Curt

1st Filed my claim Aug 08, I did a lot of homework and submitted 4 IMO with my claim and spent time reading and following advice from you guys! Well it all came togther today as I received not only my packet but my retro check as well!!! New Claim Vietnam Vet 0%, but now, in just under 11 months 100% Coronary Artery Disease 50% PTSD 20% Diabetes 10% Hypertension Today is a Good Day.........Thanks Everyone

Thanks but Im in Houston not Tampa, This is my 1st claim so I have no experience, just depend on you guys, I have learned one thing....my VSO is and has always been most Un-Helpful and Un-Caring! The St. Pete VARO is pretty slow, but you will get your rating. I am at the St. Pete VARO as well for about 35 years. You usually have to fight for everything you get, and they give low ratings. Some of the ratings I have gotten have just been pathetic. They are not big on logic. St Pete is a very busy VARO. There are over a million vets in the St Pete region. They get about 10,000 pieces of mail a day. I would not want to see their mailroom. It would give me nightmares.

My VA Office is the one in Beautiful Houston, TX

Hello All, I called the famous 800# and was told that my claim had been rated on the 26th and had gone to be authorized, (Whatever that means) so my question is I guess Im close to finding out something does anyone know how long it may take?? All guesses appreciated !!

Sorry Guess I didn't make myself clear, I am handling my claim, just finished my last C&P exam, it was through QTC my 3rd one for different things. now just waiting, I have written IRIS but they haven't answered me and it's been over 8 days, so just for the hell of it I called my VSO, was treated terrible, who pays these folks anyway? I just dislike the way I was treated by the Texas Veterans Commission so much that I do not want them listed as my VSO. I have learned in the past 10 months that you MUST handle your own claim, I just don't want them listed. And also is it true that if I do have to appeal my rating (if I ever get one) I will need a VSO to represent me or just a lawyer! Thanks

Hello From Houston: For the past 10 months I have been represented (LOL) by the Texas Veterans Commission and have come to realize they are Terrible and I want to change VSOs, anyone have suggestions for a good one in Houston? Also I understand that to change you must submit a form to the VA and it takes awhile for the change to happen, What form do I need? Thanks,

How do you handle this: Just as an example, you receive your rating and sayit 30% but you believe it should be much higher, what do you do? Do you accept the payments at 30% while you fight for a higher rating or do you refuse any compensation until you appeal. I am still waiting on my initial rating, soon I hope, but I understand that in most cases you are "Low Balled" so wanted to be prepared to fight! As Always........Thanks

Thanks for the reply, I guess what gets me is that I already have (2) IMO from Board Certified psychiatrist and they both state I have SC PTSD with a GAF score of 35, and now I must go to a guy arranged by QTC that treats Kids for my C&P wonder how much he knows about SC PTSD, Im not even sure I'll get SC for anything at this point!! Again, Thanks What is riding on this claim is your percentage of disability. This C&P exam is not the end of the story. If the exam and your rating does not go the way you want you go out and get another opinion from a psychiatrist and rebut the rating if you get low balled. I have never gotten the rating I wanted without going through the appeals process. This is what separates those who get a low rating, and those who eventually get a higher rating. You have to be ready to appeal every decision. The C&P exam is just round one in the fight.

Thanks for you reply, in answer to your questions is YES MY two IMOs are from Psychologist. This is a new claim for PTSD never rated before......My concerns are his being a QTC Doc for one, not being able to understand him, and the fact that his practice is for your adults and children, how much experience does he have with SC PTSD. My stressoes have already been verified so there is alot riding on his exam!

Well the long awaited notification for my PTSD C&P finally arrived but I must say Im worried here's why....What do you guys think? I have 2 IMOs stating I have PTSD as I said my VA exam is on the 19th schedlued through QTC with a Dr Ashok I Khushalani, I looked him up and his specialties is Pediatric/Adolsent Psychiatry, and he went to school in Bombay! My concern is of course QTC and the experience of the Doctor involved. I have also been told that QTC will not provide the Doctor with my medical records. What do you guys think I should do.....if anything, Im just real uptight about the whole thing!

