Imos Www.vetdr.net

[VetDr]

deleted by tbird at the request of the poster VetDr

[Pete53]

Good Luck Free.

I think that the Doc will do a good job for you. I do know that Dr Bash does not accept a claim unless he thinks it can win. I hope this Doc is the same.

[rentalguy1]

ruby and Free, please let us know how this works out, because I will most likely be in need of an IMO in the next year.

[free_spirit_etc]

Will do! B)

Will GLADLY be someone's "success story!" :o

Free

ruby and Free, please let us know how this works out, because I will most likely be in need of an IMO in the next year.

[Christopher]

Now this is good news for anyone needing an IMO. I have added the website to my favorites for future reference if and when needed.

[Josephine]

Personally, I think I'm going to give him a shot.

Free,

Even though I paid the 2700.00 for the Forsensic Psychiatrist, I also wrote to this doctor for an IMO back up. I think at this point the more medical opinions the better.

I know I am going to need an IMO for my husband's cancer to support that it DID start in the service. He was in the Air Force for 28 years and diagnosed with adenocarcinoma less than 2 years post discharge.

I agree, yes you will need an IMO. This doctor sounds great to me. I have spent all morning checking out his credentials.

Though ALL of his doctors (military base - and tri-care providers) have stated that his cancer probably started WELL in advance of his retirement - (you just don't grow a 3.1 cm pulmonary adenocarcinoma over night) - NONE have been willing to come right out and write an actual opinon. They have been willing to sign a statement that says the standard doubling time is 180 days. They have been willing to provide us with hand written documents to explain to US that based on growth rate and doubling time the cancer probably STARTED YEARS before he retired.

This is where you need someone to spell out the truth.

But they have not been willing to actually come out and say - it is more likely than not that his cancer started in service.

The VA absolutely ignored our premise that it started in service until we pushed them to acknowledge it - The VA focused on the asbestos exposure - which is a whole other issue (though my husband was an electrician for 13 years - though electricians NOW have to have occupational screenings - though it is a medically established fact that smoking and asbestos combined GREATLY increases your risk of cancer more than smoking alone would - and though pulmonary adenocarcinoma is a cancer that is linked to asbestos exposure - the VA doctor merely stated that my husband's cancer was only linked to his smoking because there is no evidence that he was exposed to asbestos - as he wasn't part of any medical survillience or occupational screening programs. They didn't even HAVE those programs in the 70's and early 80's - the 13 years my husband was an Air Force electrician. And it wasn't even up to the VA doc to MAKE the determination whether my husband was EXPOSED to asbestos. He should have written an opinion that IF he was exposed, what was the LIKLIHOOD that the exposure contributed to the development of the cancer - and let the VA decide if he WAS exposed).

This is absolutely true.

Now that they have finally acknowledged our IN-SERVICE OCCURANCE claim - they are playing the same game. It looks like the VA doc ignored all our evidence that indicated that lung cancer is asymptomatic until it reaches late stages, that established medical principles dictate that not only CAN it be slow growing - it most often IS slow growning - the "standard doubling time" is 6 months - even if my husband's cancer grew more rapidly, it is VERY unliklely that it doubled every 12 days (the rate it would have needed to grow to gt to 3.1 cm AFTER his retirement).

Impossible.

Instead the VA doc issued an opinion that none of his SYMPTOMS in service seemed related to his cancer.

Yes, his symptoms of Bronchitis, shortness of breath, were all related to his lung cancer.

If I proceed without getting an IMO - when they finally decide to get an opinion of when the cancer started - they might get one of those doctors who state that the standards of medicine indicate that the onset of cancer is when it is diagnosed.

I would go with the IMO. As you can see how the VA has been playing games with me.

You kind of wonder why they promote early screening if cancer doesn't really start until you FIND it.

But - to me - the case is SO clear cut - based on medically established standards that it is more likely than not that a cancer that generally takes over 12 - 15 years to reach 3.1 cm did NOT grow that big in LESS THAN 2 years.

But I have balked at having to pay a couple thousand dollars to get someone to state what it obvious.

Yes, the claim is obvious and the VA knows this.

This is not a case that would involve a lot of research or connecting the dots to provide a nexxus.

We have ALREADY provided the VA with tons of evidence from the National Cancer Institute, PEER reviewed journals, major universities, and THEIR OWN Studies that show that not only is it POSSIBLE his cancer started long before his retirement - SOUND MEDICALLY ESTABLISHED PRACTICE would indicate it is VERY PROBABLE.

That is why the VA docs stay away from the whole issue of when it started. They would have to step way outside of the realm of medically established standards to do so - unless they take the route of stating that the onset of cancer is when it is diagnosed.

The BVA has already awareded SC in lots of cases on the growth rate theory. And my husband's case isn't one of those that is close (ie. it is not a case of his cancer was discovered in ten years and it usually takes twelve years to develop. It was discovered in TWO years - a FULL ten years or more before it should have been discovered if it started when he got out of service).

So, yes.. I have balked at having to get extremely complicated opinions or having to pay at least a couple thousand dollars to get someone to state what is obvious.

It is obvious.

One doctor told us that he would need 12 - 14 hours to review the records and write an opinion and wanted $450 an hour. Heck! $2,000 is cheap in that case.

I was charged 450.00 and hour, but as you have researched my claim so much, you can see they backed me up against a brick wall with their non-sense.

I am not saying that $2,000 is unreasonable for an opinion. If I had a complicated case that required a lot of record review and research - it would be a MORE than fair price.

You know mine was complicated as I located the long lost psychiatric records in 2004. We are talking about re-opened claim to what the AMC is stating 1992. Those psychiatric records do not state a personaity disorder no more than squat. Just a way to get rid of me.

I will go with their decision on the year, even though the doctors are stating 1978.

However, with the case not being all that complicated, I have been looking for an option where I wouldn't have to pay quite so much.

I certainly would email this Dr. as Ruby and I have.

Yes. The opinion will probably get me DIC. And I know I will get the money "back" by getting DIC.

But I am also a widow who is struggling with raising my disabled child on my own again - without my husband's help or income. And we all knw how much the costs of even the basic neccessities have skyrocketed in the past year. I am not starving, but I am watching my money very closely. and even if I get DIC - I know that will be well down the road - the VA takes time.

Free, You and your late husband deserve this.

Always,

Betty

Free

[Josephine]

deleted by tbird at the request of the poster VetDr

Any reason why he wanted this deleted? Was he not who he said he was.

Betty