I Just Discovered A Form To Use To Get A Medical Opinion

[LarryJ]

Ya'll may know about this form, but I didn't. It's a form that you give your VA health care provider for them to fill out in support of your claim.

I had to scan it, so it might not come out very clear.

[free_spirit_etc]

Cowgirl - Here is a C&P clinicians guideline that guides the VA docs on what to do for various exams

http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin21/guide/...iciansguide.doc

I also ran across this quite a while back:

C&P Service Clinician’s Guide

"1.15 Should opinions of merit or percentage of disability be given by the examiner?

The examining clinician must avoid expressing an opinion regarding the merits of any claim or the percentage evaluation that should be assigned for a disability. An opinion should not be given to the claimant regarding insurability, degree of disability, incurrence or aggravation by military service, or the character and sufficiency of treatment during military service or subsequently thereto. When asked about employability, the examiner should not state that an individual veteran is or is not individually unemployable, but should describe in full the effects of the conditions being examined on functioning, and how that relates to employment.

1.16 How do I give an opinion for nexus (relationship to a military incident?

When asked to give an opinion as to whether a condition is related to a specific incident during military service, the opinion should be expressed as follows:

1. “is due to” (100% sure)

2. “more likely than not” (greater than 50%)

3. “at least as likely as not” (equal to or greater than 50%)

4. “not at least as likely as not” (less than 50%)

5. “is not due to” (0%)"

It looks like they are telling them NOT to give a percentage - but how VAspeak will "interpret" certain phrases.

Free

Thanks to all who responded, its clearer to my brain now. I'll use the form as my 'guide' to help with IMOs as needed. cg

[LarryJ]

Free, you are correct to a certain extent.

The part that you bring up is for C&P examiners. The form that I posted was for use with your "treating" healthcare providers (your Primary Care doc or any specialists that may be involved).

[free_spirit_etc]

Thanks for saying I was correct to a certain extent. :o

I was not trying to compete with your form.

My personal opinion is that the form would be good if that is ALL that you can get (i.e. that it is better than nothing) but I wouldn't expect it to carry me very far in a contested claim...especially if it is filled out exactly as it is written - since it doesn't even ask for REASONS the connection to military service were made.

I was merely providing some ADDITIONAL information to go along with the form for someone who asked what the VA is looking for.

The C&P examiner guidelines provide a guide for what the VA is looking for in C&P exams (and also private practice). We all know of cases where THEIR doctors did not follow these guidelines - and cases where opinions of private doctors were not given enough weight BECAUSE they did not follow the guidelines they set for their own doctors.

My personal opinion is that getting something is better than getting nothing. If a doctor balks at giving very much of an opinion - at least getting him to fill out and sign the form would be SOMETHING.

If the doctor is willing to provide a little MORE information - then I would encourage him to at least add SOME info on REASONING as to WHY he checked the box he did on the form.

If the doctor is willing to take it one step further - I would provide him with the C&P exam guidelines - and so his opinion could be written as closely as possible to the format they expect.

If the doctor is willing to write an opinion, but balks at using their guidelines - I would take whatever opinion he was willing to write.

But then, again, what do I know? I haven't been able to get a doctor to be willing to write and opinion. B)

But for those who ARE able to find a doctor who might give one - I was adding my two cents worth of opinon about my concerns with the form alone carrying a claim very far - and some suggestions on on obtaining something that might have a more solid weight.

I ask that people understand that I am not an expert, I have no idea what I am doing let alone the ability to provide expert advice to anyone else - and to consider what I say as my personal (and often uneducated) opinion - before acting on any suggestions I put out there.

Free

Free, you are correct to a certain extent.

The part that you bring up is for C&P examiners. The form that I posted was for use with your "treating" healthcare providers (your Primary Care doc or any specialists that may be involved).

