LauraB

I just spoke to my Rep at the DAV. He said that they denied it because the C&P exam docs had a stronger case than the 2 letters from my personal doctors. This makes my blood boil! Im not going to give up, I feel very strong about my case and don't want to just give up. I guess I need to look into appealing this and hiring a VA lawyer..
 

I found my report on the Blue button on myhealth page..Im not sure what to do or where to go with this, I definitely disagree with the outcome, but not sure how to submit "new evidence"...Im meeting with my Pysch doc next week...this is what the
Fibro exam
b. The condition claimed is less likely than not (less than 50% probability) proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service connected condition.
c. Rationale:
Up-to-date: "Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder with an unknown etiology
and unclear pathophysiology." Therefore it is not possible to state that Ms.
Penny-Birkenbach's diagnosis of fibromyalgia is the result of strain, lateral
collateral ligament, right knee; status post lateral meniscectomy and medial meniscectomy chondromalacia patellae. 
For the MDD/Anxiety:
The Veteran currently meets DSM-5 criteria for a diagnosis of Unspecified Depressive Disorder with Anxious Distress (transient, mild to moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety that cause marked distress and mild impairment in social and occupational functioning due to withdrawal/social avoidance).
The Veteran's records indicate that onset of her depression and anxiety (symptoms of her Unspecified Depressive Disorder with Anxious Distress) had initial onset in 1995 and were primarily due to AIDS/HIV+. Although her VA treatment records show she had anxiety in 1995/1996, she states her anxiety
became much more severe after her knee replacement surgeries last year. 
b. The condition claimed is less likely than not (less than 50% probability) proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service connected condition.
c. Rationale: The Veteran's depression (and anxiety) are not "due to or the
result of" her knee condition ("strain, lateral collateral ligament, right
knee; status post lateral meniscectomy and medial meniscectomy with chondromalacia patella) as symptom onset was primarily related to AIDS/HIV+ diagnosis in 1995. However, her knee condition is thought to aggravate and exacerbate her depression and anxiety.  ***( I was diagnosed in 1993 so Im not sure how this applies!)

Just had my C&P exams today, one for the Fibro and the other for the Pysch...needless to say my anxiety is thru the roof right now....First of all I do NOT like having to explain myself over and over, especially when all of the info is right in front of them in my VA files...it is hard for me, and Im sure for MANY others, to try to justify something that I know is correct...is it their job to make me feel as though I was making everything up???? Well at least it is over, I did my part and I was honest...now I just have to sit back and wait...hurry up and wait...I am SOO thankful for this website, it really makes me feel as though I am not alone in the VA web by myself!

I personally think that it would be better if the VA would just let our actual VAMC doctors handle the C&P exams. The whole idea that an "independent" examiner will be able to confirm during a brief period of time what our treating physicians already know from years of treatment is just plain stupid. And then to have them try to trip you up or treat you as if you were fabricating is even worse. A veterans' experiences with the VA are supposed to be "non-confrontational" and exams like this are often anything but that.

LauraB,
I don't know your situation, specifically speaking, but I know exactly what you speak of, with your MH C&P exam!!!  I had mine on Nov. 3rd, 2015.  That guy did NOT want to talk about my chronic pain, which is the basis of my depression secondary to chronic pain, claim.  Boy did he not want to, at all!
He kept going back to pre-service years, and I must have told him several dozen times that my chronic pain is one of the root causes, and it all happened in the service. I have a pile of evidence that very clearly points to chronic pain and the injuries that caused it. But that didn't matter to him, and the RO wasn't interested in it either.
I hope and pray your results are much better than mine.  No one deserves to be treated like a felon convicted of fraud/perjury.
My VA MH Dr told me that he was probably trying to be sure I wasn't making it all up.  I told my Dr that even so, all the physical evidence and manifestation of symptoms of the MDD he had already DXd me with, should have been proof enough.  But I guess it wasn't...
Yes, this website is a Godsend...thanks again, Tbird!

Just had my C&P exams today, one for the Fibro and the other for the Pysch...needless to say my anxiety is thru the roof right now....First of all I do NOT like having to explain myself over and over, especially when all of the info is right in front of them in my VA files...it is hard for me, and Im sure for MANY others, to try to justify something that I know is correct...is it their job to make me feel as though I was making everything up???? Well at least it is over, I did my part and I was honest...now I just have to sit back and wait...hurry up and wait...I am SOO thankful for this website, it really makes me feel as though I am not alone in the VA web by myself!

Just had my C&P exams today, one for the Fibro and the other for the Pysch...needless to say my anxiety is thru the roof right now....First of all I do NOT like having to explain myself over and over, especially when all of the info is right in front of them in my VA files...it is hard for me, and Im sure for MANY others, to try to justify something that I know is correct...is it their job to make me feel as though I was making everything up???? Well at least it is over, I did my part and I was honest...now I just have to sit back and wait...hurry up and wait...I am SOO thankful for this website, it really makes me feel as though I am not alone in the VA web by myself!