New Depression Claim In, Will New C&p Needed?

[cowgirl]

My new claim for "depression" went to rating board. Original claim had this and other items, but VSO and I didnt have the whatwithall to properly develop my claim. Fastforward 12 years to current claim at rating board. I feel current V.A. diagnosis and other doctor records will validate it this time. Will a new C&P be needed? If so, will it be pysch only? Thanks, cg

[Guest jangrin]

cg,

It can go either way. My husbands claim was at the rating board and they sent it back to the determination team and asked for 2 C&P's. Then they sent it back to the rater and it was rated about 2 months later.

If it has been 12 years since you had a C&P, even though the VA is treating and is diagnosing the condition, they seem to still want the C&P exams. All of my husband's treatment records were with the VA.(no private doctors) and they still wanted the C&P exams. What is funny about it is....they got their exams but then they forgot to rate one of the conditions in the award. Go figure...

Be prepared for an exam...and if you have to... take a "WITNESS" with you as my husband's C&P exam for PTSD was a farce and we will be appealing the decision because of a faulty C+P.

Hope this helps,

Jangrin

[huskerfanfl]

I filed an unitial claim in October for depression as well as an increase for several other things. Later, I filed an intial claim for sleep apnea. They did a C&P for the depression and those things for which I had requested an increase. They did not do one for the sleep apnea (at least not yet). All my treatment for depression was done by the VA

[Josephine]

cowgirl,

Please take the advice of jangrin and be sure to take someone with you. I have been to the General Council about this issue.

I was told to never go into the room alone.

You have the right to have someone with you, and if you have to insist upon this issue, by all means do.

I believe that everyone on this site, knows of my issues, so I do not wish to post them again.

Josephine

Edited May 10, 2007 by Josephine (see edit history)

[john999]

Cowgirl

I would bet you 20$ that you will have to go for a C&P exam for the depression claim. If it is an original or claim for increase they want to take a look at you. It gives them a chance to counter what your private shrink has to say. If your doctor says you have severe depression that could lead to 70-100% rating and the VA will want to look at that. It is about the money.

[Josephine]

Cowgirl.

I may pay dearly for my husband not being allowed to be with me. Bribe your wonderful husband to being with you.

The doctor may ask him a question, but maybe not.

This exam is about money.

Josephine

[Berta]

WOuld this be a secondary claim to an established disability Cowgirl?

If not, do you have proof of the inservice nexus, event, accident, or cause of the depression?

I am beginning to think that it pays to let a C & P doctor know when a vet has bonafide proof of nexus- because they have to make a nexus statement anyhow-

I had vet who brought his buddy statement to the C & P doctor for a claim.

The statement was so detailed and the buddy gave his unit, phone number etc- notarized it- that he got "more likely than not" statement from the C & P doctor-

and wondered what he would have gotten without bringing it.

EVen IMos- if you already have an IMO-why not bring it to the C & P doctor-

even if they dont want to see it- they know you have something from a doc that already supports your claim-

When I got some VA quakola that Dr. Bash knocked down- he stated in his second opinion that the VA examiner didnt have all of the med recs (she admitted to having only 3-4 and didnt know how to convert the military time of these hospital records- a factor critical to properly assessing them)

(also she overlooked the documented fact that the VA killed Rod with misdiagnosis -)

and Dr. Bash stated that she did not have the benefit of his initial opinion-

which my vet rep said she would have-

and his boss claimed she DID have- (NOT)

that was based on ALL available records, MRIs ,ECHO, autopsy report, and all FTCA wrongful death reports from VA Central and the GC-in order to assess the deceased veteran's medical situation properly.

There is a psychological benefit to letting a C & P doc know you already have something from a private doctor that supports your claim.

Edited May 12, 2007 by Berta (see edit history)