Question:
If you are awarded compensation for IHD, and afterward you have a pacemaker installed, can it be claimed as secondary? Thanks.
Jim's Reply:
Yes. When we have Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) that disease may cause damage to the electrical conduction pathways of the heart and then require some electrical assistance from a pacemaker or an AICD. The pacemaker is installed to monitor the heartbeat and send impulses to the heart when it needs it.
There are other reasons that may require a pacemaker (viruses, valve disease) to be installed so your doctor must agree and make notes to your records that your conduction problems were caused by the IHD. Once your doctor agrees to that, you can file a claim to have the pacer rated as secondary to your IHD. Good luck.