ptsd A & A

[JohnM]

Good Morning Everyone

Now that John is 100% I can now help Emak with her Husband & Son.

Son we have already in action

Husband is another Story. And really need some help!

Emak's husband is my Brother and I am affraid we are going to lose him sooner than we want.

Leroy was in the Army for 9 yrs. He served in Vietnam, something to do with the Berlin wall not sure on all of this. Ok here it goes.

Leroy has had many medical problems, but like John and I did not know about compensation till last year. He is border line diabedic, has osteoarthritis, heart problems, and now found out that he could have an anurisom ( spelled wrong ) at anytime and nothing they can do about it. When he first filed his VA Rep had him file for PTSD and nothing else, 6 months later he was awarded 50% now he has to wait for everything else. I called Emak and told her to file for A&A. How can we get this to go faster than it is and if we should lose Leroy will Emak still be able to continue his caim? And if he gets 100% will Emak beable to get DCI and Champva if he should die before the award ? I personally believe after all is said and done he will recieve 100% evidence is there but for now it is putting a strain on the family and his health

Thanks in advance for any help you can give us.

[Guest RickB54]

Good Morning Everyone

Now that John is 100% I can now help Emak with her Husband & Son.

Son we have already in action

Husband is another Story. And really need some help!

Emak's husband is my Brother and I am affraid we are going to lose him sooner than we want.

Leroy was in the Army for 9 yrs. He served in Vietnam, something to do with the Berlin wall not sure on all of this. Ok here it goes.

Leroy has had many medical problems, but like John and I did not know about compensation till last year. He is border line diabedic, has osteoarthritis, heart problems, and now found out that he could have an anurisom ( spelled wrong ) at anytime and nothing they can do about it. When he first filed his VA Rep had him file for PTSD and nothing else, 6 months later he was awarded 50% now he has to wait for everything else. I called Emak and told her to file for A&A. How can we get this to go faster than it is and if we should lose Leroy will Emak still be able to continue his caim? And if he gets 100% will Emak beable to get DCI and Champva if he should die before the award ? I personally believe after all is said and done he will recieve 100% evidence is there but for now it is putting a strain on the family and his health

Thanks in advance for any help you can give us.

Based on the medical conditions you specified and the time that has elasped since he served I doubt that he will ever be rated 100% unless he gets an increase for PTSD. You are going to have to show a Nexus for the other medical conditions before service connection is established. Service connection is not awarded for border line diabedic and I do not see how serving in Nam would have caused heart problems years later. Anyone can have an anurisim at any time, it is doubtful that would be service connected. I do not think he will be awarded A&A because I don't see that he has the service connected disability to even be considered for it.( Remember, He must be 100% before the va will even consider an award for A&A.) If ehe were to pass before his claims have been adjudicated his claims will die with him. If this happends then his wife can request service connection for his cause of death. If the cause of death is a cause of service connected disability then his family will be awarded benefits. I could be wrong but based on what you have stated I think you have false hopes about htis claim. Without knowing more about the case, I see no way at all that this veteran will be rated 100%(unless he gets an increase for PTSD to 100%) or that his death would even be service connected. You asked if his claim could be speed up well not really, that is unless you request hard ship based on an failing health, but that would require a doctor's statement and even then the va might not honor the request.

[gdsnide]

Good Morning Everyone

Now that John is 100% I can now help Emak with her Husband & Son.

Son we have already in action

Husband is another Story. And really need some help!

Emak's husband is my Brother and I am affraid we are going to lose him sooner than we want.

Leroy was in the Army for 9 yrs. He served in Vietnam, something to do with the Berlin wall not sure on all of this. Ok here it goes.

Leroy has had many medical problems, but like John and I did not know about compensation till last year. He is border line diabedic, has osteoarthritis, heart problems, and now found out that he could have an anurisom ( spelled wrong ) at anytime and nothing they can do about it. When he first filed his VA Rep had him file for PTSD and nothing else, 6 months later he was awarded 50% now he has to wait for everything else. I called Emak and told her to file for A&A. How can we get this to go faster than it is and if we should lose Leroy will Emak still be able to continue his caim? And if he gets 100% will Emak beable to get DCI and Champva if he should die before the award ? I personally believe after all is said and done he will recieve 100% evidence is there but for now it is putting a strain on the family and his health

Thanks in advance for any help you can give us.

