Aneurysms and IHD

Jim,

I have filed a claim for ischemic heart disease with the VA and today on the phone I was told I was approved for 30%. However I just had another ultra-sound done and the aortic aneurysm I have has grown and I have to see a surgeon Friday. Is that considered caused by the disease also and will that raise me from the 30%? Also I had my first heart attack in 2000 will they pay me retroactive to my first heart attack?

Reply:

I'll assume that you are diagnosed with a thoracic aortic aneurysm. That's in your chest, near your heart. There are also abdominal aortic aneurysms...located in your tummy area.

Although the thoracic aortic aneurysm is near the heart, it is not a part of the IHD disease process. You may have IHD with an aneurysm or you may have an aneurysm with no IHD at all.

It isn't likely that VA will associate the aneurysm with the IHD.

If your examinations for the IHD are how the aneurysm was detected, you can be very thankful. This is a potentially dangerous condition that all too often is undetected until it ruptures. At that point very
few survive.

Later you got back to me and said, "It is abdominal so I guess it has nothing to do with IHD?" That's correct. Although aneurysms are associated with arteries there is no association with ischemic heart disease that VA would recognize. You are still very fortunate to have had a diagnosis and treatment plan made before the aneurysm caused you serious problems.

Good luck sir.