My private diabetes doctor said my diabetes "without a doubt" started in service and based that on a review of my service records with high blood gucose readings. I was not diagnosed within the one year presumptive period (for me 27 months after service) and not a Vietnam Veteran for the Agent Orange connection. Therefore, I am trying to establish direct connection. Should that be sufficient to establish a nexus for a diabetes rating?
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Diabetes -- Is this Good News?
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 Dave1027 |
Diabetes -- Is this Good News? |
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Posts: 64 05/08/08 21:01:25 |
Last Edited By: Dave1027 05/24/08 18:01:32.
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sgtjwhite |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 48 05/25/08 16:14:25 |
You should submit your
claim, based on what your Diabetes doctor has stated and submit the doctors statement
to help support your claim.
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Natchez1985 |
#2 | |||
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Posts: 1 05/27/08 12:50:25 |
Dave, regardless what the doctor says, he MUST put that in a letter format or within your medical dictations notes. Since this after your presumptive period (the first 12 months following service). It should state: "I believe that its at less likely as not that the aforemention veterans current condition of DB2 is directly related to service. I have reviewed the veterans service records, on (whatever day you was seen by military doctors), his blood elevations were (whatever the number show).
The important part is that he must state he revieved your service medical records and he must include the "less as likely" statement.
Keep me posted, good luck! |
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Natchez1985 |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 2 05/27/08 12:52:52 |
Dave, the only exception would if you served in Vietnam---meaning, you put boots onto the ground. You are still going to require the medical paperwork showing
you have DB2.
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sk00ter |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 212 05/27/08 18:09:26 |
High glucose readings don't always mean diabetes. Without a doubt would be testing by a fasting oral glucose tolerance test or other means to confirm a
diagnosis of diabetes. Even a non diabetic can have high glucose readings if their glucose was tested within a short time of eating or perhaps other
conditions. If your glucose was high why didn't the military doctors test you for diabetes? Anyways, it can't hurt to file a claim. It seems to be
established that you had some high readings but no diagnosis of diabetes. Thats the catchy part.
.......sk00ter |
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Dave1027 |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 66 05/27/08 19:16:03 |
It was the Veterans Administration that conducted the C&P exam on me during the last month on active duty under the Benefits Delivered at Discharge
Program. Part of that exam was a fasting blood lab that had a 135 mg/dl at that time. I am not a doctor, so I believe the VA simply missed it -- not the
military physicians. In addition, it was not until I could get a copy of the C&P report about a year later under FOIA did I even know it was that high.
Again, the VA should have let me know -- there must be a medical duty there to inform the individual?
Also, I know they carry no weight, but there are dozens of BVA cases that have granted diabetes connection based on high blood glucose levels alone -- with no presumptions -- look at this case...many, many like it....http://www.va.gov/vetapp07/files4/0734601.txt -- no AO or presumptions. My doctor wrote that after reviewing my military records that without a doubt, my diabetes started on active duty. With that, it should be service connected. I have a current DM II diagnosis, high fasting glucose numbers in service and a medical nexus from a diabetes doctor. That would be hard for the VA to deny IMO. Dave
Last Edited By: Dave1027 05/27/08 19:25:54.
Edited 1 time.
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sk00ter |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 213 05/28/08 07:21:30 |
You have a lot of evidence Dave1027. I hope your claim is approved and I wish you the best of luck and health. If they deny you be sure to request a NOD.
.......sk00ter |
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Natchez1985 |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 5 05/31/08 11:14:10 |
Dave, you have everything you need for a grant!!! Press forward with your claim, keep me in contact!
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Dave1027 |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 67 05/31/08 17:04:49 |
Thanks everyone,
I submitted my claim and have a VSO helping me. I certainly hope the VA will treat me fairly and accept the medical opinion of an endocrinologist. DM II has made my life difficult and I hope for compassionate and fair adjudication of my claim. Dave |
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Dave1027 |
Good News Indeed!!! | #9 | ||
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Posts: 69 07/09/08 17:51:32 |
Good news everybody, VA rated me at 20% for my diabetes. I owe it to my private diabetic doctor for his accurate letter, the DAV for helping me, and encouragement from people here on this board. I continue to struggle with diabetes, but this is good to see that VA will help me in future treatments. Dave |
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mzerousa |
Am on the same ship... | #10 | ||
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Posts: 35 07/11/08 10:51:41 |
I too, had a sugar glucose problem on active duty. Sugar showed up in my urine. The military doctor ordered a 4 hour sugar glucose test which showed all of my
readings were high. Was put on a sugar free diet and pills. (As a 15 year brain
washed dedicated member, I was really afraid of being put out on the street. Anyone else?) I had two tours
prior to this happening to me.
