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IMO Independent Medical Opinion

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Please take a minute to read through this it will explain how to make posts that will get you answers.

Note: Your firsts posts on the board may be delayed before they show up, as they are reviewed, this process does not take long and the review requirement will be removed usually by the 6th post, though we reserve the right to keep anyone on moderator preview. This process allows us to remove spam and other junk posts before they hit the board. We want to keep the focus on VA Claims and this helps us do that.

I know you are anxious to jump into the forum, but these tips will help you get to it a lot faster.

Our Home Page has articles that may answer your question. Use the search box at the top of the page to find answers faster.

Do not give advice contrary to the law. Such as lying to VA or SSA or working under the table for cash in order to hide your employment status from government agencies. Such postings will be deleted, further posting will result in a ban from the forum.

1. Post a clear title like 'Need help preparing PTSD claim' or "VA med center won't schedule my surgery" instead of 'I have a question'.

Knowledgable people who don't have time to read all posts may skip yours if your need isn't clear in the title.

I don't read all posts every login and will gravitate towards those I have more info on.

2. Use paragraphs instead of one huge, rambling introduction or story.

Again - You want to make it easy for others to help. If your question is buried in a monster paragraph there are fewer who will investigate to dig it out.

Leading to:

3. Post clear questions and then give background info on them.

Example is:

A. I was previously denied for apnea - Should I refile a claim?

I was diagnosed with apnea in service and recived a CPAP machine but claim was denied in 2008. Should I refile?

B. I may have PTSD- how can I be sure?

I was involved in traumatic incident on base in 1974 and have had nightmares ever since, but I did not go to mental health while enlisted. How can I get help?

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Everyone won't agree on many things, but the one thing we should agree on is that we are here so that no brother or sister veteran gets left behind, not on a jungle trail, not on a desert trail and not on a paper trail." Tbird

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Please note that the discussion forum is made up of veterans just like you, they come to HadIt.com and its discussion forum from all over the world. Some come to ask questions, some come to help do research for other vets, some to answer questions, others come for the sense of community that HadIt.com provides and still others come just to provide an ear and shoulder to those veterans who have become weary. 

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If you want provide the information below:

Any other claims that have been awarded, can affect the handling of this claim, so if you can, provide as much information as possible about your current VA status. If you know the Disability Codes (DCs), then give those also. You can find them in 38CFR Chap 1, Part 4. if the VA did not/will not provide them.

This is NOT a secure web site, so if you do not wish to provide this information, we understand, and will help as much as possible in general terms. You can get most of the information for yourself, by researching the many links on this site.

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Explore Questions

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  1. Dr.James Shields

    Asked by stumpy579,

    0 votes
    0 answers

  2. Dr. L

    Asked by Oceanbound,

    0 votes
    0 answers

  3. Any Referral For Ortho or GP IMO/IME in North Florida/South Georgia

    Asked by OldSkool33,

    0 votes
    0 answers

  4. I am looking for an Allergist to perform an IMO

    Asked by alkamizt,

    0 votes
    0 answers

  5. IMO or IME mental disorder in Virginia

    Asked by cryingbear,

    0 votes
    0 answers

297 questions in this forum

  1. Should a TDIU IMO for mental health include a in-person or video exam?

    Please let me know what you think.

    Asked by mb76,

    0 votes
    3 answers

  3. Is an IMO needed to summarize a claim?

    I think that I have enough medical evidence for sizable increase but I don't know for sure or how to word my statement because the medical notes and tests are Greek to me. I don't want to ask my VHA provider to opine. Should I get an IMO? I know that it might be overkill. Or should I get another doc to fill out a DBQ?

    Asked by mb76,

    0 votes
    2 answers

  4. Read First If Getting An Imo

    Tbird has very good info at the hadit Home page on IMOs. I reworked a topic I posted here some time ago.and maybe it can be found better now: Independent Medical Opinions can often be the only way a veteran or widow can succeed on a VA claim. VA plays a war game called the War of the Words. The proper wording of an IMO is critical to VA's acceptance of it, as probative evidence. Opinions obtained from private treating doctors are often free yet most independent medical opinions are needed from doctors with full expertise in the field of the disability and can be very costly. However an award can easily absorb this cost with a few comp checks or the incr…

    Asked by Berta,

    0 votes
    55 answers

  5. Mental health IMO

    I highly recommend seeing Dr. Jaclyn H. Polsky if you need an independent medical option to go with your mental health claim. I saw her work and is very detailed and she has a ton of experience working with the VA. https://www.soflapsych.com/ I don't recommend someone unless I believe the work they produce is top of the line and Dr. Polsky does produce top of the line reports.

    Asked by ShuMan,

    0 votes
    6 answers

  6. Imo On Claim?

    Hello Fellow Veterans, has anyone ever heard of the VA sending a claim out for a IMO? I have several contentions with medical evidence & attached with my doctors medical opinions. Was told my claim will be sent out for a IMO, not by the VA or QTC.

