Submitting New Items At C&p Exam

[blackbird]

Hello Veterans,

I have a C&P exam this thursday for lumbar disability claim, and since all the evidence has been submitted. I would like to be rated under IVDS due to doctor's letter stating that I had 10-12 weeks of prescribed bed rest over the past year. This due to incapacitating episodes from a damaged nerve root in my back. Can I submitte this letter to the doctor at examination and ask to be rated this way or will he rate me the highest of the two methods anyway?

Also, I submitted copies of the operating room reports for each of the lumbar surgeries. Do I have to file seperately for the convalescence benefit that follows each of the surgeries.

Nervous Blackbird

[darkhorse]

It's already determined by the VA what the examination is for. Very unlikely the examiner would change the reason for the exam.

If exam is for back problem you can't come in with a request to have the exam changed to something else.

I would show the doctor the letter though and maybe he put this in his report as related to your lumbar disability claim. May add weight to the rating.

DH

Hello Veterans,

I have a C&P exam this thursday for lumbar disability claim, and since all the evidence has been submitted. I would like to be rated under IVDS due to doctor's letter stating that I had 10-12 weeks of prescribed bed rest over the past year. This due to incapacitating episodes from a damaged nerve root in my back. Can I submitte this letter to the doctor at examination and ask to be rated this way or will he rate me the highest of the two methods anyway?

Also, I submitted copies of the operating room reports for each of the lumbar surgeries. Do I have to file seperately for the convalescence benefit that follows each of the surgeries.

Nervous Blackbird

[Notorious Kelly]

Hi Blackbird,

I submitted extra evidence at my C & P, as I had read you could do.

Not a bad idea to ensure that it makes it to your claim. I have a request in with the VA Regional Office to view my C-file (medical records) before they rate my claim.

The 2nd Q I can't help with.

All the best! :P

[carlie]

Hello Veterans,

I have a C&P exam this thursday for lumbar disability claim, and since all the evidence has been submitted. I would like to be rated under IVDS due to doctor's letter stating that I had 10-12 weeks of prescribed bed rest over the past year. This due to incapacitating episodes from a damaged nerve root in my back. Can I submitte this letter to the doctor at examination and ask to be rated this way or will he rate me the highest of the two methods anyway?

Also, I submitted copies of the operating room reports for each of the lumbar surgeries. Do I have to file seperately for the convalescence benefit that follows each of the surgeries.

Nervous Blackbird

BB,

1)

YES - as long as it's not 30 or 40 pages of document's, your C&P examiner will probably accept this additional information - so at least take copies to leave with the examiner.

If the examiner does not want to accept it you can not force them to - BUT you can state you feel some of this has not made it to your c-file yet and you would like it in the record for consideration.

2)

The examiner does not produce a rating,that is done by the decision maker at VARO.

The examiner has instructions to follow and hopefully they have the correct instructions

and will do so.

3)

In my opinion, convalescence benefits are a completely different claim from a

claim for SC disability and will need to be applied for separetly.

jmho,

carlie

[Ricky]

BlackBird - Please note that as carlie stated the doc does not determine your rating as it is done by the VARO who is processing your claim.

You can give the doc the report if he/she wants it. They might include it in your exam write up or they may not. However, it does not hurt to offer it to he/she.

NOW PLEASE REMEMBER THIS - ALL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR CLAIM MUST BE SUBMITTED DIRECTLY TO THE VARO BY YOU OR YOUR SERVICE OFFICER IF YOU HAVE ONE. THE DOC IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ACTION EVEN IF HE/SHE TAKES A COPY OF THE REPORT.

GET THE THING IN THE MAIL TO THE VARO ASAP.

Sorry to appear to be screaming at you but this is a very, very, important fact about an action of which the responsibility lies directly on your shoulders my friend.

[pacmanx1]

Just my opinion and of course I may be wrong but if you have the time to go to the VAMC you can take the records to the release of information office and tell them you have a C & P exam on Thursday and ask could they scan the records into the computer system or could they place the records in your VA medical files. If they say yes, make sure they give you a stamped copy. You can always try to give a copy to the C & P doctor but there would be no proof that they (your evidence) would make it back to the VARO or you can mail them to the VARO. What ever you do make sure you keep a copy of them.

I think the convalescence claim would be separate

[Ricky]

Just my opinion and of course I may be wrong but if you have the time to go to the VAMC you can take the records to the release of information office and tell them you have a C & P exam on Thursday and ask could they scan the records into the computer system or could they place the records in your VA medical files. If they say yes, make sure they give you a stamped copy. You can always try to give a copy to the C & P doctor but there would be no proof that they (your evidence) would make it back to the VARO or you can mail them to the VARO. What ever you do make sure you keep a copy of them.

I think the convalescence claim would be separate

pete - the records department will not accept any outside medical records from the vet for inclusion into the VA medical records system.

If the C&P doc does accept them he MAY SLIP them into the CFile before it is returned to the VARO but he will not file them in the VA medical records system.

Edited September 14, 2009 by Clown Man (see edit history)

[Pete53]

pete - the records department will not accept any outside medical records from the vet for inclusion into the VA medical records system.

