My husband is a Vietnam Veteran and has been diagnosed with Diabetes Type II by the Veterans Administration, but his private doctor has diagnosed him as pre-diabetes. He has been exposed to Agent Orange while in Vietnam. He was recently denied by VA for service-connection for Diabetes because a doctor wrote that his Type II was onset by high steroid use when in the hospital. Before he went to the hospital he had glucose levels showing as high as 135 and high levels before going into the hospital. First, what are normal glucose level readings and what are high levels? Also, what is considered high A1C levels? He has peripheral neropathy problems such as with his feet, hands and arms (he had surgery on his arm for nerve damage) We are trying to figure out how to approach this denial for diabetes. Is there anyone out there who can give us some advice as how to approach this Veterans Administration denial? Thanks.
>what are normal glucose level readings and what are high levels?
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/diagnosis/#2B
>what is considered high A1C levels?
I am also a Vietnam Veteran and in doing some research I came across this website which may help you with the VA. As with most government run organizations you will have to fight for you rights. Good Luck.
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/Herbicide/diabete1.htm
Try going to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, they WILL represent ANY vet in dealing with the VA.
I thought that there was AUTOMATIC service connection for servicemen exposed to (I thought) agent orange.
GOOD LUCK…fighting the VA can be tough…and you do not get much of anything from them without a FIGHT!
MOPH worked for me to get my hearing loss service connected, via old service records (Big help). They KNEW I had a hearing loss while on active duty and was never told…
(&(
I have a copy of a case pending in Federal court about Agen Orange and type 2 diabetes. I am told that if this is ever ruled on it will open up benefits for blue water sailors who worked the coast. E-mail me at s6954118@gmail.com and I will send you a copy.
Hi TM, sounds as if your having a time with VA. There is a VA hospital/home for Veterans near me and I have friends who work there. The very best advice I can pass on for you, is to get in touch with your state Congressman. They do more to get a vet more treatment and help than I can tell you. Sometimes they have to pull some strings to get people that help they so desperatly need. They can get you in to see the right most benefical doctor to help your husband. To simply just go to a VA hospital isn’t always the best thing. So to say you need alittle help from someone in a better position to help your husband is ok. So very many of our Vets are ignored, that in itself makes me sick. Our soldiers are the reason we have peace in the USA. Yet they are ignored. I wish you and your husband the best~Sande
I would love to hear an update on this almost 2 year old post T M. I am also a Vietnam Vet and receive ALL my health care through the VA. Any updates from anybody concerning this thread?