was based on his autopsies of combat veterans who had an unusually large amount of atherosclerosis already at young ages and he attributed this to the stress of combat which could cause fullbown heart disease.

This is info as to one of Dr. Boscarino's recent studies:

http://www.dentalplans.com/articles/2121/

If the doctor you mentioned can fully support the medical link of your PTSD to your heart disease or state that it has contributed substantially to raising your HBP etc enough to cause the heart disease-

this would be a valid medical opinion- but VA could possibly get a cardiologist to go against it-

This doctor does sound very competent-

the problem is getting a psychological disability linked with a physical one-these are two distincty different fields of medicine.