New to the Forum from Thailand

[thaimouse]

Hello one and all, I served as a Light Weapons Infantry Advisor in Vietnam and separated upon my return to civilization. Then after a year I re-entered the service, this time choosing the USAF as a service. I retired from the USAF after a total of 20 years of combined military service and now live in Thailand with my wife and our three young children drawing about $1,300 a month retirement. Two years ago I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes after having has surgery for an abdominal absess, that was caused by the Diabetes. I filed a claim based on my exposure and on the disease. After all lot of mail back and forth, I just mailed the final medical papers and am now waiting to see what happens. Since filing my condition seems to be worsening. For example, I get extreme swelling in both feet and have no feeling in my hands during much of the day. This in addition to insomnia and what seems to be the beginning of worsening circulatory problem. During the physical for the claim the circulatory problems were noted. I am now waiting to see what % of disability I will be awarded. Does anyone know what will happen now? What level of Disability can I expect?

[TinCanMan]

Thaimouse:

I'm not a medical professional but I do have diabetes Mellitus Type II and am fairly familiar with it and it's complications. Impossible to say what percentage you would get unless I knew your doctors regimen for your treatment but typically, folks recently diagnosed and taking oral meds or insulin get around 20%. From your description, I would think you had peripheral neuropathy in the arms and legs and not a circulatory problem. If I'm right you'd get about 10% for each arm and leg affected. All of that should combine to give you a combined rating of 50% or so. Just guessing though.

If you get at least 50% you'll be eligible for CRDP and any conditions combat related are eligible for CRSC. You can have one or the other but not both. CRDP will be automatic but you'll have to apply for CRSC.

The good news in all of this is your claim should be a slam dunk if you have service within the land borders of Vietnam.

[thaimouse]

Thanks TinCanMan, Yes I was on the ground in Vietnam as a Grunt or better described as a Light Weapons Infantry Advisor to the RVN troops as part of a MACV Team inthe Delta. Thanks for your quick response. I will await their ruling and then let you know.

[Tom130]

Greetings Thaimouse,
Thailand brings back many fond memories. Back in the 60's I spend a couple or few months at NPK, Nakon Phenon (sp?). Managed to get lost in Bangkok every time we flew nearby. Was a lot better time than being back home in Vietnam.
Couple things FYI. I hope you added proof of in-country service and a copy of your marriage license with your 21-526 application. But even if you did everything exactly right, don't expect quick action from the VA. I filed in May, 2007 for DMII with complications and they're still sending me letters asking for more info. But, there is a much quicker, plan 2 way of getting into the VA system. Look at "means test" that is part of Form 10-10EZ. The VA looks back 2 years so drag out your income tax return for 2006 and use those numbers to see if you're within the income limits.
About your legs. I have 9 stents, 2 of which are in my left subclavian artery. After I got those 2, my left arm felt normal once again. That is call PAD, peripheral artery disease. I now have a very cold right foot and pecker and a brachial index that's out of balance. If another stent or 2 fixes those problems life will be much better.
BUT --- if you have PAD the odds of also having CAD is very high. Those other 7 stents are in my heart, and I got them one at a time about every 6 months. Since getting my lipids down, weight under 190 and doing all the right things I've haven't had another stent for two years, but at the moment, things look like I'm getting ripe for another one. I was first diagnosed with PAD, a thing called subclavian steal syndrome. But before anything was done about that, they checked out my heart's plumbing and found something much more serious. I had no clue before hand that I also had CAD. Mainly because I didn't recognize the symptoms. Those pains weren't "growing old" twinges. They were angina.
From what you described, I think you may want to get a real good check-up ASAP at a facility that can handle CAD and PAD.
Good luck,
Tom