WHOLESALE

ah, you didn't get my point about empty envelope. Again, if you send anything certified mail it just means the receiving party received your envelope, not the contents within. If you go to ALJ hearing and say you submitted something by mail the judge will ask for proof. What proof would you have??? The only thing you have is a receipt for the certified mail but no proof of what was in the envelope. If you submit it in person and get a copy date stamped you have PROOF. seems really simple to me but oh well I just make sure I dot my I's and cross my T's. Submittig in person is basically fool proof. frank

Don't know. I have never had a MMPI from VA. Did have one from civilian doc though frank

congrats and get some rest.....I did the same thing with my phone. Every car that passed me had people waiving and pointing and couldn't figure out why. LOL.......frank

yep yep, when you send something certified it only means the party on receiving end received your envelope, not the contents. In other words anyone can send an empty envelope certified. Best way is to hand submit it and get it date stamped with copy date stamped. Frank

I use DAV since their in same building. VA get's my evidence faster through them. Frank

I will try to get a copy later next week to see what she typed up. Frank

I really don't know...I just know she wasn't a doctor so I assume nurse. She had nurse outfit on but I don't know if she was an RN or NP. Frank

Yep yep, they say 5 days but I also usually get a response in 24hours or less. Frank

WOW! now that's insane... .. frank

Good afternoon, I had an exam today at 1:15. It was done by a nurse for a chronic issue I have had due to my service connected medications. I handed the nurse my IMO from my VA doc and she said it was already in my notes and didn't need to read it. I was like "HUH?" I then said, "This is a letter that the doc did off the chart, not in notes." She read it and she said, "well, I will look at the notes." I could tell she didn't want to read because of her attitude. She said, MMMMMMMM. Looks like you might have an issue here. I said, Darn right, and it's been going on for over a year now. I then started to explain my symptoms and how often they occur and she interrupted me and said, "I will ask the questions." I said OK that's fine. Man, she did not want to hear my complaints at all. I've had such bad experiences with these examiners I don't trust any of them as far as I can throw a piece of hair. I thank Hadit for making me more knowledgable on how the examiners try to control these exams to their best interests. I can't express how important it is to make sure these exams are done right the first time. They take too long to get to not make sure they are done right. Frank

Azuabear, The VA will see the documentation in service. Your IMO needs to CONNECT your in-service documentation to your current disability. That's the whole objective of an IMO. Just want to help you out and maybe get your VA doc to connect this to help your case. I'd just hate to see you get denied because of this and have to appeal. Get this thing zonked out first time around. Frank

YEP YEP, nothing is better evidence than your medical record HISTORY and OBJECTIVE facts. But then again, Mental illness can't be physically seen as compared to lost limb or cancer. Even when doctors put in objective notes they are being "subjective in their objectivity"...LOL Don't mean to confuse, I just have a different way of thinking on this. A doctor seeing a patient frowning will probably put down "objectively" the patient looks depressed. Or if the doctor sees the patient twitching he may put down "objectively" the patient is showing anxiety and nervousness. To me it all winds up being subjective in the end but that's just my psychoanalytic way of thinking. I know, I think way too much and sometimes argue with my own thoughts. LOL Like Purple said, Establishing a history of symptoms is the best evidence. VA has too hard of time getting around that one. Oh, and exams too. Always give them your worst day. That's a big one for you newbies. Frank

I give you a GAF score...How are you feeling today? Basically that's all it winds down too. If you tell your doc you're feeling OK then your GAF will probably be high. If you tell them you been having a lot of suicidal thoughts and don't feel like living any more then that will probably prompt a low score. Also, if you are exhibiting confusion and anxiety that will affect it too. I don't like the way these GAF's get thrown around since you can go to two shrinks in the same day and they will both likely give you different scores. It's all subjective and VA can get their own examiners to give higher scores for their own benefit. Just another way for the VA to screw you. Frank

Hi Berta, Since SSd is government agency I wouldn't think they need my permission. Maybe since it's mental health they do though. I don't know. I'm just lost on this. I have a Voc rehab appt today at our RO so I will check this out with my VSO. Thanks for all of the replies. Frank

yep yep, almost always to get IU you will get increases first. Makes the RO look like fools if they grant IU for someone 30 or 40% since they should have rated them higher in first place. It would reveal their low balling tactics. frank

Thanks Berta, I just thought this was kind of odd since my only treatment for the last couple years is through the VA. They don't need this form to get those. I remember filling out release forms earlier in my appeal but that's been a while so I just don't know what they could possibly want. Two weeks ago I received an envelope in mail regarding my claim for IU. This release form was in there but all my treatment is from the VA so why should I fill this out and send it in for that? Also, in the envelope was another form to check off If I had nothing else to submit and to decide my claim as soon as possible. Maybe this is what they meant. Should I send this one in with it checked off that I don't have anymore evidence to submit? I don't have anything else to submit. Frank

Are you sure the findings from the MMPI are objective? I just had this done last week so that's why i'm asking. Thanks, Frank

My scores have been most interesting, but pretty useless. A high score wouldn't reflect my issues, but a low score wouldn't fit my successes. The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it. Terry Pratchett Frank

sorry pete....i thought it was my internet connection frank

Dear Mr. ******** This is in response to your follow-up inquiry dated July 24, 2009. Our records show we are waiting for VA form 4142, Authorization and Consent to Release Information to the Department of VA, from you. It could be that you have submitted the form and it has not yet been scanned into our system. If you have not submitted the form, which should have been sent to you, please do so at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your service to our country. 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 Here'e the problem: They have all my medical records in my C-file and I havn't received any 4241 form in over a year. This is crazy. Anything and everything has been submitted months ago, even years. Is this a stalling tactic or maybe a mistake. don't have a clue but i'm going to see my VSO tomorrw with a print out of this. Anyone have any comments on this is greatly appreciated. Thanks Frank

I was given a gaf of 60 after I told the doc I sometimes communicated via email. He said that since I was ok to use the computer my gaf is higher. Does this sound dumb? Did to me. Frank

Larry, you always have some off the wall stuff to say and I have to tell ya you you always seem to trip my depression a little. You make me forget about all the negative stuff even if it's just for a minute or two.... Glad you're here Larry. Frank

Why is he driving a tractor? It take longer to get there. Frank

I think the VA relies more on the objective notes in the records and exam. Many times the GAF score and the objective notes contrast each other. Frank

Welcome brother, the VA threw me a tiny bone too. they were like "here fetch boy" "here fetch boy". I didn't fall for it though. I threw it back with an appeal. Frank