drago

And I have to say also, not looking for any additional benefits or anything. It would just be to have it on the record

*broncovet-I've experienced the same thing, and after the first time I always made sure to follow-up with something like "you know, they asked me that last time and I couldn't remember for sure, so I looked up at home in some of my old pictures", or my wife had it noted on a calendar. In my case, I had ended up with thinking something had lasted one day, but paperwork and docs made it look more like two days. So I always have a disclaimer of "well, I remember it being one day, but the hospital records seem to indicate two days".
Also have a claim about my back. Injury goes back to time in service, but no STRs about back. When I first sought treatment I was out 5 years or so, and gave the civilian doctor the cause as what I was lifting at the time. The injury in service didn't cross my mind. I repeated the story of injuring my back while lifting to several doctors over the years, so it is all through my records. Fast forward to a year or so ago, and my physical therapist asked how I hurt my back initially. I said lifting something. He said no, my injury would not have been from lifting, would have been from trauma previous to that, probably 4-6 years before that. I say like a blah-blah accident, and he says EXACTLY. I tell the VA, and they glom on to the lifting injury as the cause not a symptom, and kind of imply I've changed my story.
Well, I HAVE changed myOPINION, but not my story. First time for treatment was 5 years after service at the first real sign of symptoms. I thought it was from lifting, BUT I'M NOT A DOCTOR. Trying to convince the VA has not been successful, and frankly from their end I get it. All through my records for 30 years it was from lifting, NOW to get compensation I say it was the military. So I just will keep providing more info to them. First PT buddy letter didn't sway them, so having him write another with more medical detail.
And I had asked this previously on the forum, and it seems to have worked well. I now take very specific written notes along on all my issues, with the items for a particular C&P highlighted. I answer their questions from my notes because at any given moment I don't remember things well, and then I give them the notes when done. All truthful, and all consistent. My two biggest fears in the process were being labeled a malingerer or be accused of lying. Having well thought out notes based on memory and documents helped with both of those. Tell the truth, the system will sort it out.

*broncovet-I've experienced the same thing, and after the first time I always made sure to follow-up with something like "you know, they asked me that last time and I couldn't remember for sure, so I looked up at home in some of my old pictures", or my wife had it noted on a calendar. In my case, I had ended up with thinking something had lasted one day, but paperwork and docs made it look more like two days. So I always have a disclaimer of "well, I remember it being one day, but the hospital records seem to indicate two days".
Also have a claim about my back. Injury goes back to time in service, but no STRs about back. When I first sought treatment I was out 5 years or so, and gave the civilian doctor the cause as what I was lifting at the time. The injury in service didn't cross my mind. I repeated the story of injuring my back while lifting to several doctors over the years, so it is all through my records. Fast forward to a year or so ago, and my physical therapist asked how I hurt my back initially. I said lifting something. He said no, my injury would not have been from lifting, would have been from trauma previous to that, probably 4-6 years before that. I say like a blah-blah accident, and he says EXACTLY. I tell the VA, and they glom on to the lifting injury as the cause not a symptom, and kind of imply I've changed my story.
Well, I HAVE changed myOPINION, but not my story. First time for treatment was 5 years after service at the first real sign of symptoms. I thought it was from lifting, BUT I'M NOT A DOCTOR. Trying to convince the VA has not been successful, and frankly from their end I get it. All through my records for 30 years it was from lifting, NOW to get compensation I say it was the military. So I just will keep providing more info to them. First PT buddy letter didn't sway them, so having him write another with more medical detail.
And I had asked this previously on the forum, and it seems to have worked well. I now take very specific written notes along on all my issues, with the items for a particular C&P highlighted. I answer their questions from my notes because at any given moment I don't remember things well, and then I give them the notes when done. All truthful, and all consistent. My two biggest fears in the process were being labeled a malingerer or be accused of lying. Having well thought out notes based on memory and documents helped with both of those. Tell the truth, the system will sort it out.