Shortly, I received orders to Viet Nam for the third tour. Nobody followed up on these reports in VN (Of course, we had bigger fish to fry than personal problems). Yes, I had all those symptoms of Sugar Diabetes II. Fatigue, thirst, hunger, etc...somehow I survived (really lucky, I suppose) During this Third tour, I continued my diet as well as I could, but no pills. Received permission to purchase food at my expense from the commissary when able ( Ha! Ha!) Had many physical problems and appointments with the Medical people includng several hospital stays (at the 92th in LBJ) for the conditions. (As I was able to let go of my duties) Amazing that no one picked up on the DMII. Guess if they had, they would have lost my valuable services and shipped my A back home. (Because when I got in country, they had to find me a job because nobody needed my MOS, which wasn't hard of course. My option of course was to get back on the plane, which they did not find funny) When I returned, I was assigned as the active duty advisor to a Reserve Army unit. Physical was ordered and the sugar showed up again. (My physical was at a Civilian Enlistment facility) Was told to report to my medical clinic for treatment, (Stupid me, I wasn't ready for retirement yet), so I just delayed until tomorrow ("neglected") to follow thru. Again, there was no one who was watching. The symptoms were still there. I knew how to cover up very well now. (Oh, the immortality of the young) Then, I retired. Nobody said a thing about DMII. (Not even stupid me) I have tried to get the VA to recognize this condition but they state there is not enough evidence. I had several appointments with the Army Doctor to treat this problem (in 1971) (He was a civilian contract Doctor) and also the remarks and physical of the, again, Civilian Doctor at the Enlistment Station.(1973). Now the kicker. I had the bad things happen: in 1987, a heart attack, High chol, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease. All of which the VA says preceded my DMII.The Docs who treated me could find no reason for the blockage in my heart except a suspicion that chunk of chol had blocked one of my arteries. (Sure lucky, if you can call it that, that the blockage was there and not in my head) I have tried to get the VA to recognize the existence of the DMII as the nexus for my Myocardial and digestive Problems but they refuse. Finally recognized in 2001 for 20% as a VN tourist for three tours, but no cigar for the other conditions. Anyone have any advice for me. (Other than I was very, very stupid!!!!) I have already accepted that. Should I try again? regards, Jim |
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Rougetet |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 60 07/11/08 17:15:29 |
mzerousa wrote: Well I expect that your case would be tied up for some time due to the "by the book" mentality that I assume will be used in association with the
dates you indicate of the VA findings (1987 for CAD and HBP but 2001 for DMII). Even though it looks like you might have a strong case that both the CAD and
HBP are DMII related, I didn't see any indication that a physician has indicated that your CAD and HBP are secondary to your DMII so you would need a
doctor to state that (NEXUS statement). Since 2001 is the earliest effective date for presumptive DMII to VN service I assume that you received your DMII SC
due to herbicide exposure according to your award but you didn't say that. Just because DMII wasn't SC until 2001, doesn't invalidate the fact
that it may be responsible for your CAD and HBP since you apparently have records that your DMII was in existence much earlier than 2001. I would get that
NEXUS doctor statement first (may need a private physician to say that because I anticipate you might have significant difficulty getting a VA physician to
admit to that) and then file a claim for CAD and HBP (or NOD or reopen that claim if you previously claimed them). I would suspect that you would need to
carry this up through appeal to the BVA because of the date problem but you may get lucky. I also suspect that if you are truly lucky you may, stress may,
even get the BVA to retro your CAD and HBP back to coterminus with your DMII SC effective date but probably not any earlier than that no matter what your
records show - can't really have a secondary condition with an effective SC date earlier than the primary condition. The only way around that would be to
get your DMII SC effective date NOT based upon VN service presumptive to herbicides BUT based upon direct connection instead based upon a diagnosis in your
service medical records of DMII. I would expect that for you now to try that route will be a very long uphill battle but get a VSO and see if that is even
possible. This would allow your SC for DMII to potentially be effective the day after your retirement and your CAD and HBP SC to 1987 (assuming you retired
prior to your heart problems in 1987 - you weren't clear on that). Don't get your hopes up too high on this though and to even pursue that would take
a lot of work and perseverance on your part. All of the above assumes that your claims on heart problems are still "open" because if not, you may be
restricted on how far back you can go for an effective date according to the provisions of 38 CFR - usually best case is one year prior to claim date not
finally adjudicated unless you can show CUE.
Last Edited By: Rougetet 07/11/08 17:36:43.
Edited 4 times.
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