If it's been less than 2 years since he was SC don't forget to get free llife insurance

[Rich T]

While reading the original post, my thought were pretty much the same as Rick's. The insurance is a good idea, here's the web page http://www.insurance.va.gov/inForceGliSite/buying/SDVI.htm . If he hasn't filed for SSDI, SSI, or NSC (VA); then he should do that as well. The NSC, I believe is inferred with a S/C application. I do not have any experience in that field. Good luck to you, and be sure to look at some of the posts about cancelled mortgages, car loans etc. due to disability.

[emmak]

This is Emmak. The question of heart disease with our Vietnam vets suffering from PTSD is very real. The nexus is years of stress which the Vets know is true is the concern. There are many.many articles on PTSD uping the heart disease.For the older Vietnam vets there are also studies that addresses Vets 60 and older. My husband has multipal medical problems and we have not filed on all of them.Didn't have a good VA rep.The thinking was that LeRoy had enough to get a 100% award. He quit working and went on SSD 6 years ago because of multipal knee surgeries. We have not filed for the knees and arms yet but will if need be. When this application process started and I had to help LeRoy fill out the forms,and of course I had to ask about Vietnam. He was standing beside me while I typed and suddenly he put his hand on his chest and said" I have to go sit down" he turned a gray white in color.My first thought was that he was going to have a heart attack. Now take 39 years of PTSD and tell me that it is not a nexus for heart disease.

[JohnM]

Based on the medical conditions you specified and the time that has elasped since he served I doubt that he will ever be rated 100% unless he gets an increase for PTSD. You are going to have to show a Nexus for the other medical conditions before service connection is established. Service connection is not awarded for border line diabedic and I do not see how serving in Nam would have caused heart problems years later. Anyone can have an anurisim at any time, it is doubtful that would be service connected. I do not think he will be awarded A&A because I don't see that he has the service connected disability to even be considered for it.( Remember, He must be 100% before the va will even consider an award for A&A.) If ehe were to pass before his claims have been adjudicated his claims will die with him. If this happends then his wife can request service connection for his cause of death. If the cause of death is a cause of service connected disability then his family will be awarded benefits. I could be wrong but based on what you have stated I think you have false hopes about htis claim. Without knowing more about the case, I see no way at all that this veteran will be rated 100%(unless he gets an increase for PTSD to 100%) or that his death would even be service connected. You asked if his claim could be speed up well not really, that is unless you request hard ship based on an failing health, but that would require a doctor's statement and even then the va might not honor the request.

RickB54

Thanks for your responds,although we can connect and will connect his disabilities to SC, Its just a matter of getting it down correctly and there is a lot to get down, I know I haven't given to much info on his case but right now it is to much to write down. As far as DMII that's a given if in Vietnam it has been controlled by diet until lately. As far as heart that can be connected to DMII also. And let me remind you and anyone else that may have problems like my brother STRESS puts a lot of strain on the HEART also as for PTSD, You can link heart problems to the PTSD also due to STRESS.

At this point he has 50% PTSD so as far as insurance goes we know that he has to be 100%, AS for hardship Case well I am not sure if this is a hardship case although an anuryism good go at anytime today or maybe 3 years from now. He needs to have someone around him to care for him because of this and who knows what and when it will happen, he should no longer drive because of it, no longer be alone. Any other help for anyone will be appreciated. Thanks

JohnM's Wife

[Vike17]

JohnM and emmak,

From what you two have posted, I would have to echo what Rickb54 and Rich T stated.

"The question of heart disease with our Vietnam vets suffering from PTSD is very real. The nexus is years of stress which the Vets know is true is the concern. There are many.many articles on PTSD uping the heart disease.For the older Vietnam vets there are also studies that addresses Vets 60 and older...And let me remind you and anyone else that may have problems like my brother STRESS puts a lot of strain on the HEART also as for PTSD, You can link heart problems to the PTSD also due to STRESS"

This is a very, very contraversial subject not just within the VA but the medical community as a whole. There may a million studies to back up what you posted, but there are a million studies that contradict it also. The only way for heart disease to be service-connected as secondary to PTSD is with a very, very, very strong and probative IMO from a specialist.

"As far as DMII that's a given if in Vietnam it has been controlled by diet until lately. As far as heart that can be connected to DMII also"

DMII is only a "given" if the vetran can prove he was "boots on the ground" in Vietnam and the veteran has a diagnosis of DMII. Being just boderline isn't going to cut it, he must have a clinical diagnosis. The heart disease can be connected to DMII as secondary only if the heart disease was diagnoses AFTER the diagnosis of DMII.

"He quit working and went on SSD 6 years ago because of multipal knee surgeries. We have not filed for the knees and arms yet but will if need be"

How is his knee conditions related to his military service? Does he have medical documentation in his SMR's showing problems or treatment of his knees.

