mokrors

DAV representative filed initial claim through the St. Petersburg, Fl RO in Jan 2007. Retired from AD effective 01 Mar 2007. 3 x C&Ps conducted at Miami VA hospital in May 2007. VA decision letter dated Aug 2007 for 40% SC. Filed to reopen claim (increase and additional issues + dependency allowance) Sep 2007.

On 31 Jan 2007 (prior to my retirement physical) my local VA advocate filed an initial claim with the VA based upon information contained in my service medical records. I then underwent a retirement physical and follow-on medical/specialist consults in Feb 2007; I retired effective 01 Mar 2007. I am now preparing a second claim (amended or new) based upon information from my retirement physical and subsequent consults. My question(s) come from my experiences during my initial C&Ps; these exams took place over 3 days at the Miami VA Hospital in May 2007. I have yet to recieve VA determination on my initial claim. 1) How do you know you are dealing with a real Medical Doctor or at least someone that is smarter than are you? My "doctors" had nameplates that indicated they were "Doctor X/Y" however, I did not get the impression that they were very knowledgeable in the subject areas that they were evaluating. I am curious as to whether or not the VA is obligated to staff C&P exams with MDs and or appropriate specialists or if they have the right to substitute PA and or Nurse Practitioners. 2) Is the VA responsible for reviewing your service medical records prior to a C&P or is the Veteran supposed to know them in depth and be able to quote them? All three C&P examiners asked me in depth and well dated questions none of which I could answer without looking through my service records (which were in the doctors/examiners possession). I understand that time is money however in my mind it is criminal for the VA to expect a veteran to instantly recall 30 years of service related maladies when the "Doctor" has a 3 inch folder sitting in front of him which details all events. Is there a right/wrong answer/solution to this issue? 3) When one is undergoing VA testing for Gross Hearing Loss and Tinnitus and the Doctor/Audiologist/Specialist asks, "Do you want an appointment for hearing aids?" – How should one reply? Is the proper assumption here that the VA will pick up treatment costs prior to final SC determination or what? 4) When a C&P Doctor/Specialist asks, "Why are you not taking medication for your high blood pressure?" and you have never been officially diagnosed with such problem - "what should you say?" In addition, what should you expect from the VA? 5) Based upon the above can the VA prescribe medications and or fit a veteran with hearing aids prior to the VA determining SC disability? I am still waiting on a SC disability response from the VA based upon my initial claim and subsequent C&P exams (3) before I file my second/amended claim. My second claim will encompass everything observed during my retirement physical and subsequent consults. All relevant input will be greatly appreciated.

Not to add any more fuel to the fire however this does not surprise me. I recently retired from the Army after 29.5 years and countless (Command directed) unit drug tests. This never bothered me until I was undergoing my retirement physical. When the request for lab work was transmitted from my my unit's Army doctor (not a commander) to the USN clinic where the work was performed it included a request for drug testing. I did not discover this until I went to the clinic to get my results; I was quite miffed when I noticed the NEG for drugs/alcohol. I do not know if this was oversight on the Doc's part (or the USN clinic) or something that is required by DOD for separating personnel. Now I know to expect the same from the VA.