Definition Of An Imo?

[tagandbag]

I feel like I am asking a stupid question, but I've heard there is no such thing as a stupid question, only a stupid answer. My understanding is that an IMO is an (Independent Medical Opinion). If, this is true, I dont understand why you would have to pay 2 to 3k for an expert witness. It seems that you could just go to a clinical pyhsc. for a half dozen visits and get an IMO. I got one from my private physician and did not cost me anything. What I am saying is if you have an HMO, you can go to a specialist in this field, for thirty dolars a visit. That would be about 180.00 or so. Am I in left field or what, on this. :D

[Pete53]

I think that an Independent Medical Opinion is necessary to any claim that starts after one year from separation. However, the way the VA works is a Medical Doctor seems to trump anything else. I know several Vets who did just fine with a plain vanilla Doctor.

However, it still gets back to its your claim and how long it takes if there is a hiccup and many including myself want the best we can get to stop problems that VA throws up at us.

[halos2]

Berta, What was the small statement??

You have got my curiousity going wild.

Often a private doctor will do an IMO for free.

One vet here locally-his private doc had to do the IMO 3 times- he was ticked-

first the VA challenged his expertise- he thought everyone had heard of him- a major specialist here in NY-but

he had failed to state his expertise in the IMO.

Then he sent in another one but did not read the extensive work I had done on the veteran's SMRs-

and did not access them in the way he should have-

finally he got to point of understanding why the vet needed the IMO- for the nexus to his service ---and then VA accepted the 3rd IMO and the vet succeeded.

Before I contacted Dr. BAsh-I traced a former VA doc my husband had-the only VA doc in 6 years who seemed to have a clue-on Rods condition.

He had left VA-it took my months to find him on the west coast-and when I did I emailed him asking about his entries in Rod's med recs-

he then emailed me and remembered Rod and wanted some Med lab reports.

The copy I sent him was not clear enough-the VA had cut off part of the Chem list- it then took me almost 5 months to get a clear copy-long story there-

ten years ago I had no problems getting these med recs but suddenly the VA wanted all this legal stuff from me proving who I was-before they would realise this single chem report-

the VA FOIA officer knew me personally for almost 20 years and knew Rod too-but she asked me for a rigamorale-

when the former VA doc got the recs he emailed me with a powerful statement-

a single sentence-

when Dr. BAsh called me up (after he got my email for an IMO) I read this statement to Dr. BAsh and he loved it-

he incorporated it into his IMO and got the former VA doctor to send the email statement on his letterhead.

This free short IMO statement (which took a long time to get)is very probative to my claim for many reasons.It does not conform to the VA IMO criteria but completely supports the costly IMO from Dr. Bash.

Also the doc was a former VA doctor too which should have some weight.

A vet should not overlook any potential at all to get a possible freeby

and even if it is just a short statement it can highlight a costly IMO and tip the scales even more in their favor-

I actually had a VA doc agree with my claim some time ago-and I asked him for an IMO-but he reminded me I knocked down his last 2 -3 IMOs yeara ago- he finally understood my husband's demise but could not render an IMO (unless they asked him to)

and I know his opinion today would be much different than the ones I knocked down a decade ago.

it pays to try every angle you can think of.

[halos2]

I know what you are saying. I too do not have the $$ to get the high profiled IMO's. I have used 2 of my own Dr's I have been seeing for years. I have done all of the leg work/book work/report work/evaluation work/ regulatory work and compiled it for them to read, tweek and sign.

Throughout this process I have done it all. Read John D. Roche's books, Leggets Book, Utalized Watchdog.org/Jim Strickland, hadit, vajoe, Veterans Benefit Network, and so many case studies on VA.Gov site. It has been, and continues to be a passion to find, evaluate,educate,conquer, and hopefully eventually win.

I was fortunate to have a VA supervisor who did help me some along the way too but he has been shuffled and is being forced into retirement as he has helped too many vets the last 2 years. You have to do it all in order to win...I did not know this till after I was granted 30% on my claim(a) and denied on claim(B). My VSO did nothing, told me nothing...and I started to read, and then found this VARO rep to assist me along the way, and thus my book purchases and web searches...

