Crazy questions??

[coastie72]

I have a 2 year old NOD in for a increase that has had plenty of evidence turned in including a DBQ form my Psychiatrist that grades out at 100%.

I got called Monday for a Tuesday C&P if I could make it that soon. I could, so of course I said yes. It was very short and the Dr. was typing everything  into a computer. Most questions were just yes or no but there were some that seemed strange to me that I don't get such as, do you have a dog, do you do housework, do you work outside, do you shower daily??? and I few others that were strange to me.

Does anyone know why they would be asking this type of questions? The whole thing took maybe 15 minutes?

 

[vetquest]

I will answer as best as I can.  I am not a shrink but I have been to a few.  Do you have a dog - are you able to take care of him.  Do you do housework - are you able to be up and around and clean up after yourself.  Do you work outside - are you working outside doing chores.  Do you shower daily - how is your hygiene.  These are questions used to form a profile of you in your daily activities. 

With anxiety and depression one of the first things to go might be your hygiene, my wife helps me keep track of this.  I also find housework and work outside difficult.  As for a dog, I have three and that is one thing that I am able to keep up after without help, they are sitting at my feet right now and help to keep me centered.    

[LanceJoseph]

They did not grant my requested increase to 100 for ptsd due to this very thing, even though my IMO was spot on it also needs to correlated with the C&P exam as well. 

[broncovet]

Coastie,

    These are legit questions, especially if you read the criteria for SMC S housebound, and SMC L, aid and attendance along with the criteria for mental health disorders.  You see, the VA is required to adjuticate entitlement to SMC S and L whenever a single 100 percent is awarded, so the doc is screening for A and A. 

If you cant dress yourself, cant feed your dog, cant keep up with hygene, such as a shower, then you are probably eligible for A and A.  

     Dont be mad, they are just being thorough.  Criteria for A and A

(h)Special aid and attendance benefit; 38 U.S.C. 1114(r) - (1) Maximum compensation cases. A veteran receiving the maximum rate under 38 U.S.C. 1114 (o) or (p) who is in need of regular aid and attendance or a higher level of care is entitled to an additional allowance during periods he or she is not hospitalized at United States Government expense. (See § 3.552(b)(2) as to continuance following admission for hospitalization.) Determination of this need is subject to the criteria of § 3.352. The regular or higher level aid and attendance allowance is payable whether or not the need for regular aid and attendance or a higher level of care was a partial basis for entitlement to the maximum rate under 38 U.S.C. 1114 (o) or (p), or was based on an independent factual determination.

(2)Entitlement to compensation at the intermediate rate between 38 U.S.C. 1114 (n) and (o) plus special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1114(k). A veteran receiving compensation at the intermediate rate between 38 U.S.C. 1114 (n) and (o) plus special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1114(k) who establishes a factual need for regular aid and attendance or a higher level of care, is also entitled to an additional allowance during periods he or she is not hospitalized at United States Government expense. (See § 3.552(b)(2) as to continuance following admission for hospitalization.) Determination of the factual need for aid and attendance is subject to the criteria of § 3.352:

(3)Amount of the allowance. The amount of the additional allowance payable to a veteran in need of regular aid and attendance is specified in 38 U.S.C. 1114(r)(1). The amount of the additional allowance payable to a veteran in need of a higher level of care is specified in 38 U.S.C. 1114(r)(2). The higher level aid and attendance allowance authorized by 38 U.S.C. 1114(r)(2) is payable in lieu of the regular aid and attendance allowance authorized by 38 U.S.C. 1114(r)(1).

(i)Total plus 60 percent, or housebound; 38 U.S.C. 1114(s). The special monthly compensation provided by 38 U.S.C. 1114(s) is payable where the veteran has a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent and,

(1) Has additional service-connected disability or disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent, separate and distinct from the 100 percent service-connected disability and involving different anatomical segments or bodily systems, or

(2) Is permanently housebound by reason of service-connected disability or disabilities. This requirement is met when the veteran is substantially confined as a direct result of service-connected disabilities to his or her dwelling and the immediate premises or, if institutionalized, to the ward or clinical areas, and it is reasonably certain that the disability or disabilities and resultant confinement will continue throughout his or her lifetime.

[ 26 FR 1587, Feb. 24, 1961, as amended at 27 FR 4739, May 18, 1962; 28 FR 1587, Feb. 20, 1963; 28 FR 5671, June 11, 1963; 40 FR 54245, Nov. 21, 1975; 45 FR 25392, Apr. 15, 1980; 46 FR 47541, Sept. 29, 1981; 48 FR 41161, Sept. 14, 1983; 49 FR 47003, Nov. 30, 1984; 54 FR 34981, Aug. 23, 1989; 60 FR 12886, Mar. 9, 1995; 67 FR 6873, Feb. 14, 2002; 68 FR 55467, Sept. 26, 2003; 74 FR 11483, Mar. 18, 2009]