Veterans with PTSD have an increased risk of stroke, so get familiar with the VA disability ratings for these conditions from experienced VA lawyers at Woods and Woods.
A major study by The National Institute of Health (NIH) states more than 13.5% of deployed and nondeployed veterans are screening positive for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It’s an astonishing statistic because many veterans will be dealing with PTSD for the rest of their lives. Medical research now shows that if veterans receive a PTSD diagnosis, they increase their risk of a transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Medical statistics track TIA as a type of stroke. You may need to know more about TIA if you are a veteran with PTSD. You also need to know how the VA disability rating for TIA is assessed.
Please keep reading if you want to learn more about some very comprehensive legal ways to fight for your rights.
In this article about PTSD and strokes:
Medical Research, PTSD and TIA
The Stroke Journal recently completed a research study on veterans who fought in recent wars. They tracked veterans who fought in every war from Vietnam to the Persian Gulf Wars who may be at risk of TIA. What they found surprised them.
It was determined that any veteran who served in any military capacity must be carefully assessed for pre-stroke and TIA symptoms. The research continues for veterans with PTSD and TIA. PTSD and other neurological disorders occur every year in veteran populations with PTSD.
The medical community now sees more PTSD veterans who have an increased risk of having a TIA episode or already had one. All symptoms of TIA or a major stroke require immediate medical attention and treatment.
VA Disability Rating for TIA
PTSD veterans who have had TIA are being recorded, but many haven’t received the VA disability rating they need. The lack of having a VA disability rating for TIA or any other type of stroke means that you may not be receiving the monthly reimbursement you deserve. TIA and other types of strokes require post-acute treatment and hospitalizations. This means missed work or even unemployment for many veterans.
This follow-up care for strokes costs almost 300 million dollars every year. These findings and costs raise many questions about how best to rate veterans at risk of TIA. Veterans need to have targeted screening programs for TIA interventions.
They also need to have the VA disability rating they deserve as soon as it’s needed. PTSD brings up many VA disability rating questions. If you combine PTSD with a growing number of TIA strokes among veterans, you have a public health initiative that needs to be addressed immediately.
Here one of our VA disability lawyers goes over the questions Woods and Woods, The Veteran’s Firm, is often asked about veterans’ disability claims and appeals.
After a Mini-Stroke (TIA) What To Expect
Various cognitive and physical symptoms may occur if you suffer a transient ischemic stroke. TIA treatment begins under the VA diagnostic code of 8520, which includes paralysis of the sciatic nerve. The rate for any residual required treatment from a TIA can be anywhere between 10 to 100 percent.
The percentage of TIA residuals is based on the VA disability rate. The VA disability rate correlates to the veteran’s motor, mental or sensory functionality after a stroke.
TIA Symptoms
Often the paralysis or loss of various functions caused by a TIA includes, but is not limited to;
- Tremors
- Loss of walking functions or disturbances of gait
- Loss of vision or impairment of vision
- Impaired speech
- Visceral manifestations and a host of other impairments or disturbances
Many neurological issues stem from TIA. Neurological issues range from mild to complete paralysis or severe impairment. That’s why it’s of prime importance to get a VA-certified disability attorney to help you with your VA disability claim.
A VA-certified disability attorney can also answer your questions about the VA treatment costs as you go through the medical and rehabilitative process.
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What Are The Warning Signs of TIA?
There are many little warning signs of TIA. But most veterans will ignore them, thinking they will go away. TIAs are known as mini-strokes because the brain’s blood flow is obstructed for only a few seconds or minutes when they happen. So it’s easy to think you imagined it or it will never happen again.
TIAs may seem like they were not a big deal, but they can have long-lasting effects on a person’s physical and mental health. It impacts your brain functions in walking, strength, or even balance if you have more than one. Medical researchers can now understand more about how PTSD can trigger TIA.
The important thing to remember is that if you experience a TIA, you’ve been given a wake-up call. Make sure you pay attention to it and get the medical help you need. It’s also important to understand how serious and devastating the consequences of TIA can be.
PTSD and TIA
There’s no question there’s a significant increase in the risk of a TIA incident if you’re a veteran with PTSD. Other coexisting psychiatric disorders can also impact your risk of having a TIA episode. All veterans must have regular TIA assessments.
Right now, there’s no getting around the fact that veterans who have PTSD are linked to higher risk levels of having a TIA or ischemic stroke. There are a few more warnings you may want to note. These warnings are the only way your body can get your attention.
Some of these symptoms include, but aren’t limited to, double vision that won’t go away. You may notice blindness in one or both eyes. Some people experience vertigo.
All of the symptoms will last a few minutes or can affect you for up to 24 hours. They also all need medical attention as soon as possible.
TIA Treatment
When you need TIA treatment, it’s always best to prepare yourself for whatever legal options are needed if the VA denies your claim. Once you are diagnosed with having a TIA, you will need medical treatment. The treatment will help correct any lingering TIA conditions or correct abnormalities.
Correcting any TIA abnormalities can help prevent a future stroke from occurring. TIA treatment ranges from taking prescription medication to having surgery or therapy. The treatment range you need depends on where you’re at, how bad the attack, and what type of TIA you had.
TIA treatment options can include antiplatelet drugs like Clopidogrel, Plavix, Aggrenox, or Anticoagulants. Sometimes you’ll have to have surgery because you need the removal of plaque from the carotid artery. This type of surgery contributes to TIA strokes, and by removing the plaque, you decrease some of the risks.