I googled over 3 years ago and started it all after I sent my first NOD. This site here has many good people that will offer you advise on what they have done and what has worked for them but you are your own advocate who will need to gather it all to win. Different VARO's rate and deny or grant at their leisure.

MO is extremely tuff! They have some people who will do anything and everything to DENY. No matter if the evidence is right in their face.

Ex. Gaf 40's with Dx.Chronic PTSD, numerous symptoms for years, much psych records and documentation out the wazzo, and 30% granted!

Just make sure your fight is on paper with words to help your case. No threats, cursing, demanding,etc. Facts, and documentations, will help you win. Doesn't happen fast though.

Good IMO's to refute their (VA's)statements will help you to win. Never give up!! B)

Halos2, you are correct in what your saying. I am sure a lot of vets have more than one thing,( mental, physical),that they file for and were denied. So I see where someone, like Dr. Bash, would be a real asset. But, a lot of people do not have the 2 or 3k, to pay for this service, me included. For instance, I filed for ptsd, polyps and some eye condition. I had 2 Imo's for the ptsd, my private physician and a phsychiarist and they told me they have written evaluations for the VA before. First time around I was awarded on the ptsd, 30% and I believe the imo's helped a lot. The other two conditons were'nt really service connected as far as I know. All this cost me was the office visits. I think if It was denied, I would probably "try" to use someone like Dr. Bash. If you haven't been denied or going for an increase or it is a new claim, I think using your own private physicians, is worth a shot. Just my thoughts.

[dav_marine72]

Hi Everyone,

I have had two IMO's performed by Dr. Bash. The first one cost for $2000 and the second cost for $1000. The first addressed my 20% back rating and my 0% testicle pain which is rated as a urinary infection. My local VARO discounted his IMO and chose to deny any higher rating for either. Once I got sent to the BVA I had him do the second letter. This one again addressed my back and testicle but also my 0% high blood pressure. He discredited the VA raters and offered different diagnostic codes for my back and testicle which would favor me. The BVA report didn't mention Dr. Bash at all. No first letter, no second letter. They also left out a bunch of positive evidence for higher ratings.

Once my lawyer gets my c-file is going after them based on no mention of Dr. Bash and not doing a through workup of Dulca. So far $3000 for nothing but I guess we will see after the VAAC ordeal. Based on what the BVA did to me I am thinking if I didn’t have Bash I would be screwed. Good point about not having the money to pay. I am very fortunate that I had it. That is if it pays off.

[Berta]

I had sent this former VA doctor some of his own entries and the glucose readings over a 7 day period from my husband's clinical records.He was a Neuro but had ordered a fingerstick test that the VA never did-at the time they could not give Rod a OGTT because his throat was paralyzed.

His short statement was " Mrs. Simmons those glucose readings were abnormally high.

[Berta]

I had sent this former VA doctor some of his own entries and the glucose readings over a 7 day period from my husband's clinical records.He was a Neuro but had ordered a fingerstick test that the VA never did-at the time they could not give Rod a OGTT because his throat was paralyzed.

His short statement was " Mrs. Simmons those glucose readings were abnormally high."

He had suggested to us both that he thought Rod had diabetes while treating him at the VA.

They sure were. The VA examiner who opined on the claim (actually she did give some positive support for it-didnt even know my husband had been paralysed and on a feeding tube for weeks when the glucose readings were done.It wasnt like he could leave the VAMC and go get some Big Macs and french fries.They were abnormal readings.)

He did offer to answer any more questions I had but Dr. Bash contacted him for his statement in email to me so that it was put on this doc's letterhead ,for the VA, and also incorporated into the first Bash IMO I got.

The dopes (excuse me) the RO has so far listed these IMos as evidence for my CUE claim-recently-which they have NOTHING to do with at all-

and they havce never opined medically on these IMOs at all for the AO claim.I pointed all this out to the VSM recently-even Dr. BAsh stated right in them they were for the AO death claim.

but my claim went last month to the BVA to address a Motion from my POA to dump me.

At some point some federal VA employee who is literate will properly address my IMos for the right claim.