Inferred claim and Nehmer search

Question:

What is an inferred claim?  In 2006,  I filed a claim for prostate cancer after I had a prostate removed in Oct of 2004.  I had never filed a claim and was only awarded 0% since I didn't have many issues.  In 2012, I filed for Heart disease diabetes neuropathy.   In the info the VA had from my prostate claim,  it was noted that I had a stent placed in 2002.  Since the VA had this information,  should they have found me in the Nehmer search?

Jim's Reply:

The inferred claim is one that is noted during the adjudication of another issue and VA should initiate the claim just as if the veteran had done so. No, there was no reason VA would have learned of your condition during a "Nehmer search" since Nehmer only applied to veterans who had filed IHD claims and been denied. If you didn't file a claim in 2002, that won't be an effective date for benefits.