Question:
I am a boots on ground Vietnam veteran. I am 69. I have been diagnosed with atriventricular complete heart block. A pacemaker was just put in. I am studying hard. Is this heart block in the category of Ischemic heart disease for presumptive. Thanks for your time.
Jim's Reply:
The only heart condition that is presumptive to agent orange is IHD or Ischemic Heart Disease. IHD is the condition where your coronary arteries become clogged with cholesterol plaque and oxygenated blood can't go through, often causing a heart attack.
One result of a heart attack might be a complete AV heart block. If you have had a heart attack that precipitated the heart block, the heart attack would be presumptive because that would be IHD and then your condition could/would be service connected secondary to the primary IHD.
However, your atrioventricular heart block can also be caused by a dozen or more other things that have nothing to do with IHD. A simple viral infection may cause electrical malfunctions of the hearts conduction system.
In the end unless you are first diagnosed with IHD and it is then determined that IHD is the cause of your heart block, there won't be any disability benefit that would apply to your condition.
Good luck sir.