TANKERJOE0

My appeal to the veterans court in Washington DC has recently been assigned to a panel for a decision. It was initially assigned to a judge now it's been ordered to a panel? What does this mean for my case? Will this now be much longer of a wait? Is it a good sign or a bad sign? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Joe

Anymore input on my situation?

Carlie, berta, and anyone else any more input? Thanks

Thank you all for responding. I am slowly starting to understand this whole process. Carlie I did as you suggested and looked at what was sent. It is definitely a soc not a decision letter. Although at the end of the soc there's a page that states "decision"? Where it says increased rating from 30%-50% retro to 2008. I guess that's what confused me as to what I actually received. So am I to understand you that this is just a soc and the actual decision will follow? Any clue as to possible time between the 2? Is it usually days, weeks, month's, years? Lol Berta they did acknowledge the ime I had done but seems for some reason they Didn't give it as much credibility as I think it warrants? I will try to post the ime so you can tell me wether it meets va standards. Carlie are you saying I may be able to keep the claim at the ro before moving to bva? What would I do file another nod on the newest decision? And then what happens, I have another dro hearing with a different decision review officer? Thanks again to Philip, teac, berta, carlie, and anyone else I forgot. I am sooo unbelievably grateful for this website as the knowledge I've gained Is undescribable.

Thank you for clearing this up for me because I had someone on the 1800 number tell me otherwise also a vso at my local va told me the same thing? I'm sooo sorry to beat a dead horse but are you sure the increase takes affect immediately? And I will start receiving the new rating and also the retro eventually.all while furthering my appeal to the bva? And if the bva rules in my favor and grants the 70% then I guess they will owe me the difference of 50% to the 70% in retro?

I was under the impression that I do not get the retro or start receiving the new % until I decline to further my appeal to the bva?

Teac do you mean I will be paid the retro now then wait for the bva?

I was initially awarded 30% for ptsd July 2008. I filed a nod and requested a dro hearing in person. I have had the hearing and finally received what I assume is a soc. And was awarded an increase from 30% to 50% retro to july 2008. My dav rep who has been no help what so ever to this point still hasn't returned my call? I wasn't sure how it works from here? I thought I would be changed to 50% and get the retro owed start being paid at the new rating and then continue my appeal to the bva if I disagreed with the dro decision. But after talking with several people from the 1 800 number that is not how it works. It was explained to me that the appeal is not completed that the va has made there move now it's my move. I either further the appeal to the bva and wait yet longer for there decision. Or I can accept there rating and case is closed. Can someone confirm wether I'm understanding this right. My question is this. I want to continue my appeal because I believe that my current condition, medical treatment records, and an imo I had done warrant a 70% rating. I have contacted several lawyers and am awaiting wether they will accept my case. Would it be safe to assume if the lawyers are interested in taking my case that I have a good shot at getting the 70%? And if the lawyers aren't interested I should accept the dro decision? If I hire a lawyer and the bva denies the 70%.do I owe the lawyer 20% of my 50% dro rating? Any input and advice would be greatly appreciated. Sorry this is sooo long. Thanks

Thanks carlie! !!! Carlie any opinion on my ime?

Hueyman and your point is? Is this report. Sufficient and good evidence in my dro appeal . Does it meet VA requirements? I was initially awarded 30% for this. I filled a nod and. Had a dro hearing. then I got this ime and submitted it to VA ro as evidence. Thanks to anyone who can offer there opinion. joe

i am not good at this and dont know how to edit my personal info? if an admin can help me delete my personal info that would be great. and hoping to get some opinions on my ime report thank you joe joe, I edited out your IME due to the personally identifying info. Make yourself a copy - white out (redact) your personally identifying info then rescan and re-upload it - into your post.

johnjjr, yes your reply was very helpful. alot of the drs i have found near me have done numerous imo's. but it seems that they do them for alot of different situations though? for example workmans comp,child support,competency hearings etc... im just trying to decide which is best suited for what i need them for. as you said familiar with the va. its such an expensive price to me that they charge for this. im just nervous and want it to be right. carlie im sorry if i came off rude and offended you in anyway? i dont know wether its my illness or what but i always feel like some of the people responding to posts are very judgmental? i love this site and everything about it. its unbelievable how much info and knowledge you can get from the site. i am just so frustrated with my mental condition and the hoops that the va is making me jump through. i have several other claims in different stages? some have been denied and i let the yr pass without persuing? some i have reopened but havent sent in any new evidence to support my claims? i have tried my best on my own to do these claims with the help from this site. but i feel its bigger then me. and am desperatley in need of someone to help me step by step through each claim i have. but dont know where to start? thanks to everyone who gives there time to helping others here on this site!!!!! tankerjoe0

Carlie thank you sooooo much for your concern and help with my post. You asked why not. Well because after examining me she was unable To make a statement concerning my current condition? How convenient. You have been around for sometime? I'm sure this is not your first time hearing a vet was lowballed on there Condition and filed a nod about it? I am Quite aware of the requirements for a higher rating and Meet all of them with out a doubt. I was hoping that you would have addressed my question. Not inquire about why I was unhappy with the drs evaluation? Is it not reasonable for me to get an imo to state my current dissability From someone other then the veterans administration? Thanks In advance for your follow up reply.