I also have a QTC Doctor exam for PTSD the Doctor is Ashok Khushalani I looked him up, his specialty is Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, wonder how much PTSD he had treated! I have 2 IMO stating I have PTSD should I take copies of these reports with me!

I was advised today that I am being scheduled for a PTSD exam with a QTC doctor and not at the VAMC in Houston Texas is this normal? Anyone with experience with QTC PTSD exams what to expect, etc

What does everyone think.....I requested my C&P exam records through iris since they were conducted at OTC Doctors and not available through the VAMC, well they came today and much to my surprise included were the results of a PTSD exam from another Vet, can you believe that!!! Of course the VA 1-800# said please send them back but I just hate to send them in so they can get lost again, now Im worried that my records needed to decide my claim are in someone else file....Suggestions

My claim has been filed since 08/08, (I know not as long as most of you) I have had 2 C&P exams from QTC contract Drs so records are not available from the VAMC also I have been told still waiting from response from JSRRC reference my stressors.....My question is this: How long should I wait before I request a copy of my C-File, should I wait to hear something on my claim or should I request now so I can at least see the results of the 2 C&P exams I have already had. As always........Thanks

Does anyone how to contact these guys I had a phone number but no one answers. Trying to get stressors verified! Thanks

Thanks for the replys, finally received a reply, said still working on my claim, Oh, Well I tried..... As for going to the DAV they do have an office at the VA and I did try that route, frankly was treated terrible and they didn't seem to know or care about my claim, thats when I found this site, Thank God! Whats the old saying "If you want something done right, do it yourself" It's my opinion that the VA IRIS should answer each and every question in an honest and timely manner!! Regards

I wrote IRIS asking 3 questions about my claim and received this response Dear Mr. This is in response to your inquiry to the Department of Veterans Affairs of April 6, 2009, as to the status of your claim. After review of your files, we are referring your inquiry to your Regional Office at the address listed below for an update on your claim. We will contact you as soon as they respond back to us. Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below. Sincerely yours, E. J. Kruse National IRIS Response Center Manager csw What action should I take now? I wrote asking how long this process would take and they have not answered, is this the VAs way of Stalling? Thanks

I had my C&P exams with contract Doctors from QTC so Im told I just can't request a copy from the VAMC, Don't know if thats correct or not!

Thought about trying to get copies of my C&P exams but I was told that would really slow my claim down so I dropped the idea

I filed a claim in September 2008 for PTSD, Hearing, Heart Condition, ICD, COPD and Diabetes, at the time I filed I submitted several IMOs, in December of 08 I was sent to two different C&P exams with an outsource DR scheduled by QTC here in Houston. Last month I received a request for medical information that I had already provide so I sent it in again. I have yet to be called for a C&P for the PTSD but I did provide medical information showing I have PTSD with a GAF of 45 this is from two different Drs. My question is what should I do now? I know it hasn't been as long as most of you folks I just really don't know what to do, sit and wait or what. I have called my VSO but thats sort of a joke no info but wait! Thanks

Thanks everyone for being so helpful and for the welcome, you guys are great!! 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, etc.........Oh, Thats just me counting the days/months till I hear something

Tried calling their office and was told I'd have to request through the VA, Man what a pain. Im going to file for PUWVA "Putting up with VA" Just wanted to say Im really inspired by everyone on this board, It's an Honor being on the same board with you guys!!

Both my C&P exams were done at private DRs arranged by the VA. Guess my real question is should I still request the exam results or just wait and see what happens.

Hello,1st post be gentle.... I requested a copy of results of my C&P exams and was told that this would delay my claim. I only filed in Sept 08 but didn't want to slow down the process. Is this true that requesting C&P results will delay claims?