A Word Of Caution

[Berta]

An IMO doctor needs all available medical records, and in most cases copies of C & P wxams, and in some cases the entire SMRs of the veteran.

Althogh VA has been accused in the past of "doctor shopping" -we old timers called those attempts "fishing expeditions" in the veterans commmunity , and sometimes the VA still seems to do that-

a veteran or widow of veteran should NEVER play that game.

The attorney's at the BVA are smart and will pick up on anything that does not seem kosher.

In this case it appears that either the widow gave the IMO doctor the wrong info or did not give the doctor the medical records that he/she needed.I saw one potential possibility that the death could have been service connected but if the IMO doctors were oncologists they would have picked up on that and apparently they weren't and the IMOs did not follow the IMO criteria.

"To avoid future litigation, the Board wishes to avoid any

ambiguity regarding the Board's findings regarding the

November 2005 medical opinion: The medical opinion of

November 2005 is entitled to almost no probative value in

this case and borderlines closely to fraud."

http://www4.va.gov/vetapp10/files1/1008134.txt

A VERY strong statement by the BVA.

I have read a few IMOs over the years that appeared to border on manipulation of the medical facts or failed to have considered all available medical evidence.The BVA isn't stupid and those opinions are rejected.

While IMOs are costly-the cost is due to the incredible amount of time some of these records take to read and assess.

There could be,however, probably a few doctors out there who will write up anything for cash.

There is the slight possibility that this veteran had an STS (soft tissue sarcoma)form of colon cancer that fit into the 34 STS cancers that VA will SC to Agent Orange.Bt no IMO doctor the widow obtained considered that possibility and searched the records for one of the STS AO cancers.

The evidence was manipulated byu the widow or the doctor and/or all medical records were ignored or not given to the above IMO doctor.

Edited September 4, 2010 by Berta

[Pete53]

Berta:

Excellent point when I did my first IMO I brought copies of SMR's and Progress notes and my Doc interviewed me for over an hour. A couple of weeks later he produced a Medical Opinion that was second to none and linked my Panic Attacks to service and provided a current diagnosis. He was very thorough and the $ 300 he charged me was very favorable as we were basically living on Social Security and some savings.

My suggestion is don't play games or hide anything. Include all documents that pertain to your claim. Many of the things that embarrass us are symptoms that prove our case. "Spill your guts" to the Doctor. If your Doc is new to writing VA IMO's give them some copies of the phrases they need to use.

Many on Hadit advise that you need a specialist for an IMO but the fact is any MD is usually enough. Other Professionals are often rejected on the spot by the VA although I have seen remarkable improvement from VA actually trying to help Veterans get their claims in order.

As far as VA Doctors and IMO's that is not always the best approach although better than nothing.

All new claims face the hardest test and once you are rated you have gone through the door cause the past makes no difference and your rating will depend on what is going on today.

Remember that you have to show that a medical condition started or was aggravated by your service and that you have a current diagnosis and that you can show that you had problems and or treatment for it since separation on claims that are not made within one year from leaving the Military.

Good Luck to all who are dealing with IMO's and be positioned as to win your claim you need good medical evidence.