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WHOLESALE
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Posts posted by WHOLESALE
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Don't know. I have never had a MMPI from VA. Did have one from civilian doc though
frank
Mr Vets new CP exam is scheduled for 60 mins and I do not see on the appointment sheet the MMPI testing like he has had 3x before- we are in remand from BVA -this will be his 3rd exam in 11yrs.-could it be because they finally realize he has been SS for PTSD since 03- and hasnt worked since-are we at the end-3 IMOS are PTSD-2 VA are not clear - and could they bedoing this to keep the score @ 4 to 3- and why not the MMPI this time? Stressors are verified and VA admitted PTSD back in 05'-and he is on SS for PTSDsince 03' and NSC because he can't work and hasn't since 01'-if they offset his NSC because of SS-why did they fail to even consider that evidence twice-in the SSOCs- until 07' when they've been offsetting since 03'? -
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
I am still in recovery from surgery, but am on the mend! The hubby can get back in the bed now without me screaming in agony! We got a huge deposit from SS and p called to ask why. We got one year backpay and will receive monthly benefits now! Still very medicated and not even sure if I make sense. Had to let you know though. I love all of yall and can't wait to be beTter. Had to get new phone too. Forgot mine on top of car and it fell off going about 55 mph. Got BlackBerry Storm love it takes getting used though -
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
Start researching your disability. This site has a lot of good info/links. See if you fit the criteria for an increase.To ask for an increse just send the VA an old fashion letter, stating you feel your condition has gotten worse, if you have specifics, put them in there.
Lots of people will tell you to send it certified mail, I've never done that, and everything has arrived at the VA. You can also go to your local VA regional office (RO), and hand deliver info/requests.
It takes some work, researching/reading, learining all the acronyms, but it's your claim so it's worth your time.
Just my 2 cents.....Eric
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I use DAV since their in same building. VA get's my evidence faster through them.
Frank
I need a Service Office I have called and left messages and emails to my county VA. Servicer Officer, DAV, VFW. No one ever calls me back I can not get a hold of any one. I need to open a new claim and try to get old one uped from 10%. Any help out there. -
I will try to get a copy later next week to see what she typed up.
Frank
be sure to get a copy of your exam in about a week or so and find out....maybe someone else on here knows; but i don't believe that RNs are allowed to conduct C&P exams. i could be wrong (i often am). but she could've been an NP. either way you should have a copy of your exam. -
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
Wholesale-Your C&P was done by a nurse??? Like an RN or an NP?
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Yep yep, they say 5 days but I also usually get a response in 24hours or less.
Frank
I usually get a response within one day or so; must depend on their workload.I get them to email me so I can print it off for my records.
Boondoc
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WOW! now that's insane...
..frank
I had this one C&P doctor who said he could not evaluate me for IU because I was not working. This is the kind of crap that makes me always keep a few doctors on the payroll to write my medical reports. -
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
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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
I just for an IMO letter from an old VA doc of mine. States that she reviewed my service record and that IMO my right hip pain is found well documented multiple times in my service record! The letter was signed and stamped by her with her numbers on it- med id i guess.I was denied right hip back in 1998 and put in for reconsideration 9/08. just had CP exam and brought letter.
THis is good yes?
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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've had several therapists who used to assign GAF scores at the VA. I believe they just use a dartboard....it's extremely useless. I'm out of breathe saying how useless it is. Same with any kind of testing...including the MMPI. Depending on your mood, how you feel physically, etc...your answers can vary from day to day, week to week, etc making the data somewhat worthless.Medical records and facts are what you need to get you your rating.
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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
I am just now claiming depression ,but who gives you a gaf score? is it only given at c and p exams? i never gotten one even though i go to a va -
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
Oh----I assume they didnt need this to try and get any SSA disability records you might have?No private records at all?
If this is the case- I would make sure you respond and tell them that there are no other records but for the VA medical records which they have and this is the evidence that supports your claim and you have no further evidence to submit.
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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
you have other problems than just PTSD PTSD ratings are 10% 30% 50% 70% and 100% or 70& TDIU paid at the 100% rate so you are not SC at 40% for PTSD so I am assuming you are 30% for PTSD and they usually do not grant TDIU on a 30% rating you need to get your percentage rated higher for PTSD thats just a fact of lifeyou can always ask for an extra schedular rating on the basis that your SC disability prevents you from working but at 30% is is just very doubtful that they will grant it
yes fighting the VA is very stressful and time consuming the old joke around here is if you didn't have PTSD before dealing with the VARO you will by the time you get finished
you need years of treatment records and then it is still a fight I was disgnosed with PTSD in May 2003 after months of interviews and MMPI tests and other multiple choice exams I was finally awarded 50% in May 2005 this was with a GAF of 30-45 for the past 2 1/2 years I filed a NOD theday after the award letter was received due tothe lowball award a year later I had another letter from my treating shrink that stated the same thing that he felt I was permanently and totally disabled just by my PTSD symptoms and regardless of any other medical problems I had, that I would never be able to return to work and my GAF was 35. That made 3 years in a row he wrote the same annual statement in my records in April 2006 the VARO awarded me 100% P&T back to Dec 2003, so the fight can be won, you just have to decide to dig in and fight, if you quit they win and you still have no benefits if you are already 30% for PTSD then you have the camels nose under the tent now find a way to get the rest of your azz under then tent.
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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
The 21-4142 form is critical to getting additional med records.If y0u never received it from VA at all- go to the VA web site and under Comp Icon -Forms are there-
or maybe your rep has the blank forms-and fill it out and send it to them with proof of mailing (and make sure the rep has copy too-)
is this crap a stall tactic? I sure think it is.
They probably never sent the form to you in the first place.
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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
Any mental health professional can assign a GAF score to a client. It is a subjective rating system (as opposed, say, to a standardized test like MMPI).http://www.ptsdsupport.net/ptsd_gafscores.html
Explains the rating scheme.
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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
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sorry pete....i thought it was my internet connection
frank
Wholesale:Please do not hit send over and over again. This was posted 4 times. Sometimes you have to wait a minute or two if the site is busy.
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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
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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
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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
........and, the very minute the poor schmuck hits the DC city limits with that tractor, he's gonna be ridin in something else. Something about John Deere equipment and the steady flow of traffic in one of the MOST congested city's on earth. Heck, the last time I was up there, oh 10-12 years ago, it took me two hours to go from the Ramada Inn across from the Watergate, down to the Amtrac Station. Yup, they'll be waitin on his tractor, and him, claim he's obstructing traffic (which, of course, he will be) and whisk him and his tractor off to the impound yard(s). Problem solved. -
Why is he driving a tractor?
It take longer to get there.
Frank
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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
I hope thats the case Hoppy, since the same doctor did my both my cp exams. She assigned a GAF of 70 two years ago and I was rated 30%. She assigned a GAF of 50 this past April. I'm kinda in between symptoms with some in the 50% range and others in the 70% range. -
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
Don't you just love how they throw you a tiny bone and expect you to be satisfied with it???
..
Service Officer
in Veterans Compensation & Pension Exams
Posted
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