Hello all, I am fairly new to this forum in regards to posting, however, I have been following this site for awhile now...
Anyways, I thought it might benefit everyone to know the results of my case. As far as I can tell thus far, I have seen everyone with the Neurocardiogenic/Vaso-vagal Syncope get rated under the code for seizures or paralysis of the vaso-vagal nerve, which has seemed to be insufficient in encompassing the actual disability of this disorder. I must note there are three types of this disorder: those who have a severe drop in blood pressure, those who have a severe drop in heart rate, and those that have a mix of both- all of which lead to syncope. A tilt-table test diagnosis seems to be the standard.
I developed the mixed form of this disorder about a year ago, which was diagnosed this past February-via Tilt Table. In my records, there is a lot of evidence pointing to the Cardiac component of this disorder. I just received my DA 199 this week and was rated at 60% for my unfitting condition of Neurocardiogenic syncope. It was rated under the general cardiac output scale (METs), to which I received the 60% rating. This was obtained through an interview MET test with my VA examiner at my C&P exam. I feel this rating was accurate, because I spend days and weeks at a time where I can barely move without developing symptoms of pre-syncope, followed by possible syncope if I do not stop what I am doing. The focus was not on how many times I have blacked-out, but how much this disorder effects my ability to work, which is the overall goal of this process. I had evidence through the tilt-table test, heart monitors, and ECG. Also, a possible treatment for my disorder, which was listed in my medical documents, was implantation of a pacemaker. I am having a pacemaker put in on Monday.
My goal for this post is to inform anyone with this condition it is possible to get a correct rating, in accordance with your disability, especially if your disorder has any cardiac etiology. Make sure you get the proper cardiac work-up, as well as documentation stating your drop in heart rate should be rated in reference to the general cardiac output scale. Then be honest and direct with your VA examiner. I hope this helps, and please feel free to ask any other questions you may have. I wish everyone the best in their IDES and DES cases.
Anyways, I thought it might benefit everyone to know the results of my case. As far as I can tell thus far, I have seen everyone with the Neurocardiogenic/Vaso-vagal Syncope get rated under the code for seizures or paralysis of the vaso-vagal nerve, which has seemed to be insufficient in encompassing the actual disability of this disorder. I must note there are three types of this disorder: those who have a severe drop in blood pressure, those who have a severe drop in heart rate, and those that have a mix of both- all of which lead to syncope. A tilt-table test diagnosis seems to be the standard.
I developed the mixed form of this disorder about a year ago, which was diagnosed this past February-via Tilt Table. In my records, there is a lot of evidence pointing to the Cardiac component of this disorder. I just received my DA 199 this week and was rated at 60% for my unfitting condition of Neurocardiogenic syncope. It was rated under the general cardiac output scale (METs), to which I received the 60% rating. This was obtained through an interview MET test with my VA examiner at my C&P exam. I feel this rating was accurate, because I spend days and weeks at a time where I can barely move without developing symptoms of pre-syncope, followed by possible syncope if I do not stop what I am doing. The focus was not on how many times I have blacked-out, but how much this disorder effects my ability to work, which is the overall goal of this process. I had evidence through the tilt-table test, heart monitors, and ECG. Also, a possible treatment for my disorder, which was listed in my medical documents, was implantation of a pacemaker. I am having a pacemaker put in on Monday.
My goal for this post is to inform anyone with this condition it is possible to get a correct rating, in accordance with your disability, especially if your disorder has any cardiac etiology. Make sure you get the proper cardiac work-up, as well as documentation stating your drop in heart rate should be rated in reference to the general cardiac output scale. Then be honest and direct with your VA examiner. I hope this helps, and please feel free to ask any other questions you may have. I wish everyone the best in their IDES and DES cases.