    Asked by Jeffro,

    0 votes
    4 answers

  7. David Anaise MD for OSA secondary to PTSD

    After Denials for OSA both direct and secondary to PTSD, this spring I decided to spend the money on a IMO and do the claim right. I contacted Dr. Anaise and was told to send all my records, decision letters and $1500. After about a week I was emailed with a final IMO report that was around 40-50 pages. It was excellent & well researched. Within 6 weeks of submitting the IMO with a supplemental claim OSA secondary to PTSD was approved. Yes IMO's dont guarantee anything and they can be expensive but they are definitely worth it when you have been denied already and have nothing else to submit and someone like Dr. Anaise will always outweight the NP the VA…

    Asked by USMC_VET,

    0 votes
    12 answers

  8. Nexus letter

    Can you look at this please and let me know what you think. My neurologist wrote this for me To Whom It May Concern, Mr. ________ has come to my office as a patient for his neurological and sleep condition. I am a board certified Neurologist. I am also certified and specialize in sleep medicine. Mr. ______has been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). I am currently treating him for this diagnosis. Mr. _______ with confirmed OSA diagnosis treated with positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP). It is possible,or at least than not (50% or greater probability) that OSA is associated with or due to service-connected PTSD diagnosis. Ho…

    Asked by Bunbowsky,

    0 votes
    6 answers

  9. Rheumatologist

    I’m looking for a veteran friendly rhuematologist in Maryland/Delaware/ southeast pa. I need a better imo and my doc won’t rewrite the subpar one he wrote for me. Any suggestions

    Asked by SPO,

    0 votes
    1 answer

  10. Anyone Use David Anaise Md Jd

    Well I sent him and email on May 11th inquiring about help with a denied claim. I get a call from him on Memorial day, he leaves me a voice mail messaging stating he reaches out on Memorial day to help Veterans, he read my email and could help me with my Claim, that was denied, for PAD secondary to my SC DMII. So the Dr. sends me forms and contacts to sign, he wants to get my C-File, he wants 20% of my back pay if we win, and if I fire him during the course of his investigation he is entitled to $350.00 an hour for the work he did. Wow all I wanted was a Nexus letter, it is written on his website he charges $1500.00 for a Nexus letter. I don't mind a person makin…

    Asked by hmcquade,

    0 votes
    78 answers

  11. IMO from Dr. Anaise, CKD

    On 8/24/2016, VARO made a decision on my Chronic kidney disease claim. They granted me a 60% rating, on CKD stage 3, and Definite decrease in kidney function. I was initially at stage 4 CKD and sick, so they put me on several medications to get my numbers to come down, well after about 45 days it drop from stage 4 failure to moderate stage 3. So I initially filed my claim back in 2004, as all of this was occurring. So I just recently filed a NOD, which states I should have been granted 80%, for stage 4 CKD. So the C&P Examiner in 2015, never mentioned that I was ever at stage 4. So they only rated me on my now medical status, which is stage 3. So I got an IMO fro…

    Asked by Palma114,

    0 votes
    33 answers

  12. Dr.James Shields

    Has anyone used Dr. James Shields for a back or spine IMO? I believe he is in Georgia. I found his name on VA watchdog. If anyone used him did he provide a good IMO? Cost?

    Asked by stumpy579,

    0 votes
    0 answers

  13. Veteran Friendly DRs in Arizona?

    Hello! I was wondering if anyone knew veteran friendly DRs in Arizona, as a PCP or those who do Evaluations and IMOs? I am aware of DR. Anaise, but I don't have the money to pay for an IMO and he does not do physical evaluations. I am looking more for a PCP (I have tricare prime).

    Asked by ronnieusmc0311,

    0 votes
    1 answer

  14. Suggestions for and IMO/IME Lymes disease

    Hello, thanks for all your past advice and encouragement. I'd like suggestions for a physician to write and IMO and DBQ. I got Lyme's at a two week event at Ft. McCoy. I have residuals from day one, and believe it recurred twice. I recently found receipts showing a diagnosis two-three days after I returned home- And- This: Won Appeal Lyme's Ft. McCoy thanks so Haddit! I did try Dr. Bash, but he didn't respond. I don't have a lot of money, so I can't afford to spend thousand(s) on an opinion/DBQ. I got diverticulitis on day one- Where I'd never had it before. It is a current disability. I understand this may be somewhat difficult to nexus. I m…

    Asked by MikeHunt,

    0 votes
    5 answers

  15. Will malpractice suit damage benefits?

    Hi all, I may have to hire an attorney for malpractice incurred at a VA hospital. It is a long story but it isn't related to my current disability/benefits. Is taking the VA to court going to put my disability benefits in jeopardy (been receiving said benefits for 10+ years)? Thanks!

