[C&p Exam]

Before a C&P exam is done, does the examiner look at your c-file or have it there while the exam is being performed? Are they suppose to read it before doing the exam?

Thanks,

sbrewer

[Need Help Of How To File]

Hi,

We need help on the steps to proceed with the following....

Husband is currently 50% for depression. He wants to file for an increase and also CAD as secondary and scars secondary with the CAD.

He emailed his SO(this is the only way they siim to communicate) here is his response...

(1)Send a statement to the Regional Office requesting an icrease of your service connected depression and amending your claim to include service connection for CAD secondary to depression .

(2)Let them know where you treatment for these conditions are at. (if there is treatment from outside the VAMC get a VA form 21-4142.

(3)Do not send internet reports or medical studies that link CAD to depression . Send only medical reports that link your CAD to your diagnosed depression.

Is there a certain form to use for question 1. above?

We got #2 above.

Now about #3...do we send the information from his cardiologist, or wait until he denied and we NOD?

He was increase from 10 to 50 in May of 2006.

Thanks,

sbrewer

[Unemployed Timeframe]

How can you still be employed and file for IU, or better yet win IU if you're still working?

sbrewer

[Unemployed Timeframe]

Sorry to keep asking so may questions....but

What if you take a medical retirement(federal service). would that have any effect on IU?

sbrewer

[Unemployed Timeframe]

Pete,

"sooner if you know when"

You can't file for it, if you're still working...right?

sbrewer

[Unemployed Timeframe]

Is there a time frame that you must be unemployed for x amount of time before you can file for IU for depression?

sbrewer

[I Have An Odd Question]

Thanks Vike,

I thought that was the case, but wasn't positive.

Again thanks for all your help,

sbrewer

[I Have An Odd Question]

If you are awared a claim for something being secondary to your condiction, can the secondary problem have a higher rating then the primary condiction?

sbrewer

[Worse Before 1 Yr]

Thanks Carlie,

I just hope that a SW's words carries some weight. She said she would help and write things in his records. Do SW's also do GAF score on patients? She did say that she thought his situation was from the depression, but could not legally say so. I guess because she's not a dr. She also told him to contact a political person(Senator) but I don't know if that would be jumping the gun.

sbrewer

[Worse Before 1 Yr]

Thanks John for your response. What is a DRO Hearing?

sbrewer

[Worse Before 1 Yr]

John,

He was 10% from way back, I think around 1979 plus or minus a yr or two. Anyway, he put in for an increase last yr. in May and was awarded an increase to 50%. To make a long story short, his SW is working with him to try to link his heart disease to his depression. She also noted today, that he should be higher than 50%. I beleive, if I'm not mistaken, that last yr. I posted under the success stories about him winning his claim in only a month or so(can't remember now) and you responded to me then that this could be lowballed. The only thing I know that the C&P dr. put on his exam(he can't seem to get a copy of the C&P) was a gaf of 53 but she put the following...

social adapatability-severely imparied

occupational capacity-considerably impaired

overall disability-severe range

However he does still work, but is working on perhaps medically retiring from federal service.

Any input is appreciated,

sbrewer

[Worse Before 1 Yr]

Thanks John,

What is a De Novo Review? And I should mention, his SW also told him to put in a condition secondary to the depression. Would this make any difference?

sbrewer

[Worse Before 1 Yr]

If you have been rated 50% for depression and a year has not passed and you have gotten worse, should you file a nod and try for an increase or file a knew claim for an increase?

Thanks,

sbrewer

[Nod]

If you are rated 50%, and want to NOD that to try and get 70%, but also file 2 secondary claims for this same condition, should you file the NOD and the 2 secondary claims all at the same time or separately?

Thanks,

sbrewer

[Social Worker]

Are the written words of a social worker worth anything? Would this be considered like the written words of a dr.?

Thanks,

sbrewer

[Ptsd May Raise Heart Attack Risk]

My husband is sc major depression and suffered his heart attack at the age of 39. (a little over 9 yrs ago)

When he had the heart attack, the dr. wrote in his records "there was no reason for such severe coronary artery disease". He has been seeing the same cardiologist all this time and we just noticed in his records that this dr. did write his "disease could be linked to his depression". He has not filed for secondary yet because he has an app. next week with his VA dr. and he wants to ask her what she thinks. Would this be enough to file for cad secondary to depression?

Thanks,

sbrewer

[Release Poa]

Thanks Pete for answering both my questions.

He currently has AL, and a while back when he tried to talk to the DAV, they would not even talk to him as long as he had the AL as his representative. So, how would you get someone to give you the time on day? When he ask his AL guy questions, he just responds to whatever ones he wants to answer. We don't no if he should nod his decision which we have 4 months to do.

Thanks,

sbrewer

[Release Poa]

How do you fire your current SO? What steps need to be taken and how long does it take before you can switch to a different organization? Are SO's paid or do they volunteer?

Thanks,

sbrewer

[Service Officer]

My husband asked his SO if he had a copy of the (mental)C&P exam done last June. Here is his response...

"You should be able to get a copy form the records section at the hospital unless the examiner specifically said not to release the exam in which case the VA could not release the copy in the C-file either."

Would the examiner ask that your exam not be released to you and if so, why?

He's trying to determine whether to nod the decision or not.

Thanks,

sbrewer

[Dic]

Thanks Vike for your quick response.

sbrewer

[Dic]

I know some of the differences between I/U and P&T, however, can you recieve DIC with either of these?

The 10 yr. rule with DIC is for non SC and with SC, there is no time limit, correct?

Also, can you get CHAMPVA with either of these or is it just P&T?

thanks,

sbrewer

[Va Wording]

I know this has been posted 1000 times before but, could someone post the VA wording and percentage for "As least likely as not" and all the rest of them. I can't seem to find it.

thanks,

sbrewer

[Vso]

What information does your vso have? My husband has emailed his guy several times about getting a copy of the blue sheet, and he does not reply. He emailed something else the other day, and he replyed. Seems like he just reponds to whatever he wants to. We are trying to find out what code he is rated for. Is there anything else that this person has that we may need a copy of?

thanks,

sbrewer

[Meds]

Thanks Carlie for the quick response.

Do you know if there is a link which lists the formulary drugs that the VA carries?

thanks,

sbrewer

[Meds]

Hi,

I have a question about medicine. My husband is 50%, so he gets his meds from the VA, however, his diabetes does not seem to be getting under control with Metformin. Will the VA pay for a different diabetes medicine outside the VA if they do not carry it there?

Thanks,

sbrewer