usmc2511

what did your C&P say under social and occupational impairment? apparently this is a big part of what the raters look at to make a rating decision.

Well I got a call from QTC about three weeks ago and they told me they could not fulfill the request because they didn't have a doctor available within 200 miles or within 6 weeks. They said it's a specialty and they'd send it back to the VA. Still haven't heard anything on a new exam so I guess I will just hold tight and wait, this isn't my first rodeo filing a claim and if it is completed in 6 months that's way better then the 3 years I have waited on other claims in the past.

I had a secondary condition severed because the C&P doc said there was no correlation between the two after it was granted. Then I was granted service connection directly by same examiner

I had my doc fill out a DBQ and submitted with all my records and they still ordered a C&P exam

also, if a VSR for some reason sees the original claim and rationale to service connect you and for some reason doesn't agree, when he orders a C&P can he/she request that the examiner make another assessment on whether or not the examiner thinks th condition is related to service

Wow, what was the reasoning behind the proposed reduction? Did they say symptoms have gotten better? I'm just wondering if an examiner can come along when you are just there for an increase and write in a note that says he doesn't think you should be service connected for the condition, even though you have been for x amount of years, and th VA will use that as evidence and just throw out the rationale for getting SC in the first place. I've been told that if there was no CUE or mistake, or improvement of symptoms then it is very hard to be reduced

So if you are service connected and have been for 5+ years and you file for an increase for the condition and the examiner decides to comment that he doesn't agree with the rationale used that first established SC and states that it was s less likely than not due to service, can they propose to sever SC?

So I got a call today to schedule a C&P exam for an increase on my SC'd menieres disease. I sent in an FDC claim with all medical records and a DBQ but for some reason they still ordered a C&P(next time if I file again for anything I won't waste my money on a DBQ clearly they aren't worth doing). I am wondering if they will do an audiogram and ENG/VNG testing even if I bring in my reports that I just had done a month ago. I really don't want to go through the ENG testing again because it throws me off for a good week or longer. Can you choose where you get to have your C&P done at, or do they just give you a time and place to show up?

Oh and if it is worked out of the Waco RO they took 6 months to add my son as a dependent. Maybe I'm just the lucky one who gets my claims processed slower for whatever reason lol. Like I said no rush, just curious as to what is going on

She also said it is being processed as a FDC and that it hasn't been reviewed to see if more evidence is needed. I guess I just have a slower VSR, or it is just to early to send the claim to be rated.... who knows

Well the 1800 number says that they haven't even looked at the claim yet. Basically she said it is waiting to be reviewed by a VSR to make sure all documents that are needed to rate are there. Just seems strange to me that no one would've even looked at it yet. She said under review is just a phase to make sure everything is there before it is sent to prep for decsision.

Thanks for the replies, My claim is for an increase in an already service connected condition and only one contention. Yeah just seems like some claims fly through the process and others kind of sit around for a while. Im hoping maybe they don't need anymore evidence and are just waiting to push it forward soon. Im just not sure why it would sit there and not be pushed to the next phase if everything was already there. I submitted a DBQ and all medical records including a ton of diagnostic testing along with previous testing for comparisons. Not in a huge hurry just curious as to why some claims get held up..... my buddies claim also needed a C&P appointment, which has already been scheduled and completed.

So I've got a friend who is also out of the Waco RO. We both submitted claims for increase on one service connected contention both as FDC"s. I submitted mine about a week before his and he received a call 2 days later to schedule a C&P exam. He already had it done and his claim moved to PFD. Mine has not moved out of "under review", could this be because they don't need any more info and it will go to decision phase next? Is there a certain amount of time that VSR will hold a claim in review before pushing it to the next phase? Just seems strange that we basically did the exact same thing with the exception of him needing a C&P and his is flying and mine hasn't moved. They are also both being worked out of Waco RO and haven't gone to another RO since submitting them.