i have narrowed my search of drs for my imo down to 2. ive read posts concerning verbiage for initial compensation connecting it to service. for example as least likely as not etc... however i am already sc for ptsd at 30%. i filed a nod and requested a dro hearing in person for a higher rating. i had the dro hearing and was sent for a new c&p exam. i am not happy with the drs notes from the new c&p exam? therefore i am seeking an imo to submit as more evidence. my question is what exactly am i asking the dr to state in his report? i dont want to spend the $1600 and have something thats not helpful to my claim? what im asking i guess is what questions should i ask of the drs before deciding what one to choose for the imo? i know what i need. after examining me and me telling them how severly my ptsd affects my whole life. i need the dr to honestly describe my current mh condition and the effects it has on my daily life and functioning to include impaiment with work etc.... but how do they word it. do they say in my opinion the veteran fits the requirements for such and such % disabilty? i hope i have explained what im trying to ask? thanks for any and all help tankerjoe0

i got a copy of the c&p exam. i dont know if i can take anymore of this. why does this keep happening ? i am besides myself with the new c&p exam result ? what more do i need to do for these drs? besides blow my brains all over there desk or better yet. i need some time to cool off. then i need help winning my claim please

thanks again to all who responded. let me re say that "i think my c&p exam went pretty well this time around" but as alot of you have said i will have to wait and see what she actually wrote in her report before making a final judgment on how well or not the exam went. it was my primary mental health dr i was having problems with in my initial post. i just had c&p exam a few days ago so i was gonna wait a few more then check and see if its in the system yet. id love to share what she had to say with everyone after i get it and see what everyone thinks about it. thanks again so much for everything hadit. tankerjoe0

sorry philip just a bad habit of mine to keep the caps lock on all the time. no disrespect or yelling meant by it. i can see the text alot better when its all caps. lol pete53,i hear ya on that. but i am out there on occasion ? lol but i do know i would return someones purse or wallet if i found it. i have had a c&p dr that i think didnt read my file. thankfully this one seemed good. i think she may get it right this time? ill have to wait and see though. berta, i plan on getting a copy of the c&p results and hopefully it will be as you said better then i think? i have alot more respect for this dr versus the 1st dr i had. so ill have to wait and see how that goes? as far as the ptsd test i was talking about that was in my local va clinic mh drs notes from my appt the following day after the c&p exam. he said in his notes that he administered a ptsd test and they were all 0's? and he never even asked anything about ptsd during this visit. just the normal how are things going kinda stuff? i think that now that he knows i have a claim in for my ptsd which he diagnosed me with over 2yrs ago he doesnt want to add anything that may help me in my claims process? your thoughts on this? i plan on swithing drs now anyway because i cant trust him now. john999, i have 2yrs worth of va mh drs notes from this very same dr that i have used to file this claim to begin with where he diagnosed me with ptsd with gaf scores of 50. im gonna keep my fingers crossed and wait to see what the c&p says and then decide wether to get an imo. this claim is at the dro. will i have time to get an imo and send it in before the dro decides this claim? or should i ask for time to send more evidence? thanks all for all your help i absolutely love this website i get lost for hrs on end reading all of the great advice given by fellow veterans. tankerjoe0

