Sudden Cardiac Arrest / ICD

Just got my med board back yesterday. It's 100 percent disabled, PDRL!!!!
Hey, I've been in 19 years and will be getting an ICD implanted next month because of V Tach. Did you have other ratings and was your 100% for the ICD?
 
I was diagnosed with ARVD, had my cardiac "event" Dec 4th 2016 running at home preparing for my PRT the following weekend. I missed that drill due to being in the hospital getting a host of test done including a cardiac MRI. I was implanted with my AICD the following Tuesday. I am a reservist and was not at drill. I have 9 years active duty time with the USMC and right at 11 years as a reservist. I was deployed in the Middle East for the GWOT from Dec 2012 to Dec 2014.

From my understanding as a reservist I will need an LOD to claim service connection. Just wonder if anyone else has had this situation. My problem seems directly related to exercise, its not like reservist do not have to pass the same physical fitness test as active duty. Having right at 20 years of service might help me I hope.

Links from google, ARVD and exercise:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news...rt_failure_risk_in_carriers_of_arvdc_mutation
http://www.eplabdigest.com/articles...rhythmogenic-Right-Ventricular-Cardiomyopathy
http://www.escardio.org/Sub-special...s/The-role-of-exercise-in-gene-elusive-ARVD-C
http://arvdheart.org/arvd/living-arvc/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25516436
http://www.geneticheartdisease.org/arvd.htm
 
Wow, I never would have believed there were so many people with Sudden Cardiac Death, especially otherwise healthy and fit people. First of all congratulations to all of us who survived.

My "event" was about 9 months ago and I am just starting my MEB.

My duties and responsibilities do not require me to be worldwide / deployable. Does that mean the SCD and AICD may not, in and of themselves, make me unfit?

I also have an acquired anoxic brain injury (I was "dead" for about 5 minutes) that makes it very difficult for me to concentrate or focus for a reasonable length of time and unable to work more than 3-4 hours a day. I expect the brain injury will likely make me unfit.

Is is possible that the PEB will rate the anoxic brain injury alone as the only referred condition? In that case VASRD 7011 would not apply. If so, I wonder what sort of rating I can expect given the immense ambiguity/subjectivity of TBI and brain injury prognoses.
 
Well, I got my ratings, 100 PDRL from the Army, 100% T&P from VA and S-1 for other rated condition(s) over 60%.
100% for the SCD and ICD and 60+ for other, unrelated injuries. None from combat.

Counsel says I have little to no chance of appealing and being found fit.

I have 17 years of service, and I have completed a Packet for COAD. I want to serve out my 20. It will give me a chance to see if I can really go back to work and be productive, some post-accident resume accomplishments, and more time to network and find a post-retirement job.

Thoughts, anyone? Looks like the only real risk I run is the possibility of them updating the CFR and changing the rating for ICD between now and my redo of the IDES at the end of my COAD.
 
Well, I got my ratings, 100 PDRL from the Army, 100% T&P from VA and S-1 for other rated condition(s) over 60%.
Congratulations on the retirement finding! Even though this is not what you ultimately desire, at least you have a retirement outcome and are not getting completely hosed.

Counsel says I have little to no chance of appealing and being found fit.
Without knowing everything about your case, just based on what you have stated and experience, I tend to agree.

I have 17 years of service, and I have completed a Packet for COAD. I want to serve out my 20. It will give me a chance to see if I can really go back to work and be productive, some post-accident resume accomplishments, and more time to network and find a post-retirement job.
I have not seen, in several years, much success with COAD packets getting approved. Last 7 or 8 years, it seems they have really cut down on granting COAD. Still, doesn't mean you can't get COAD. I would say that the stronger packets usually contain strong recommendations from the chain of command (going up as high as possible), and the member having really valuable/irreplaceable skills or experience that the command needs.

Thoughts, anyone? Looks like the only real risk I run is the possibility of them updating the CFR and changing the rating for ICD between now and my redo of the IDES at the end of my COAD.
Without knowing all of the details of your case, I wouldn't hazard a guess or provide strong input on this point. Not sure what conditions you were found unfit for, if the ratings for some conditions were temporary max ratings and if there is some chance of improvement of conditions or symptoms to make a difference for rating purposes over the COAD period (if granted). So, I would be somewhat wary about the assumption(s). Still, it is true that getting to 20 years will confer the entitlement to CRDP which would be a substantial monetary benefit. It may well be that the cost/benefit analysis leans towards seeking the COAD even given the risks. And, if you do break 20 years of service, you will, of course, have the locked in minimum 50% retirement as a base (based on years of service). So, your thought process here may be sound. I just don't know enough about all of the facts of your case to weigh in with substantive thoughts.

I hope all goes well for you with the final disposition of your case. Best of luck!
 
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