C & P Exam

[68chstiger]

I am supposed to have an exam for residuals of Hodgkin's Lymphoma in May ( I have yet to receive any notification of when) I have a few questions..

1. Should I hand carry info from my private medical providers or mail to VA before going?

2. When should I expect to get the letter telling me what the date of my exam is?

3. Do I continue to receive compensation until they rate my residuals?

Thanks in advance for all the help, you guys have been an invaluable resource. By the way, the information I have gotten here is much better than I got from anyone at Amer. Legion, VFW and the VA.

68chstiger

Binh Thuy 69-70

[Berta]

I think whenever the C & P is scheduled -that yu should bring copies of the private medical info with you to the C & P doctor-

If the C & P doctor doesnt read it- make sure also that you submit it to the VA.

Get a copy of the C & P results as soon as they are done and you will have a leg up on the outcome and whether or not the private doctor might have to rebutt the C & P doctor.

I have a NHL vet friend whose residuals are permanent- but this is not always the case-

he has been in remission for a long time-still he has signigficant residuals and also got a Adaptive Housing

Grant due in part to the total Colostomy he needed to have from the NHL.

An unusual outcome for NHL-

The VA misdiagnosed his NHL until it caused considerable other damage to him.

Hogkins is different from Non Hodgkins I think-it might help if you go to the BVA web site and see how they handled other Hodgins cases.

[rentalguy1]

I am supposed to have an exam for residuals of Hodgkin's Lymphoma in May ( I have yet to receive any notification of when) I have a few questions..

1. Should I hand carry info from my private medical providers or mail to VA before going?

Yes. Have them lined up by bodily system and date. Sturdy them prior to the exams, so you know the answers to the typical questions. Also, print off and take the exam worksheet with you. Study it prior to the exam, and if the doc doesn't adhere to it, politely ask him/her why. Also take any medication bottles that you have for the residuals. Pull them out one by one and read the name when asked what kind of meds you take. This can make a powerful statement if you have 10 or more bottles

2. When should I expect to get the letter telling me what the date of my exam is?

Could be tomorrow, or it could be about a week after your receive a letter explaining that the reason you claims were denied was failure to report to a C&P exam. In other words, call your VAMC monday morning and ask for the C&P clinic. When you get someone in that clinic, politely ask if you are scheduled for any C&P exams. If they say no, politely explain you situation, and tell them that you are afraid of missing an exam. Most likely they will call you to schedule the appointments if you do this. Also, try to write down the person's name that you speak with, and ask them if you can get their extension number. It is VERY helpful to have contact in the C&P clinic.

3. Do I continue to receive compensation until they rate my residuals?

Yes. Waiting for a rating does not effect your current rating. Even if they deny your new claims, it won't effect your current rating. They will notify you if they plan on messing around with the rating you have now. If you have had these ratings for 5 years or more, then they have to give you more than one C&P before they can decide to reduce that rating. If it has been in effect for over 20 years, they can only take it away in instances of fraud.

Be sure and read the rating criteria in 38 CFR 4 to see where you're symptoms stack up, then after the C&P, pick up a copy of the report and make sure the language lines up with the language in 39 CFR 4. This way, you will knd of know what you can expect for a rating. If they don't rate it at the level you think they should based on the CFR, then appeal it. Good luck!

Thanks in advance for all the help, you guys have been an invaluable resource. By the way, the information I have gotten here is much better than I got from anyone at Amer. Legion, VFW and the VA.

68chstiger

Binh Thuy 69-70

[68chstiger]

Thanks Berta and Rentalguy for the response, I'm still not sure on the compensation, the way the regs read are that I would be rated 100% while undergoing treatment and then for six months afterwards and then would be rated on residuals, so they will still compensate me until the residuals are rated?

[cowgirl]

Rental, you mentioned requirement for more than one C&P if ratings been in effect for 5 years or more. Where did you read that? thanks, CG

will notify you if they plan on messing around with the rating you have now. If you have had these ratings for 5 years or more, then they have to give you more than one C&P before they can decide to reduce that rating.

Edited April 12, 2008 by cowgirl

[rentalguy1]

Thanks Berta and Rentalguy for the response, I'm still not sure on the compensation, the way the regs read are that I would be rated 100% while undergoing treatment and then for six months afterwards and then would be rated on residuals, so they will still compensate me until the residuals are rated?

Not a convelescant rating. Only a rating that was in place prior to the 100% for convelescence.

[rentalguy1]

Rental, you mentioned requirement for more than one C&P if ratings been in effect for 5 years or more. Where did you read that? thanks, CG

38 CFR 3.344