Question:

I am service connected at 90%. 60% of that is my heart (myocardial infarction w/open heart surgery).  In Dec of 2013, I went to VA for abnormal fatigue. The doc right away prescribed "androgel" and 5 days later actually took my blood to check for "low t" which I now know all my blood work was normal. He kept me on the drug, did not monitor me at all. Within 30 days, I was in the ER for heart attack symptoms.  VA did not stop the drug use, also be aware I had never been counseled on the risks of this drug or its possibly fatal side effects. 34 days after the ER visi, I was VA diagnosed with yet another serious side effect of the drug "sleep apnea" and was kept on the drug. 4 months after prescription end I would then have another cardiac event which found my aorta was now enlarged to 4 cm (1cm away from surgery) and the surgical repair while on active duty had reopened. (Hole in my heart/asd) caused from a cast being placed too tight. I now know the drug was prescribed outside FDA  regs, Endocrine Society regs and even VA regs and I should have been closely monitored and the first sign of side effect removed. The drug is only to be prescribed with a well documented case of hypothyroidism and severe low t. I had none of the above. I have made an 1151 and a tort claim, this was a year ago. The va keeps scheduling appointments (VES) and then cancelling them? The worst part is after that last cardiac event the VA for "medical reasons" kept me off my job until cleared by cardiology, that took 10 months!  In that 10 months I lost my job, had to file bankruptcy and lose everything i worked my life for, my home (only home 3 kids ever knew) cars, credit? Advise please sir.

Jim's Reply:

If you believe that you have been the victim of medical malpractice by a VA doctor, you need to speak with an attorney who understands how the federal tort system works. You'll find a number of expert attorneys who will be able to advise you at no cost to you here.