[cowgirl]

I like all the information discussed here. I have a copy of the clinicians guide and its really helpful, like you say Free. Sure could have used the 'guidance' provided there when I requested a IMO statement from my doc years ago. That IMO didnt work at all, result of my total lack of VA claims knowledge or a good vso. As I get my next IMO, I'll probably comingle the VA form and clinicians guide in a "summary" style for my doc to get what I need to achieve my SC. While most times, I want a 'form' or a 'pill' to cure it all, rarely have I found the perfect thing.

IMHO, With the onset of near total computer usage at the VA, I suspect this form concept for IMO will be 'automated' along with everything else. I can see computerized 'do it yerself' check in for a clinic appointment coming -temperature, weight check and blood pressure checks. Currently when I visit the VA, doc spends nearly 98% of time clicking the keys as I talk. Sort of like talking to someone with blue tooth earphone, not sure who is talking to who, or if one is connected to a open microphone or not.

Best to all, cg

*(not a medical trained person, but carries bandaides, motrin & cell phone, a mom, disabled vet and wife.)

Edited January 27, 2008 by cowgirl

[free_spirit_etc]

You brought up a good point about the computer systems.

They make the forms that are supposed to simplify things - but a lot can get lost in the process.

Your choices start being restricted to fill in the boxes (which may or may not apply.

Another interesting thing we ran across with this. My husband's military base went digital. Med records were on the computer system.

He asked for ALL of his post-service records.

He picked them up - and they were all those click the box and jot a few notes on the screen thing. VERY brief.

I thought here they put such a BIG emphasis on what the med notes say - then they click little boxes where the notes ay NOTHING.

I couldn't believe it. He had surgery and was hospitalized for several days - and there were just a few lines of "notes."

I was appalled! I said they have reduced an ENTIRE SURGERY and HOSPITALIZATION to three or four LINES?????????????

So he went back to the base and said "What is THIS crap???" (He was always SO eloquent :o ) - and they told him - Oh the OTHER information would be in the DOCTORS notes - and the doctors keep those in their offices - and told he he hadn't ASKED for the doctor's notes........

Geez..we THOUGHT that was included in ALL OF MY MEDICAL RECORDS.

No - the medical records didn't INLCUDE doctor's notes. You have to ask for those separately.

We asked - and got them - and DID find things in the notes that helped his case.

We are not sure if the VA had those notes - as they might just ask for the medical records.

BUT I am going to ask that they be considered to be "constructively" in the file... because they should know more what their left hand is doing than we do...

Free

I like all the information discussed here. I have a copy of the clinicians guide and its really helpful, like you say Free. Sure could have used the 'guidance' provided there when I requested a IMO statement from my doc years ago. That IMO didnt work at all, result of my total lack of VA claims knowledge or a good vso. As I get my next IMO, I'll probably comingle the VA form and clinicians guide in a "summary" style for my doc to get what I need to achieve my SC. While most times, I want a 'form' or a 'pill' to cure it all, rarely have I found the perfect thing.

IMHO, With the onset of near total computer usage at the VA, I suspect this form concept for IMO will be 'automated' along with everything else. I can see computerized 'do it yerself' check in for a clinic appointment coming -temperature, weight check and blood pressure checks. Currently when I visit the VA, doc spends nearly 98% of time clicking the keys as I talk. Sort of like talking to someone with blue tooth earphone, not sure who is talking to who, or if one is connected to a open microphone or not.

Best to all, cg

*(not a medical trained person, but carries bandaides, motrin & cell phone, a mom, disabled vet and wife.)

[ladypoetry85]

I cannot remember where I found it (a symptom of why I'm 80%, I'd forget my ass if it weren't attached ;-).

There are numbers down at the bottom, "MRC 136-01-908", but I couldn't get them to show up on ANY of the gubbermint's Form Finder sites.

Tell ya what, I'm just gonna sit here with my word processor and make us up a clear copy.

More shortly.

I cant get it to print. Please send me a copy of this form. Thanks