for those of you who are applying for or will for VA benefits. check this out especially if your spouse was in the service and related agent orange issues.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13166
see Veterans and Agent Orange update 2010 there has been updates to new info . it may be helpful for those of you applying for benefits to read up under the chapters cognitive impairments etc. lots of good info. hope this helps.
Funny....I read on that link that one of the things they are investigating is the possibility of Agent Orange liked to Alzheimers.
Yet our doctor, and the Agent orange specialist in Honolulu I talked to yesterday, told me that Dementias are not considered to be caused by it. Right now it is mainly Parkinsons, and some others. (per JudithKB)
She kind of encouraged me to NOT go for the exam at this time, though, it would not hurt to do it anyway. There is a waiting list until June, and she said they just check for the criteria, which DOES NOT include Alzheimers.
HIs neurologist also told me that he does NOT have Parkinsons, that the shaky legs are caused by the dementia.
Not sure how to get an advocate, but right now I am plugging away at it.
After my Alz journey was over, I applied for VA comp under on the new (2009) presumptives on Agent Orange. I am 60% disababled from an old heart attack, which translates to about 1000/month AND moves me to priority 1 on the VA health care side which means no copay for Dr visits, emergency room or medications. Now there was some bad times back in '69, but I feel pretty good now. The money and health care are making retirement pretty decent. In my personal experience (in St. Louis), VA health care is excellent. Facilities are older, but clean and updated. People are caring, couteous, on time and compasionate. All good.
Coco....I totally disagree with the person you talked to about filing. Some of the vets that filed for their heart conditions and the other conditions that are associated with Agent Orange were paid thousands of dollars back to the date they filed. It does no harm to file...it will take months if not years for them to respond. When you provide them with your statement as to why you believe Agent Orange is the cause....use the following language....."It is as likely as not that my husbands condition is caused by Agent Orange" And also, remind them time and time again how young he is to have Alz
YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BY FILING NOW...BUT LOTS TO LOSE IF YOUR DH IS EVENTUALLY APPROVED.
Also, look up and read everything you can about Parkinsons....like so may conditions...one dr. will say one thing and another dr. will say something else. Find out the type of exams to determine if there is any possiblity he could have the beginning of Parkinsons or he could have both Alz and Parkinsons.
Some of the VA workers are so busy they just don't want to have more paper work on their desk.
just got off the phone with the Hilo clinic. I have to take the filled out Agent Orange worksheet to the office before they will schedule. As it is two hours from here, I am planning a special trip next week.
if that is so, i would not refer to his issues as alzheimers in particular, but instead as 'severe cognitive impairment'. that could include a miriad of symptoms and issues. if you read that 2010 bulletin, they are specifically looking into dementias as part of the issues associated with agent orange exposure. i would use that in a general consensus that leaves the door open -
Coco...divvi is so right. Also you could mention the possiblity of Parkinsons indicated by his jerking legs or whatever the problem is. Don't even use the word Alz.....filing the claim is just the first step, but early filing is so important. You just fill out the form and attach your own personal comments (avoiding using the word Alz.). Also, you might want to read up on other conditions that other have used to file and have served in Nam like PDS.
I have been trying for 18 months to get my DH rated at 100% so called today to see where things stand..case not sent for decision because one physician has not responded in all this time in spite of repeated efforts...so I think they have enough information to confirm he has IHD which is AO related along with his other ratings.
If you think our spouse may have AO related illnesses begin the process now. See your VA advocate in your local area as they can intervene for you where necessary. It takes the VA forever to get things done. Also it is important to know the VA rep on the phone will ask to talk to the Veteran...and he has to be able to let them know to talk to you. We have filled out the required papers several time but as with any big bureaucratic office things seem not to get filed or lost or whatever..but do not put this off.
You will need lots of documents, DD214, if you have copies of orders that is a huge help to prove where he was in Viet Nam..location will mean something to them. My DH didn't keep his orders but we did have the DD214 and his flight log books, and some documents from his Officer's Qualification Records, his military physicals etc...find whatever you can to prove when he was there and where....If you have awards and certifications that can help too..Purple Heart, Bronze Stars etc..anything that shows his active duty.
And be patient....it is time consuming, frustrating and be prepared to take your LO to the VA contract doctors for exams..
I know my sister got an advocate through the VFW I think. There are usually ones there that specialize in helping get the right paperwork in. They often know how to cut through the red tape.
Mimi: Do you read the Military.Com blogs regarding the Agent Orange disabilities? I was there yesterday reading some of the post. There was a person that had 80% disability (don't know if it was related to Agent Orange or not) but also had been rated the 100% disability because he couldn't work. He wanted to file to get the 100% to be for the disabilities and not just the fact that he couldn't work. The Advocate told him he might want to reconsider that decision to re-file. The Advocate told him he was getting the payment at 100% and not much to gain by bringing the subject to their attention for reconsideration because he could be subjected to review on his entire disability. Isn't this the same with your husband? The Advocate also said that the Agenet Orange as it relates to the heart condition is 60% and then jumps to 100%...there is no 70%, 80%, 90% and that the 100% is considered a very severe heart condition.
I don't know your complete situation, but you might want to go there and read some of the questions and comments. It is very interesting and I have learned alot from the blog. DAVE is the name of the main Advocate on the site and he seems very informed on all these questions asked on the site. My dh was very fortunate that his heart doctor really gave a very firm response with regard to his working again and implied if he did any physical activies it could result in death....this is part of the doctor's comments...."The patient at this time is medically completely disabled and the patient is advised not to do any physical activity, can precipitate chest pain, angina, myocardial infarction, which could result in death."