Thanks for the response seminole, vestibular disorders are definitely tough to deal with. I get abut 8-10 episodes of vertigo a month lasting from an hour to all day. Just had all my testing and it has definitely gotten worse over the past two years. Just filed for an increase last week with all my tests and medical info, so I guess we will see.

Anyone have any input on this??

Nothing????

So I just submitted a claim for an increase on my SC'd menieres syndrome. I went to a private specialist and had a complete new work up for menieres because the VA always questions on whether I truly had menieres. After all the tests and MRI,s, etc. they said I definitely had menieres. I've only seen the doc for a month and took all their notes and submitted a claim for increase. I was seeing the Va for the past year and a half and they offered nothing new for treatment so I went to private sector. Question is, do you think it was to early to submit for an increase because I have only seen the new private doc for a month. I have all the pertinent testing to prove it has worsened for sure, and VA really had no answers for me. Everything from my private doc proves without a doubt I have menieres and I have proof that I reached out for VA help at the end of 2015 for an increase in symptoms.

No, this is not for an IU claim , this is a claim for an increase in my Ménière's syndrome service connected disability. I sent in my DBQ along with all of my tests, and imaging. I didn't want to send him a bunch of useless medical information so I just sent in what was pertinent to the claim. Just wondering if they are going to request all of the records anyway.

I submitted a DBQ with all the pertinent medical info to support the claim for increase. Will the rater sill send a request to my private ENT for all of my medical records?

My plan is to submit my DBQ, which is favorable to me, and my testing to include ENG/VNG which has gotten much worse since 2015, my audiogram( also worse) and a CT and MRI of my head, brain, and IAC to rule out any central issues. Just went to appointment on Thursday of last week and he said every symptom I have is related to menieres, no central issues involved. My hearing test shows classic menieres with sensioneural left hearing loss in low frequencies. Just wonder if this will be enough to rate, or if they want my entire medical record from my private doc.

When I submit my DBQ for an increase on an already SC'd condition and include diagnostic testing and diagnostic imaging to back up the reason for the increase, do I need to send all of my records from that private docs office? If I don't send all my records, will the rater request all my records anyway? I just don't want to slow my claim down or send useless info if this is not even going to come into play for the increase. I've been told just send enough info to help the rater make a decision on the claim, and not to over do it and piss the rater off, or make it more difficult for the rater and cause them to accidentally misplace info. Thanks

I requested a DRO review on a claim that started in 2010. It sat for 3 years before it was ever touched. I was out of the Waco RO which apparently was one of the worst. I met with the DRO finally after 3 years and he asked a few questions. A week later a medical opinion was requested, then four weeks later I got an envelope granting me 30% for my claim. Closed at the tail end of 2015

No idea the term used when "adding" a disability but I can tell you a painful scar due to nerve injury is called paresthesia lol. I know that's not what you're looking for but figured I'd at least answer something for you lol

My question is, if these are instances where the veteran is filing for an increase, then why is the C&P examiner even making an opinion on whether or not the condition is service connected. If you are filing for an increase there should be no comment or question on service connection, the exam should be about the current condition of the disability. This is the kind of stuff that pisses me off, some of these examiners will go out of their way to make a comment in your file to get the rater to question if you should've been service connected in the first place. This kind of stuff makes no sense to me. Some veterans fight for years to get stuff service connected, and then some C&P examiner can just come and make an opinion that he was never asked to make, and open up a huge can of worms for that vet. It took me damn near 7 years to get rated on one of my disabilities and it was a huge fight back and forth. Finally the doctor said he went page by page through my SMR and found a connection in my service that was likely the cause. "As likely as it is not" said veterans records seem sketchy and in this instance he should be afforded the benefit of the doubt and direct service connection should be granted. This is why vets are afraid or hesitant to file for increases.

Thanks, there is no reason I should, my doc said they shouldn't ever need to do another because they have their diagnosis and it showed exactly what they were looking for so there is no reason to do it again. He did say I need an audiogram every year to watch for more hearing loss or right ear involvement.