As Rich T stated, you may want to take a look at the NSC pension VA has.

Vike 17

[JohnM]

JohnM and emmak,

From what you two have posted, I would have to echo what Rickb54 and Rich T stated.

"The question of heart disease with our Vietnam vets suffering from PTSD is very real. The nexus is years of stress which the Vets know is true is the concern. There are many.many articles on PTSD uping the heart disease.For the older Vietnam vets there are also studies that addresses Vets 60 and older...And let me remind you and anyone else that may have problems like my brother STRESS puts a lot of strain on the HEART also as for PTSD, You can link heart problems to the PTSD also due to STRESS"

This is a very, very contraversial subject not just within the VA but the medical community as a whole. There may a million studies to back up what you posted, but there are a million studies that contradict it also. The only way for heart disease to be service-connected as secondary to PTSD is with a very, very, very strong and probative IMO from a specialist.

"As far as DMII that's a given if in Vietnam it has been controlled by diet until lately. As far as heart that can be connected to DMII also"

DMII is only a "given" if the vetran can prove he was "boots on the ground" in Vietnam and the veteran has a diagnosis of DMII. Being just boderline isn't going to cut it, he must have a clinical diagnosis. The heart disease can be connected to DMII as secondary only if the heart disease was diagnoses AFTER the diagnosis of DMII.

"He quit working and went on SSD 6 years ago because of multipal knee surgeries. We have not filed for the knees and arms yet but will if need be"

How is his knee conditions related to his military service? Does he have medical documentation in his SMR's showing problems or treatment of his knees.

As Rich T stated, you may want to take a look at the NSC pension VA has.

Vike 17

Vike 17

yes he does have SMR's showing knee problems and others, Yes he was in combat (ground Vietnam ) I just called Milwaukee and asked about expitting his claim and she said yes to 2nd to PTSD and Yes 2nd to DMII and should file due to veteran's poor health.

Thanks for the info

[Guest jangrin]

JohnM and Emmak,

There really is no such thing as boarderline diabetic. If the DMII was being monitored by the doctor in combination with modified diet then your brother has diabetes. Also, DMII can be "subclinical for many years before it is diagnosed. You will be able to SC the heart condition as secondary to both PTSD and DMII.

If your brother has a heart problem he probably also has HBP/HTN. Mrs. JohnM, you know the drill, you just got JOHN SC'd 100%. Start gathering ALL the service records and make copies. Index tab and corrolate the file in preperation for sending in the medical records.

File the claim with DMII as the primary and the other conditions as secondary. Also file for the PTSD increase. Don't forget about TDIU don't wait, file it at the same time as THE DMII, heart, etc.

Make copies of everything and send it in certified mail.Make sure to give the SO their copies. Also, make sure your brother stays current on all his Dr. Appts. If for some reason the doc's at the VA are not keeping good records and documenting ALL of the problems, you may have to speak with the patient advocate to get the documentation your brother needs.

Don't forget you may also need an IMO from an internist to link the heart as secondary. The anuerism ? -is this being said because of clogged arteries. If so that is also atributed to DMII (remember) PN peripheral neuropathy). Just list things in the order you expect the VA to rate the items. ALso don't forget that your brother may have an element of "depression" following all the rather intense diagnosis, which could also effect his mental status.

Get a certified copy of the DD214 showing boots on the ground vietnam. Also make sure your sister-in-law gathers marriage license and birth certificates for any children that may recieve benefits.

Good luck, go for it. Remember, medical documetation and the nexus to service connection Vietnam and possible IMO regarding the DMII causing heart problems.

Last but not least get the medical doctor to write a statement that this is a urgent matter and maybe it will go more quickly in the rating stage.You can do this. And when your done send me a note and I'll let you get started on mine and chuckles claim as your much more sucessful than I am right now

Jangrin

[Guest RickB54]

John & Emmak,

I'm just going to echo what I said before,based on the information you gave, I doubt that you have a case. I am not a doctor I can only offer an opinion. What amazes me however is that people ask for opinions, then when they do not hear what they want to hear, they indicate that they already know more than the person giving the opinion. I wonder if you already know the answer why bother wasting our times asking for our opinions..... I just don't get it.

Now if you really want to file a claim go for it, don't let anyone discourage you do what you need to do. I do suggest that you see your primary care doctor and ask him/her to give you a medical opinion in writing. Who knows he may back up what you think and that could help any claim you submit, or he may disagree and that may same you trouble of filing a claim that you have no chance of winning, either way it is up to you to decide your best course of action.