davidlj1958

No this was actually done prior to my C/P.  I filled a FDC and assumed that he would also fill out DBQs.  He is defiantly a advocate but he will not fill out a DBQ, he feels that the checkbox format limits his way to express his military decision making.  My C/P exam was done by a contracted provider.  The doc seemed, by her questions to be looking for evidence to support my claims, but who knows....
 
Like he says, I had symptoms of sleep apnea in the service but was not diagnosed until 5 years after discharge.  I know that this would be a tough claim so I wanted to have all my ducks in a row. 
 
On my hypertension, I had several readings in the service, towards the end with by diastolic above 90.  That should have probably been referenced also as my claim is for HTN as a primary SC condition.  This sets me up to have it as a secondary.  
I have pretty strong buddy statements from a shipmate and my wife as well.  
 
Thank you for your thoughts as always

I have received my outstanding IMO from Dr John Ellis in Oklahoma City, OK and am attaching it here as an example of his excellent work, if anyone has any comments, advice or questions I would appreciate any input and thanks in advance!

I figured that I may look into this.
 
Brian W. Case, MD, MS
Board Certified, Occupational Medicine
Diplomate, ABPM
IME Examiner
 
http://www.caseime.com/
 
Specialty Focus:
Occupational Medicine
Disability Medicine
 
Experience:
12 years performing IMEs
>2000 IMEs performed
 
Education:
MD, Loma Linda University
MS, University of Cincinnati
 
IME Training:
SEAK, AADEP, ACOEM, and ABIME

I figured that I may look into this.
 
Brian W. Case, MD, MS
Board Certified, Occupational Medicine
Diplomate, ABPM
IME Examiner
 
http://www.caseime.com/
 
Specialty Focus:
Occupational Medicine
Disability Medicine
 
Experience:
12 years performing IMEs
>2000 IMEs performed
 
Education:
MD, Loma Linda University
MS, University of Cincinnati
 
IME Training:
SEAK, AADEP, ACOEM, and ABIME

WHERE ARE THEY: Bethesda, Md.
NAME: Dr. Craig C Bash
WHAT IS THEIR SPECIALTY (or what you were seen for): Speciality Neuroradiology
 claim for undiagnosed and untreated diabetes mellitus due to AO,cont4ributing to the veteran's death
COST: $2,000 each for 2 IM0s and I had a Neuro freebee that corroborated the IMOs
CONTACT:http://www.veteransmedadvisor.com/
 
REVIEW (keep the Yes or No, based on whats correct)
Did they review your entire file (YES) (NO)  --Yes
Did they provide a well written DBQ/IMO/IME (YES) (NO)  --Yes
Were they familiar with VA Claims (38 cfr, M21, etc) ? (YES) (NO) --Yes
Would you classify them as "Vet Friendly" (YES) (NO) --Yes
Would you recommend them to other veterans? (YES) (NO) --YES
 
Comments: (Be Brief)
It might appear odd that I hired a NeuroRadiologist to do a claim about diabetes that my former reps said would not succeed,but I knew I would succeed and had prepared a cover letter, enclosed my own lay medical opinion,(which was enough for me to win FTCA without an IMO after a battle ) and a step by step reference to supporting medical evidence that supported my claim as well as to my husband's autopsy, to send to Dr Bash.. I had done a lot of the  medical work prior to even contacting Dr. Bash,and just mentioned briefly some of my evidence in email to him, and he contacted me back right away. The 4,000 total cost was an investment into a claim-that once I began to prepare it, I knew would be awarded.Because...................
Evidence is Everything . DMII never diagnosed and never treated, causing service connected death.This was for direct SC death due to AO and not a 1151 claim.
 

Buck

Yes he is expensive and I know I'm fortunate to be in the position I am. I was planning on using my retro for an investment account for my two sons but the VA (never fails) pissed me off once again. When my wife went to her c&p the examiner refused to accept my wife's documented asthma condition that she has been treated with steroid inhalers for years. He told her she didn't have asthma (claimed it was nasal blockage instead without even examining her). She questioned him and he basically accused her of lying and "exaggerating symptoms ". She got upset and and then this doorknob tried to refer her to psych services, as if she was crazy or something.

If you knew my wife, you would know without question that this is all BS. So now it's go time.

