Form VA Form 21-0960A-1 VA Form 21-0960A-1 Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) Disability Benefits Questio

OMB Approved No. 2900-0749
Respondent Burden: 15 minutes
Expiration Date: XX/XX/XXXX

ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE (IHD) DISABILITY BENEFITS QUESTIONNAIRE
IMPORTANT - THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) WILL NOT PAY OR REIMBURSE ANY EXPENSES OR COST INCURRED IN THE
PROCESS OF COMPLETING AND/OR SUBMITTING THIS FORM. PLEASE READ THE PRIVACY ACT AND RESPONDENT BURDEN INFORMATION ON
REVERSE BEFORE COMPLETING FORM.
NAME OF PATIENT/VETERAN

PATIENT/VETERAN'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

NOTE TO PHYSICIAN - Your patient is applying to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for disability benefits. VA will use the information you provide
on this questionnaire to process the Veteran's claim.
SECTION I - DIAGNOSIS
NOTE: IHD includes, but is not limited to, acute, sub-acute and old myocardial infarction; atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease including coronary artery disease
(including coronary spasm) and coronary bypass surgery; and stable, unstable and Prinzmetal's angina. IHD does not include hypertension or peripheral manifestations
of arteriosclerosis such as peripheral vascular disease or stroke, or any other condition that does not qualify within the generally accepted medical definition of
ischemic heart disease.
IHD encompasses any atherosclerotic heart disease resulting in clinically significant ischemia or requiring coronary revascularization.
1A. DOES THE VETERAN HAVE ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE (IHD)?
YES

NO

NOTE: Provide only diagnoses that pertain to IHD
1B. DIAGNOSIS # 1 -

ICD CODE -

DATE OF DIAGNOSIS -

1C. DIAGNOSIS # 2 -

ICD CODE -

DATE OF DIAGNOSIS -

1D. DIAGNOSIS # 3 -

ICD CODE -

DATE OF DIAGNOSIS -

1E. IF ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSES THAT PERTAIN TO IHD, LIST USING ABOVE FORMAT

SECTION II - MEDICAL HISTORY
2A. DOES THE VETERAN'S TREATMENT PLAN INCLUDE TAKING CONTINUOUS MEDICATION FOR THE DIAGNOSED CONDITION?
YES

NO

2B. LIST MEDICATIONS PRESCRIBED FOR IHD-RELATED CONDITIONS:
2C. IS THERE A HISTORY OF: (Check all that apply and provide treatment facility and treatment date)
YES (Check)

CONDITION

NO (Check)

TREATMENT FACILITY

DATE OF TREATMENT

PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION
(PCI)
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION
CORONARY BYPASS SURGERY
HEART TRANSPLANT

(If "Yes," is it as likely as not that the veteran's
heart transplant is due to IHD?)
YES
NO
IMPLANTED CARDIAC PACEMAKER

(If "Yes," is it as likely as not that the veteran's
pacemaker is due to IHD?)
YES
NO
IMPLANTED AUTOMATIC IMPLANTABLE
CARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATOR (AICD) (If

"Yes," is it as likely as not that the veteran's
AICD is due to IHD?)
YES
NO

SECTION III - CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE (CHF)
3A. DOES THE VETERAN HAVE CHF?

YES

NO

3B. IS THE VETERAN'S CHF CHRONIC?

YES

NO

3C. IF THE VETERAN'S CHF IS NOT CHRONIC, HAS THE VETERAN HAD MORE THAN ONE EPISODE OF ACUTE CHF IN THE PAST YEAR?

YES

NO

If "Yes," provide name of treatment facility:
Date of most recent episode of CHF:
SECTION IV - CARDIAC FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT
4A. HAS A DIAGNOSTIC EXERCISE TEST BEEN CONDUCTED?

YES

NO

If "Yes," provide level of METS the veteran can perform as shown by diagnostic exercise testing:
Date of most recent test:
VA FORM
JAN 2014

21-0960A-1

SUPERSEDES VA FORM 21-0960A-1, OCT 2012,
WHICH WILL NOT BE USED.