Good luck and if I can help giving you info on how we proceeded to get to the 100%...let me know.
After trying for months to get my BIL's rating changed, my SIL talked to her state representative. He knew someone at the VA who knew someone, who knew someone etc. and within a relatively short time, it was changed.
After Claude passed on, I spent months going back and forth with the Office of Personnel Management (he was a retired government employee), trying to get the correct amount of my survivor's pension. I finally sent a letter to my congressman explaining the problem. Within a week, they responded to him and within a couple of weeks, I received a letter from OPM's legal department and the next month, my pension was corrected.
The old saying "it's who you know" sometimes works to your advantage.
Yes..you hit the nail on the head. Always helps to know someone. My dh is a retired government employee too. If something happens to him I sure hope I don't have your problems. Frankly, I was very amazed that my dh got the 100% disability from the VA because numerous people I talked to said it was so difficult. I think I have his doctor to thank the most, because he gave such a strong recommendation for my dh's disabilities.
And, it never hurts to apply and I did keep on top of the VA claim calling them about every two months to see if they needed anything I hadn't provided.
Judith, Thank you for the information... My DH is rated on several things leading to the 80% and that was before the dx of IHD which the cardiologist says he has. His vascular system is pretty bad, very poor circulation in the lower legs, he has stent in one renal artery, has had 3x bypass surgery, has stents in both legs followed by a femoral bypass, he is insulin diabetic, has muscular skeletal problems from hard carrier landings and so much more, has hypertension in the bargain...his conditions of his dual hip replacements..all of this service and most combat related..he should be rated at the 100%. I do not trust this govt not to roll back some vets. I know it has happened to some others. With the econ the way it is and the way military personnel are used as props for politicians and the way they keep trying to kick retirees to the curb and break promises...I want to make sure he gets all the benefits he is due. I am sick to death of the political wonks calling military personnel heroes, using them in photo ops and then stabbing them whenever there is the need for budget cuts..I cannot tell you how often I have resubmitted his paper work...because they are so " busy" they lose things...19 months is long enough..they had better not cut his Disability pay..if they do I'll be writing our congress critter.
Mimi - that seems to be the pattern for politicians now days: seniors, veterans and children. They know those three segments will get the most reaction. I hope you hear soon.
Mini...It sounds to me like your dh should have the 100%. Like some of my friends have said to me...it is a catch 22. You certainly should have been contacted by now. When we filed for the increase from 70% to 100% we got a notice to report to the VA contracted doctor for an evaluation of his heart condition. Then... after that evaluation (which they would not tell us a thing) nothing happened for months. In Dec., 2011 I contacted them and asked what the delay was and what they might need ftom me to get this thing moving. The person I talked to asked if I wanted his claim placed on fast track and I said yes. They sent me a letter and said they wanted more information from his heart doctor. I immediately got a letter from the heart doctor and sent them the original letter and within weeks, they called me and said the matter had been placed on fast track and it would go to the final raters and be completed within a month or two. Of course, knowing how the VA works, I didn't count on that being true....so I was really surprised when it was completed within less then two months.
The advantage of using the heart conditon as the major disability to not being able to work is there are actual test to determine how bad the heart is with actual numbers they use also the great letter the heart doctor submitted was the final determination. We feel so lucky. Also, the advocate that we used told us that his age of 63 when we first applied and he got the 60% was a factor because he was young enough he should be able to work. Of course, we all know that would not be possible with the Alz., but the VA never considered that condition. Also, the advocate we used told me to keep on top of them and I called about once a month.
Judith, My husband got his first disability not long after he retired in 1980 for conditions related to flying, osteoarthritis I think it is in his elbows and spine, then his % was in creased after dual total hip replacements, then when he had the 3 X bypass his % went up along with the AO diabetes to finally reach 80% being paid at 100% because he could no longer work...he has the hypertension and things associated with the diabetes. Then when the VA announced IHD I checked with his cardiologist who said he indeed has IHD and that not all patients who have bypass surgery have IHD and to make things more interesting our cardiologist is the VA contract doc. My DH has had all sorts of VA doc appointments and tests and it seems the hold up is the one doc who does not answer the mail..so this man Ricky I think his name is, was the most helpful of all the people I spoke to on that famous 1800 no... Then at the ALZmeeting day before yesterday a new intern was taking on the meeting and he is 100% disabled Iraq vet ( age 29) and is working not only with the VA but the ALZ Assn as well and he gave me his no..said by all means write the congress critter to ensure followup. He also said that the guy in the local office, I didn't know about him and went directly to theVA( not the best way to do this) that when I did call he was WRONG to tell me that since I didn't go through his office there was nothing he could do to help..and that they would need POA to act...I told him learned DH had gone through him in the past when he did this on his own....so now I do have an ally. I will see how this goes since this was now put on to the decision board...the guy on the phone took time to look at what is in the file and said this should not be taking so long and with the doctors statements that they have this should go through ..so we shall see...One nightmare after another when they can't do for themselves and us not knowing some of the things they did on their own when we not have to pick up the pieces..
Yes...it is one nightmare after the other. I just now recall that someone (sorry can't remember who) told me or I read it somewhere, that the heart condition is suppose to be on the "fast track" and that is probably why I requested it be placed on "fast track" and of course the burden of proof is on the VA that your dh doesn't deserve the 100% not on you if the doctor has so stated. Sounds to me like you are in one of those gov. delays that is so typical where the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing.
Being put on the decision board is good news. That is where it took less then 2 months for their decision regarding my dh.