Folks:

Today I went and did my Gulf War Exam. I provided everything that was relevant to the case in an additional package just in case my records did not get digitized into the system? So, when I went in to the exam room the doctor had a package that consisted of no more than 3 documents? Also, I had studied the questionnaire in depth just to know how to respond to the questions based upon the relevant data in my SMRs. But, during the exam I had a quick cursory exam, and only a handful of questions had been asked while he typed and typed for some time? It appeared that the examiner may have already made up his mind based upon those 3 pages that he was already provided? Anyway, I provided my own package with over 100 key documents to make my case with very specific data? I provided a record of about 120 Blood Pressure Readings over my army career which shows that my significant hypertension started and when I had a kidney issue in Kuwait and after my hospitalization there? Also, in an accusatory tone said that my blood pressure was very high today and wanted to know if I had skipped my BP Meds? Frankly, I was very offended by that and said why would I risk a stroke or heart attack when my records already showed a detailed pattern of HBP while taking meds? So, we'll see how it goes because these were supposed to be my last C & P Exams? However, the jury is still out on that and the outcome of this as well. Mostly, I've been treated with respect but some of the attitudes are disappointing when I did my duty without question and with complete loyalty.

Philgrenier:

Do you know what he charges these days for a regular IMO? I've heard various other prices over the years but am not sure what his current rates are. I'm in the Seattle Area and would like to find someone closer to home if possible? On the other hand, Dr B has the reputation for getting results.

I took my wife to meet with Dr Bash just yesterday in Minneapolis MN.

She has asthma with other respiratory problems and headaches. Her claim is nearly 4 years old (VA denied her on everything, still at 0%).

Bash is incredible. In 5 minute's he looked through her entire file and pretty much knew exactly what he wanted to do. He told my wife he is pretty confident that he will win at BVA and get her 90% if not 100%.

I usually don't believe things until I see them but this guy is just something different.

We paid 3700.00 at the meeting. It's going to cost another 2300.00 at the tail end, but I believe its worth it.

Dr Bash did 2 IMos for me to knock down a VA Endocrinologist.

My husband was never diagnosed with or treated for DMII by the VA.

The only thing in his med recs was a crossed out entry that I decifered.The VA Endo said I misunderstood the entry. I didnt misunderstand it at all and found the VA doctor ,who left VA and was in private practice who made the entry for my 3 rd IMO.

My daughter, a vet herself, insisted I re -open my claim when DMII became presumptive.

I kept putting it off, but I remembered that the Coroner asked me 3 times if my husband had DMII. I said no.VA had never diagnosed him with diabetes.

After I went through the med recs many times, went over some documents I got under FOIA regarding my FTCA claim, and then started to study endocrinology, I knew my daughter was right.

She made the point that since VA had admitted to malpracticing on his IHD,HBP, and strokes, and that these "multiple deviations" :hastened" the veteran's death.....
as stated in my 1151 award, and since they were caused by VA , it was " as likely as not" they messed him up even more by failing to diagnose and treat DMII.

I found everything I needed in his med recs to support my DMII death claim.
Dental records, and even his employment physical, blood chem reports (after I figured them out) and the only thing not in his med recs was his driver's license, oddly enough along with VA eye records, that really became probative evidence as well.

I had to word the claim carefully because I could not file 1151 again for the same death.

My RO refused to read my IMOs, 2 from Dr. Bash and one from a freeby neuro I mentioned above,..

BVA did. They awarded AO DMII as contributing to death.

Dr. Bash also diagnosed him in the IMos with PAD, a well known secondary DMII condition.

I can claim the PAD under 1151, but just haven't done that yet.No time limits on 1151 claims.

I am more concerned about the 1151 claim I filed 2 years ago that is gone at my RO.
and the DIC claim they say they are "working on" , which I already have awards on. ????

A good IMO doc like Dr Bash, will read EVERYTHING thoroughly and sometimes he finds additional disabilities that should be service conneccted.

The VA DMII Training letter helped me as well...it should be posted here somewhere.

The original one I used listed many complications DMII can cause and I discovered my husband 's med recs revealed plenty of evidence of them.

DMII doesnt kill anyone, but it's complications and other diabetes-caused disabilities sure can.

Hello ,
I was stationed at Camp Lejuene from 1980 to 1981 . I was in 2/6 and 3/6 . I did fill out a survey and I did get a letter about the VA allowing disabilities claims to be filed . I need information on how and what to fill out . I work with several other Marines who were also stationed at Camp Lejuene . Thank you all for the help .