Diabetic Cardiomyopathy
I am a long term diabetic having been diagnosed in summer of 1997. I began seeing a cardiologist in 2021 for frequent PVC's which resulted in an effective heart rate of about 30 bpm. Needless to say it had become very disabling by that time.
After a complete battery of diagnostic tests including EKG, echo cardiogram, nuclear chemical stress test, cardiac MRI and cardiac angiogram I have been diagnosed with cardio myopathy. My ejection fraction is estimated at 45% to 50%.
Chemical stress test indicates I have large area infarctions, although my cardiac angiogram shows minimal arterial blockage with a maximum occlusion of only 30% in one site. The conclusion is my cardiac insufficiency is NOT due to ischemia. There is no indication of heart attack.
I understand long term diabetes can damage the heart muscle. I suspect my diabetes is at the root of my cardiac problems. My cardiologist will only go so far as to say that diabetes COULD be the root cause of my cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia.
I have filed a claim with the VA for cardiac issues stemming from my T2D. They acknowledge my diabetes was likely caused by exposure to toxins while I served in Southeast Asia where Agent Orange was extensively used to defoliate the jungles.
However, the VA has denied my claim for cadiomyopathy secondary to my diabetes. I plan to appeal that decision, and I am looking for studies that support a link between diabetes and cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrhythmia, etc.
Can anyone in this forum give me some guidance in my research?
Hi
. First and foremost, I would like to thank you for your service. I wish you'd never been exposed to Agent Orange. So many people have suffered because of their exposure. My heart goes out to you and your family. I am glad the VA has acknowledged the link between your type 2 diabetes and Agent Orange and is covering your treatment. We are not medical experts, so please keep that in mind when you read responses here. My understanding is that, if not controlled, type 2 diabetes affects the blood vessels, not the heart muscle itself, but I could be wrong. Here is an article about diabetes and cardiac issues that might interest you: https://type2diabetes.com/complications/cardiovascular. Have you looked into the possiblity that Agent Orange triggered the cardiomyapathy directly, as opposed to being a complication of diabetes? The VA will also sometimes cover health conditions for which the cause is unknown if they development within a certain time frame after your discharge. Regardless, I hope you get coverage for the cardiomyopathy as well. Wishing you the best. - Lori (Team Member) thank you for your prompt response. Although cardiac ischemia is linked to toxic exposure, caridomyopathy itself is not one of the many diseases linked directly to herbicide (Agent Orange, etc.) exposure by the VA. I have read some studies that indicate damage may be done to the heart muscle itself in diabetes via metabolic changes. I am not sure the link has been firmly established however. It seems to be an area of study in diabetes that is still somewhat relatively undeveloped.
I am presently rated 100% service connected disabled due to prostate cancer which is recognized by the VA as linked to exposure to Agent Orange and other similar defoliants. That rating could change in the future making it all the more important to have my cardiac condition recognized as service connected. Presently my diabetes is rated at 20% with 10% for each foot for diabetic neuropathy. I will keep looking into it.I hope it works out,
. You clearly need treatment and you definitely deserve it. - Lori (Team Member)