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4B. IF EXERCISE METs TESTING WAS NOT COMPLETED BECAUSE IT IS NOT REQUIRED AS PART OF THE VETERAN'S TREATMENT PLAN, COMPLETE THE
FOLLOWING METs TEST BASED ON THE VETERAN'S RESPONSES:
Lowest level of activity at which veteran reports symptoms (Check all symptoms that apply)
DYSPNEA

FATIGUE

ANGINA

DIZZINESS

SYNCOPE

This METs Level has been found to be consistent with activities such as:
1-3 METs (This METs level has been found to be consistent with activities such as

eating, dressing, taking a shower, slow walking (2 mph) for 1-2 blocks)

>3-5 METs (This METs level has been found to be consistent with activities such as

light yard work (weeding), mowing lawn (power mower), brisk walking (4 mph)

>7-10 METs (This METs level has been found to be consistent with

activities such climbing stairs quickly, moderate bicycling, sawing
wood, jogging (6 mph)

Veteran denies experiencing above symptoms with any level of physical
activity

>5-7 METs (This METs level has been found to be consistent with activities such as

golfing (without cart), mowing lawn (push mower), heavy yard work (digging)

SECTION V - DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
NOTE: Determination of cardiac hypertrophy/dilatation is required; the suggested order of testing for cardiac hypertrophy/dilatation is EKG, then chest x-ray (PA and
lateral), then echocardiogram. Echocardiogram is only necessary if the other two tests are negative. A limited echocardiogram, if available, is appropriate to determine
if cardiac hypertrophy/dilatation is present by measuring only left ventricular dimension, wall thickness and ejection fraction.
5A. IS THERE EVIDENCE OF CARDIAC HYPERTROPHY OR DILATATION?
YES

NO

5B. DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND DATE GIVEN (Provide most recent test only)
EKG - Date of EKG:
CHEST X-RAY - Date of chest x-ray:
ECHOCARDIOGRAM - Date of echocardiogram:
OTHER STUDY (Specify):

(Date):
%

5C. LEFT VENTRICULAR EJECTION FRACTION (LVEF), IF KNOWN:

DATE OF TEST:

(If LVEF testing is not of record, but available medical information sufficiently reflects the severity of the veteran's cardiovascular condition, LVEF testing is not
required)
SECTION VI - FUNCTIONAL IMPACT AND REMARKS
6. DOES THE VETERAN'S IHD IMPACT THE VETERAN'S ABILITY TO WORK?
YES

NO (If "Yes," describe impact, providing one or more examples)

7. REMARKS (If any)

SECTION VII - PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATION AND SIGNATURE

CERTIFICATION - To the best of my knowledge, the information contained herein is accurate, complete and current.
8A. PHYSICIAN'S SIGNATURE
8D. PHYSICIAN'S PHONE NUMBER

8B. PHYSICIAN'S PRINTED NAME
8E. PHYSICIAN'S MEDICAL LICENSE NUMBER

8C. DATE SIGNED
8F. PHYSICIAN'S ADDRESS

NOTE: VA may obtain additional medical information, including an examination, if necessary to complete VA's review of the veteran's application.

IMPORTANT - Physician please fax the completed form to

(VA Regional Office FAX No.)

NOTE: A list of VA Regional Office FAX Numbers can be found at www.benefits.va.gov/disabilityexams or obtained by calling 1-800-827-1000.
PRIVACY ACT NOTICE: VA will not disclose information collected on this form to any source other than what has been authorized under the Privacy Act of 1974
or Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations 1.576 for routine uses (i.e., civil or criminal law enforcement, congressional communications, epidemiological or research
studies, the collection of money owed to the United States, litigation in which the United States is a party or has an interest, the administration of VA programs and
delivery of VA benefits, verification of identity and status, and personnel administration) as identified in the VA system of records, 58/VA21/22/28, Compensation,
Pension, Education and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Records - VA, published in the Federal Register. Your obligation to respond is required to obtain or
retain benefits. VA uses your SSN to identify your claim file. Providing your SSN will help ensure that your records are properly associated with your claim file. Giving
us your SSN account information is voluntary. Refusal to provide your SSN by itself will not result in the denial of benefits. VA will not deny an individual benefits for
refusing to provide his or her SSN unless the disclosure of the SSN is required by a Federal Statute of law in effect prior to January 1, 1975, and still in effect. The
requested information is considered relevant and necessary to determine maximum benefits under the law. The responses you submit are considered confidential (38 U.
S.C. 5701). Information submitted is subject to verification through computer matching programs with other agencies.
RESPONDENT BURDEN: We need this information to determine entitlement to benefits (38 U.S.C. 501). Title 38, United States Code, allows us to ask for this
information. We estimate that you will need an average of 15 minutes to review the instructions, find the information, and complete the form. VA cannot conduct or
sponsor a collection of information unless a valid OMB control number is displayed. You are not required to respond to a collection of information if this number is not
displayed. Valid OMB control numbers can be located on the OMB Internet Page at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. If desired, you can call 1-800-827-1000 to
get information on where to send comments or suggestions about this form.
VA FORM 21-0960A-1, JAN 2014

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