Jim,
My question has to do with ICD (implantable cardioverter defbrilator). Cardiologist said according to test taken Im in need of surgical implant, ICD. Presently at 60% IHD, total 90%, is the ICD grounds for an increase? Thank your time and assistance on this matter.
Reply:
An AICD is an automatic 100%. If you are a veteran who has IHD as a service connected disability and you have an AICD implanted, you should file the paperwork ASAP to request an increase.
This is a very simple process that you can get ready before you have the procedure done. All you need to do is to type a one page letter to your VA regional office that says, "I have had an AICD implant surgery. The device was implanted on DATE. The AICD is necessary because of my service connected IHD. Please adjust my compensation to 100% permanent and total as of DATE."
Enclose a brief medical record from the hospital if the surgery is done at a civilian facility. If this is done at a VA hospital, there is no need to enclose anything other than the brief letter from you. Mail it via certified mail, RRR. Don't use any other method to mail your letter, please.
As you may guess, this simple request will probably take a year to complete once VA has your letter. Although it isn't necessary or required, VA will schedule a C & P exam. You have a 50% chance of being denied. I work with a lot of AICD cases because of my cardiology background and I'm constantly amazed at how little the raters know about pacemakers and AICDs. I see erroneous denials frequently because the rater doesn't know what an AICD is and doesn't take the time to look up the law.
http://www.benefits.va.gov/warms/bookc.asp
4.104 - Schedule of Ratings - Cardiovascular 7011 Ventricular arrhythmias (sustained):
For indefinite period from date of hospital admission for initial evaluation and medical therapy for a sustained ventricular arrhythmia, or; for indefinite period from date of hospital admission for ventricular aneurysmectomy, or; with an automatic implantable Cardioverter- Defibrillator (AICD) in place...100%
Chronic congestive heart failure, or; workload of 3 METs or less results in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or; left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 30 percent...100 %
This should be a relatively simple process start to finish. Unfortunately, the surgery will be the easy part. The difficult part will be getting the claim, as simple as it is, through the nightmare that the benefits process has become. If you have any problems with it, please let me know and we'll see what we can do to help.
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