Heart Disease Rate Increase

[stillhere]

I am rated 60%heart disease / 20% DBII / 10% NP left / 10% NP right I am being compensated at 70% VA Math.

Recently had another blockage issue in the heart and another stent implanted doc said limit duty next month and come back and see him for evaluation. Called the VA for advise as to rate increase they said would send paper work in 60 days and then file.

My questions are should I file for this rate increae or go with a NOD from my last award in Feb. 07

If I go with NOD (Sept.06 one year from that date)I was thinking of asking for a different award date. They only added the heart disease after I had a heart attack in Oct. 05 although I had complained of heart pain on my first claim in 03 and it was denied. I then reapplied in August of 06 and they again denied heart only after I had my heart attack in 05 did they finally allow the heart issue as secondary to DB2.

I feel it is obvious that something caused my heart issue and it was there long before Oct. 05 but all the test they where running stress, cardio and such showed nothing. Is this a CUE?

Anyhow all help would be appreciated on this matter. I have the feeling things are going down hill very quick and don't know how much more I can battle with them before I have another heart attack.

[stillhere]

I called the VA office to let them know I wanted to ffile for an increase because of my heart surgery on the 2nd of April. They told me then that they would send me the paper work in 60 days. I thought that was bull! So I emailed them and they answered me back in the email was this a new claim or was this the same as the April 2nd claim and if so they would pass this info along.

Maybe I should not try and rush this but have you ever heard them say wait 60 days we will be sending you paper work and then you file for an increase?

Just a thought.

I think- by showing the SOC to your doctor- and explaining to him briefly- (I also suggest giving him a written statement too)

he could prepare an additional expanding opinion that supports that your EED should be earier then VA says it is.

The hyperlipedimia is a symptom and VA wont SC that condition-

but this symptom of one of many that involve diabetes.

The VA is saying that they are only aware of the heart attack itself and don't have medical evidence of your heart disease prior to that-and also since you initially filed the claim-

they need medical evidence to show that

prior to the heart attack- you had ratable heart disease.

This could be angina med prescriptions, ECHO report, EKGs etc-etc-- anything that shows that the heart disease

did not occur on the day of the heart attack but is medically documented prior to that date.