WHOLESALE

Thanks

In other words it can be done with an IMO or IME. Frank

Your friend was wrong...... It's not that simple. You have to put in a claim for it and there are multiple things the VA looks at as far as unemployability. If you left your work because of your mental disability then you have to prove that. You telling the VA you had to quit due to your disability won't fly unless you can prove it. Even then they will need more evidence that you're unemployable. Nothings automatic with the VA. Frank

I know SS uses MRFC forms for their decisions but can these help with the VA determination? Frank

Hey that's great and fast work, I would submit both reports. Frank

JSDW, There are cases on VA website that grant alcoholism SECONDARY to PTSD. Many Vets with PTSD end up with alcoholism to wash the symptoms away even though is usually only makes the depression worse. Most of the cases I searched were denied but here's two past awards. http://www.va.gov/vetapp99/files1/9904655.txt http://www.va.gov/vetapp96/files2/9610052.txt Frank

Purple, thanks for the info... frank

"it SEEMS to me that it is very likely" is like saying "it is POSSIBLE to me that it is very likely." If it is, IT IS. if it's not, IT'S NOT. They just need to just say it. Doctor made a great point at the end though regarding the DIRECT CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP." It will be really hard for the VA to get around that one. Direct causal relationship is even better than the doctor saying "is most likely." Pretty much a direct statement which is GREAT for your claim. frank

asking for TDIU is also asking for increase. frank

IU is a crap shoot. file for increase and IU. frank

You can write everything down before hand so there's no reason to forget anything. I start with the most troublsome problems first so as to assentuate them. He will ask how you're doing. Never say "OK" or "FINE." You're not either one of those since you're having an exam in the first place. One rule I follow bring up your most disabling problems at least 3 times during the exam. That's just a rule I follow so the examiner doesn't forget to put it in. Most likely, even if you write a letter after the exam, the VA will most likely go by what's in the exam. They will question why you didn't bring the issues up during the exam and figure they must not be much of a problem since you didn't reveal them. Frank

Just tell them exactly what you just said here. At 10% I really don't think you need to worry about a decrease. Seems more apt for an increase. Just make sure you point out all these issues in your exam. And make sure you get a copy of it a couple weeks after to make sure he didn't make mistakes. Frank

Maybe just a routine exam to see where you're at as far as your knee disability. Hey, if your knee has gotten worse you might get an increase. It wouldn't be in their best interest to schedule an exam anyway since it could trigger an increase. I really don't think this would be a delay tactic since they don't need this as an excuse to delay. They can take as much time as they want anyway. They have many more excuses they can use such as, "the claims are backlogged." Frank

Also, the last name of the doctor is usually on your appointment letter. You can go on the VA website and see the list of doctors for your area and their specialty. Here is the site for the san diego area. Not sure where your at. http://www.va.gov/providerinfo/sandiego/meetstaff.asp I guess you can just replace the city where you're at in place of san diego. Frank

I don't understand. This is for sleep apnea, not obesity. Ok, I see it now... Frank

I called the 1-800 number and they told me the wrong reason for the exam. I then called the comp&pen office at my regional office and they told me what it was REALLY for. Not sure if the person on other end of 1-800 was ignorant or they did it on purpose. I would just call your local office where your comp&pen is to get the correct answer. Frank

Yep, you have to go through a class first and you have to be "not too big" for the procedure. I had a friend that went through it but he opted out at last minute since he couldn't lose enough weight for the procedure. Frank

I have a GI consult this Monday for chronic diarrhea/IBS. Frank

requesting a DRO review might speed things up. Frank

Your worrying will soon be over hopefully. I'm praying for you. Frank

John, that would mean the doctor would have anti-social traits right? I think calling him dumb is being too nice. Yeah, these doctors can really manipulate these test to their advantage. I would recommend seeking out a forensic psychologist or psychologist that will do these same tests. You of course would pay them and you wouldn't have to worry about them manipulating the tests for alternative reason. Then the VA will have two tests so as to possible get the benefit of doubt in your favor. I would seek this out since this doc did you wrong by putting that anti-social axis II in there. The VA doctors know how the VA interprets these diagnosis unfavorable for the vet. Frank john999' date='Jul 24 2009, 08:41 AM' post='156485'] If a dumb VA doctor with a hidden agenda to deny compensation interprets it you will look like Charles Manson. I am not kidding.

Draggin, Anti-social does not mean shy or quiet, as it is often used. It literally means against society. An example of an anti-social trait would be fantasizing about hurting people and/or institutions that you feel have wronged you. Examples of anti-social behavior would be making bombs and sending them to people in the mail or taking a gun to school and arbitrarily shooting people in an effort to tell society that it has some error. The way you answered some questions on the MMPI, etc tests scaled this result. Frank "What are the anti-social traits he is speaking about?" All I got from that is that it was "difficult for me to build rapport during interview" and that I'm "mean and controlling with wife and children". I don't hang out with friends a lot...I stick with family. I'm depressed and embarassed (seriously, I've gained a lot of weight) because of how I am right now. I feel very anxious and don't want to deal with any additional crap...this whole VA thing is BS enough...guess this makes me anti-social???

Probably picked up the anti-social traits from the test (MMPI,etc). The VA will pick this apart since he said PTSD accounts for only 30%. This leaves a lot of room for interpretation. Frank

Yes, he's doing a full evaluation with IMO and said he will complete it by next Thursday. Said he would call me to come in and review everything in the evaluation. Frank

July 8 is your claim date but payment always starts on the 1st of the next month. Even if you put in a claim on July 1st your payment would start on August 1st. Frank