    Asked by scythis,

    0 votes
    3 answers

  16. Psychiatric IME in New York?

    Psychiatric IME in New York? Preferably near the metro area

    Asked by Valley Forge,

    0 votes
    4 answers

  17. IMO VERBAGE

    Morning All, I've looked through tons of the IMO posts and noticed that ALOT of them are old (5-10 years) and have nothing on what verbage or key words the VA looks for in an IMO. I have one from my civilian PCP regarding my lower back issues and while it explains the worsening of those issues from the last X-ray they took I feel it might be missing something that the appeals board would pick up on. She'll redo it if I need it redone but I'd rather have her redo it once and not have to keep going back asking to add this word or phrase. Any assistance is Greatly Appreciated!! Thank You for taking the time to read and again for responding.

    Asked by KeithJ,

    0 votes
    3 answers

  18. IMO Sleep Apnea

    I live in Michigan and need an IMO related to a claim for Sleep Apnea. Can anyone suggest someone helpful? Thank you.

    Asked by Brian Hutcheon,

    0 votes
    5 answers

  19. Need IMO/Nexus from a Rheumatologist.

    I am in need of an IMO from a Rheumatologist, prefer Ohio, Michigan, or Indiana but since it's just an Opinion/Nexus letter I guess it can be anywhere in the U.S.

    Asked by jonnyohio,

    0 votes
    13 answers

  20. Recomendations

    so i have contacted dr bash and dr anaise. i just cant afford their prices. has anyone had any luck with the below https://www.valor4vet.com/ -Access to Specialty Medical Providers $150 Medical Records Reviews $150 per Disability Benefits Questionnaire $600 per Nexus Letter ANY OF THIS TRUE?!?! https://www.facebook.com/pg/prestigemedicalconsulting/about/?ref=page_internal suposedly provides free medical record reviews -$100 Flat Fee for Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) $200 Flat Fee for Medical Nexus Letter ANY OF THIS TRUE?!?! ht…

    Asked by blahsaysme2u,

    0 votes
    13 answers

  21. IMO for Permanent and Total?

    I was recently granted TDIU (with a 90% rating) 6 months ago. I filed new claim and was awarded a 10% rating for arthritis and 10% rating for scar tissue, which put me at 100% combined, but the VA did not make me permanent and total. I have had my ratings for over 10 years, which include 70% TBI (ptsd, anxiety, and depression is lumped under my TBI rating), 50% Sleep Apnea, 30% migraines, 20% Horners Syndrome, and six 10% ratings. I am hoping that my Dr's will see that my conditions are static and have not improved (they have actually gotten worse) and will fill out a form from the DAV that basically is saying that my conditions are static and not expected to improv…

    Asked by cali_21B,

    0 votes
    23 answers

  22. IMOs and Private Doctor Opinions

    Okay folks this is not a question but an observation about attitudes of former government lifer VA raters, DROs and some VSOs. There is an AO SOB 30 year former DRO and then VSO on another veterans benefits forum that is fanatical about several items. He maintains over and over and over again that an IMO opinion are not private doctors medical opinions but instead VA requested medical opinions from outside doctors to clarify issues in order to make a claim decision and according to VA definitions he is correct. HOWEVER for many many many years both veterans and VSOs have referred to private civilian doctors medical opinions on behalf of veteran claimants as also IM…

    Asked by Dustoff1970,

    0 votes
    10 answers

  23. Points to address in IMO

    So my doctor seems to up for writing an IMO for my appeal. It seems he didn’t take to kindly to the VA denying his diagnosis. Can anyone help me out with the points he will need to address based on my denial. As a point of interest the c&p examiner was a nurse practitioner specializing in gerontology. My doc’s specialization is good to diagnose and treat my conditions. Check out this denial and let me know what he needs to write so he I can make sure he gets everything. FYI this is just one of multiple joints that were denied. Service connection for psoriatic arthritis of the left shoulder is not established. Service connection may only be granted for a c…

    Asked by SPO,

    0 votes
    8 answers

  24. Dr. Haggard

    I've been seeing Dr. Haggard before getting the specific exam and opinion. Vet friendly and welcoming office. 18205 N 51st Ave #147, Glendale, AZ 85308. 602| 843 6300 He did one exam for me and I am waiting for the outcome of that.

    Asked by Oceanbound,

    0 votes
    1 answer

  25. Brett Vallette, PsyD

    Anyone benefit by using him for an IME?

    Asked by 63Charlie,

    0 votes
    3 answers

  26. Gulf War Vets

    Heavy Metals urine test will determine if you have heavy metals or not. Heavy metals can be the cause of the symptoms you are experiencing without knowing why. Get tested for heavy metals

    Asked by Oceanbound,

    0 votes
    4 answers
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