Types of Strokes
Five types of strokes meet the definition of medical care emergencies. They meet the definition because they either interrupt or stop blood from flowing to the brain. The five types of strokes are:
- Brain Stem Stroke
- Ischemic Stroke
- Mini or Transient Ischemic Stroke
- Hemorrhagic Stroke
- Cryptogenic Stroke
Each of the strokes has its own set of symptoms and conditions.
What is F.A.S.T. Used For in Strokes?
Each stroke listed above has its own unique symptoms. But all strokes do have common denominators that go by the acronym F.A.S.T. The common stroke F.A.S.T symptoms include:
- Face droops with one side looking lopsided or uneven
- Arms or at least one arm is weak or numb, and you usually cannot raise both arms at the same time
- Speech is affected because you start slurring your words, and sometimes you can’t speak at all
- Time to call 911: if someone shows these symptoms, call 911 as quick as possible. Time is critical when it comes to treating and surviving any kind of stroke.
Strokes can also cause dizziness or problems clotting when you cut yourself. You may notice a weakness in your legs or that your gait changes when you walk. You can also feel confused for no reason.
By receiving acute medical care as soon as possible, you also get a medical diagnosis. The diagnosis helps you begin treatment and allows the VA to review your rating needs.
Ischemic Stroke Medical and Legal Options
Some studies show a growing trend among veterans with PTSD who go on to have an ischemic stroke. That’s why it’s so critical that if any veteran has PTSD, they go to a doctor to receive a medical assessment to see if they are at risk. Ischemic strokes can have a devastating impact on both the veteran and their spouse or family.
Veterans who were already diagnosed with PTSD and had an ischemic stroke may find themselves with a long-term disability. A long-term disability can incur a tremendous economic loss due to your inability to work. If you or a loved one has PTSD and doesn’t have VA disability compensation yet, call our office.
A behind-the-scenes look at who works for you at Woods and Woods, The Veteran’s Firm.
Ischemic Stroke and VA Disability Ratings
You don’t have to wait for the VA to deny your disability rate before seeking legal help. A veteran with PTSD who deals with TIA while trying to get an accurate VA rating can make you feel you have no options to help you win the fight. Many veterans don’t receive the disability payments or ratings they deserve because they give up too soon.
Your VA disability rating impacts payments you receive for you and your loved one’s day-to-day living. That’s why if you are a veteran who has developed PTSD, it’s important you understand the correlation between PTSD, TIAs, and strokes. Moreover, it is essential that you speak to a legal expert on how and why those conditions can impact your VA disability rating.
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TIA vs. CVA
TIA is a transient ischemic attack, which is a type of stroke. If you have CVA, that is a cerebrovascular accident. TIAs and CVAs have the same medical issues, concerns, and problems
TIA and CVAs even share many of the same risk factors that include artery disease, high blood pressure, and atrial fibrillation. Each of these risk factors contributes to artery, coronary, or lipid disorders. It is a CT or MRI scan that determines if you’ve had a stroke.
A stroke will usually show up on a scan, but TIA won’t show on a CT or MRI. A TIA diagnosis only comes after all other symptoms and conditions have been eliminated. One in four people will be diagnosed with a stroke of some kind by the time they are 65.
The Nexus Letter is like the missing link to a successful VA disability compensation claim. In this video, one of our veteran’s disability lawyers explains the importance of the Nexus Letter.
VA Benefits for Stroke Victims
The VA will provide benefits for TIA and stroke victims through three methods. They will give a veteran who has experienced a stroke a 100% temporary disability rating for pre-stabilization. They will also give you 100% temporary disability for your hospital stay and your recovery or convalescence.
VA disability benefits have a division of labels. The division labels are temporary, severe, or service-connected disabilities. An example of how VA benefits break down labels is under 38.CFR4.28 is detailed below.
Under 38.CFR4.28, you get 50-100% over twelve months following your discharge date. For instance, a pre-stabilization rate of 100% makes you eligible for total disability.
Get the VA Disability Rating You Deserve for TIA
Any veteran dealing with PTSD and TIA must find the knowledgeable and skilled help they need to deal with the VA. Having the legal help you need can help you get the VA disability rating you deserve. Most TIA symptoms require treatment long after your initial diagnosis.
If you wait too long to get treatment, there may be long-term disabilities not easily treated. That’s why when you’re going through the devastating impact of a TIA, you need a legal professional that cares. If you are submitting your initial VA disability application or need to appeal, you want someone with exceptional legal experience and knowledge.
You also want to find someone who cares and wants to answer your questions about getting the VA disability rating you deserve.
Here one of our VA disability lawyers talks about how SMC (Special Monthly Compensation) works to help you get more money for extra expenses related to your disabling condition every month.
Find Your Way To a VA Disability Rating You Need
It may take a long time for you to work again, or you may never be able to get back to a normally employed way of life. You may never do all you want to do. We can tell you how and when to file for disability and make sure you get it right. you should contact us today.
At Woods and Woods, the Veteran’s Firm, we’ve helped thousands of veterans with their VA disability applications and appeals. We’ve been adding staff and lawyers during the Covid pandemic to better serve disabled veterans in difficult times.
Call us today to discuss your VA disability appeal or your first application. The call is free and we won’t charge you a single fee until we win your case. We even pay for the postage for all of the documentation you send to our office. You can look for a VA disability attorney near you or call us and join the thousands of veterans living off of VA disability thanks to Woods and Woods.
Talk to Us About Your Claim: (866) 232-5777
FAQs about PTSD and TIA mini-strokes:
Some veterans may receive a permanent and total rating. If your PTSD is not expected to improve, you may obtain the status of permanent disability.
No, not everyone that has PTSD has strokes, but increased risk has been shown in several studies. You’ll want to pay attention to your health especially if you have any other comorbidities like diabetes or high blood pressure.