I JUST HAD A C&P EXAM FOR AN INCREASE IN MY PTSD. AFTER LEAVING AND TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT SHE ASKED ME SO I COULD TELL MY WIFE. I REMEMBERD I QUESTION THAT BOTHERED ME AND NOW KNOW WHY IT DID. SHE ASKED ME "IF I WAS AT A STORE OR AT A MALL" I FORGET WHICH ONE SHE SAID BUT NONE THE LEAST "AND I FOUND A WALLET OR PURSE WHAT WOULD I DO? BEING AN HONEST PERSON AND NOT EVEN THINKING THAT I WOULDNT BE CAUGHT DEAD IN A MALL LET ALONE A STORE BECAUSE I DONT LIKE BEING IN CROWDS OR AROUND LOTS OF PEOPLE. I TOLD HER I WOULD GIVE IT TO A MANAGER OR CASHIER MORE OR LESS TURN IT IN. TO ME THAT IS A NO GOOD TRICK. SHE SAID "IF" I WAS AT A STORE. KEY QUESTION "IF" I WAS. I WOULD TURN IT IN. THATS THE KIND OF TRICKY, SHADY SHIT I DONT CARE FOR WITH THESE PEOPLE. BECAUSE I KNOW DAMN WELL THERE GOING TO SAY HE ANSWERED THAT QUESTION. WOW HE CAN GO TO A MALL OR STORE AND HE HAS SEVERE PTSD? ALSO CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME IF IM BEING PARANOID FOR NO REASON? I HAD A REGULAR APPT THE VERY NEXT DAY AFTER MY C&P WITH MY MH DR. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A HARD TIME TRUSTING THIS MAN FROM THE FIRST VISIT. SO I HAVE A HARD TIME OPENING UP TO HIM. HE STARTED THE APPT THE SAME WAY AS ALL APPTS HOW AM I DOING? I TOLD HIM NOT WELL THAT IM FEELING MUCH WORSE SINCE OUR LAST VISIT THAT MY MEDS DONT SEEM TO BE WORKING, THAT IM HAVING MORE FREQUENT SUICIDAL THOUGHTS,AND THAT I THINK I MAY BE LOSING MY JOB REAL SOON. HIS RESPONSE TO ME WAS. NOW THIS IS WHAT REALLY PISSED ME OFF. AND I THINK IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND BREACH OF PAITENT DR TRUST. HE SAID WELL I SEE HERE YOU WERE AT A C&P EXAM YESTERDAY FOR AN INCREASE FOR YOUR PTSD YESTERDAY? HOW DO YOU THINK THAT WENT? DO YOU THINK THAT WILL HELP YOU OUT FINANCIALLY? PERSONALLY I DONT THINK ITS ANY OF HIS BUSINESS TO BE ASKING ME ABOUT MY FINANCES AND MY C&P EXAMS AND HOW I THINK THE OUTCOME IS GOING TO BE HIS JOB IS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT MY MH. HE IS VERY GUARDED NOW IN WHAT HE WRITES IN HIS MEDICAL NOTES.BECAUSE HE KNOWS I HAVE MH CLAIMS? I GOT A COPY OF HIS MEDICAL NOTES OF THAT APPT AND HE FLAT OUT LIED IN THEM. SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I SHOULD DO ABOUT THIS? HIS LIEING. I KNOW I AM DEFINETLY GOING TO REQUEST A NEW DR COME MONDAY MORNING. HE SAID HE ADMINISTRERD A PTSD EXAM DURING OUR VISIT AND PUT ALL 0'S IN THE RESULTS AND PUT ALL THIS FAVORABLE THINGS IN HIS REPORT.I JUST GOT DONE TELLING HIM I WANTED TO END MY LIFE? WHEN HE NEVER ONCE ASKE ME ANYTHING AT ALL PERTAINING TO PTSD . I AM QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THE PTSD TEST THEY HAVE GIVEN IT TO ME NUMEROUS TIMES NOW. DOES THE C&P EXAMINER AND THE MH DR TALK VIA EMAIL BEFORE THE C&P EXAMINER FILLS OUT THERE REPORT AND SENDS IT IN? I HOPE NOT. BECAUSE IM NOT SURE WHAT HE WOULD SAY FOR 2 YEARS HE SAYS I HAVE A SEVERE CASE OF PTSD THE NEXT WEEK HES WISSHY WASHY? SORRY THIS IS SOOOOOOO LONG THANKS FOR ANYONE PAITENT ENOUGH TO READ THIS AND RESPOND TANKERJOE0

sounds good john. i think thats what ill do. but will i have enough time after the c&p exam to wait. in order get a copy of the c&p. to decide wether or not to get an imo exam. and send it all in before the dro makes his decision? or should i ask for more time to submit more evidence to be sure? thanks joe

hi john its me again. sorry to keep bothering you about the same things. but im trying to make sure i get it right this time around. so please bear with me even though i may be repeating myself? i kinda was expecting this to all happen so fast once it finally got started. i had the dro hearing last week and he ordered the new c&p and already. i got an appointment for the new c&p exam for the ptsd set for nov 9th. so a really fast turnaround if you ask me especially for va standards? at the risk of sounding dumb. who would the imo be more geared for the c&p dr to look at or the dro officer or both? because with this c&p exam being scheduled so soon i doubt i can get an imo quick enough to bring to the c&p exam with me? but may be able to get it in time to submit to the dro before he makes his decision? and i was looking around a little and found a dr a little closer to me. this one was in orlando. atleast not all the way to tampa.lol he used to be the head of mental health at a va. and has alot of other accolades. but he charges $1200 reatainer up front. what the hells up with that? why on earth do they charge sooooooo much for that? john in your opinion is it in my best interest to invest $1200 to get an imo from a former va dr. to hopefully help me slam dunk my case? thanks again john for all your help and advise. joe

thanks sooooo much

thanks john

manning01 anyway you could get me one of those forms that you used for your audiologist to fill out? im going through the same problem with my tinnitus claim and would love to use that form to bring to a pvt audio dr to fill out for me. thanks so much and good luck with your claims.

john i guess if your refering him he is familiar with va and what requirements they need for there imo's? all the proper wording and such? im not sure if im up for another 8hr road trip right away after i just had one after having the dro hearing. but if you can pvt message me any more details you wanted to about this dr and the process id love to hear about it. like how much it may cost etc.. in the mean time im gonna check and see if i can find any local jacksonville drs who do them? but im definetly not ruling out a trip to tampa. so thank you for your help and suggestion.