C&p

[kw34]

I have a second exam Tuesday for Scars and Edema I was lowballed on the 1st rating the rater never bothered to calculate the area which rates 20%. A second scar which has constant tingling sensation as if being poked with neddles rates 10%. I also suffer from edema in which my leg is 1/3 larger than the other and discolored it rates 40%. All of this information was in the first C&P exam along with color photos and the rater somehow managed to screw it up.

I have the diagnostic codes and the physicians worksheets and I am going to the RO in the morning to pick up the 1st exam to take also. I wondering if I present the doctor with all of this information on how to perform the exam am I steping on his professional toes? By the way in my request for an increase I asked for these very percentages and presented the eveidence from medical records highlighted of course. I am thinking that just like with the rater to win service connection I may now need to do the doctors job as well to get the correct rating.

Edited June 8, 2009 by kw34

[MikeR]

It seems like lately I have had better results with the VA doctors, than the ones that they outsource to. I think the ones that they outsource to have a vested interest in keeping the contract holder (the VA) happy, and the others are Gov Employees, and some have told me that they themselves are Vets.

[john999]

Just remember that no matter what your C&P doctor says this is only one round in the fight to get your full benefits. This is a long term fight. There is no glide path to a correct rating. You have to adjust the range on your target. Persist no matter what bs they throw at you. Be ready to get an IMO if you do not get exactly what you want. If you get 50% then why not 70%. It is just a matter of finding the right combination of buzz words and avoiding pitfalls. You are matching wits with people who want to grant the lowest benefit possible while you want the highest benefit possible. I have zero respect for that process, but that is the way it is for us vets.

[CRYPTOTECH]

I AGREE! Contract Physicians are contracted to benefit the VA, not the Veteran. If a contract Physician is giving positive evals left and right the VA will stop using them.

Frank

It seems like lately I have had better results with the VA doctors, than the ones that they outsource to. I think the ones that they outsource to have a vested interest in keeping the contract holder (the VA) happy, and the others are Gov Employees, and some have told me that they themselves are Vets.

[MikeR]

John, I totally agree with you. I do think that the contracting out of these services taints the outcomes. There is a vested financial incentive for the Vendor to craft the work product exactly the way the customer (VA) wants it.