If the C&P doc does accept them he MAY SLIP them into the CFile before it is returned to the VARO but he will not file them in the VA medical records system.

My PCP at the VA entered my Medical Records for angioplasty and stent. She was glad to get it.

[carlie]

My PCP at the VA entered my Medical Records for angioplasty and stent. She was glad to get it.

Pete53,

Yes - your PCP can do that and it is good she did,

BUT

Pete992 is stating

"take the records to the release of information office and tell them you have a C & P exam on Thursday and ask could they scan the records into the computer system or could they place the records in your VA medical files."

ROI has no authority to scan anything into your records as their job is to release,

they have NO authority to enter information into your records nor anyway to

authenticate what they would be entering and they do not even have access to

a veteran's hard copy medical file to place records into.

jmho,

carlie

[pacmanx1]

ROI has no authority to scan anything into your records as their job is to release,they have NO authority to enter information into your records nor anyway to

authenticate what they would be entering and they do not even have access to

a veteran's hard copy medical file to place records into.

I have done this several times. The first time, I was fee based out to a specialty clinic and the ROI was supposed to get a copy of the records. I went back to my VA doctor several times and was told that the results were not in the system and we could not discuss treatment or the next step. I then went to the doctor's office got a copy of the records and took it to the ROI and told them that my doctor needed my records in the system to review and treat my symptoms. Also I was hospitalized and I took VAMC (ROI) a copy of my emergency room visits and my stay in the hospital so that it could be with my VA records. I then saw my doctors and we discussed my treatment and the results of the records I added.

As for authorization, It can be good or bad but people will do what they want to do, I know this may not be the norm but this is what I have done. As for being authentic it really doesn't matter to me because VA can request the records from the hospital and from the doctors' clinic and the information in the records would be the exact same thing. Most veterans files are computerized, when a veteran has a fee based appointment the records come back from wherever and they are scanned into the computerized system. There are still some hard copies of veterans' files because some time you go to the VAMC and they have a small folder that has not been typed in the computer so it is placed in your medical records. A Little off the subject but my point is they can do it if they want to. It doesn't matter if it is for A C & P Exam or not.

Yes I know, I am entitled to be wrong but what can you really say about something you have actually done and not think of? If it worked for me, it could work for you you never know until you ask.

[darkhorse]

ROI = "Release" of Information. NOT "Input" of Information.

They don't have the authority to scan stuff into your medical file. Maybe a VA doctor could, don't know that answer.

DH

I have done this several times. The first time, I was fee based out to a specialty clinic and the ROI was supposed to get a copy of the records. I went back to my VA doctor several times and was told that the results were not in the system and we could not discuss treatment or the next step. I then went to the doctor's office got a copy of the records and took it to the ROI and told them that my doctor needed my records in the system to review and treat my symptoms. Also I was hospitalized and I took VAMC (ROI) a copy of my emergency room visits and my stay in the hospital so that it could be with my VA records. I then saw my doctors and we discussed my treatment and the results of the records I added.

As for authorization, It can be good or bad but people will do what they want to do, I know this may not be the norm but this is what I have done. As for being authentic it really doesn't matter to me because VA can request the records from the hospital and from the doctors' clinic and the information in the records would be the exact same thing. Most veterans files are computerized, when a veteran has a fee based appointment the records come back from wherever and they are scanned into the computerized system. There are still some hard copies of veterans' files because some time you go to the VAMC and they have a small folder that has not been typed in the computer so it is placed in your medical records. A Little off the subject but my point is they can do it if they want to. It doesn't matter if it is for A C & P Exam or not.

Yes I know, I am entitled to be wrong but what can you really say about something you have actually done and not think of? If it worked for me, it could work for you you never know until you ask.

[pacmanx1]

OK, if a veteran is referred and treated/tested outside the VAMC (Fee based) how do the records get into the VAMC computer systems?

Answer: the veteran is told to go to the ROI and request a copy of these records, ROI then request the records and when the records come in the records are sent to the scanning section where they are scanned into the computer system under the name and social of the veteran.

Release of information can work in more than one way, they can release information and they can request other entities to release information providing they have your request. Something like when the VARO send the veteran a VA form 21-4142 but I think the VAMC have a different form number. Can we try to think outside the box, records are scanned into veterans hospital records all the time, they just don't tell you they can or how they do it

[carlie]

OK, if a veteran is referred and treated/tested outside the VAMC (Fee based) how do the records get into the VAMC computer systems?

The medical records that are the results of fee basis care are provided to the VA from the practicioner. They may provide the patient with a copy - I guess.

When the VA recieves these from the practicioner then they are entered into

the electronic file.

Answer: the veteran is told to go to the ROI and request a copy of these records, ROI then request the records and when the records come in the records are sent to the scanning section where they are scanned into the computer system under the name and social of the veteran.

The only point I made was that ROI is not the office that scans records into the veterans file.

Can we try to think outside the box, records are scanned into veterans hospital records all the time, they just don't tell you they can or how they do it

The only box I really use with VA - is the one my VBM's arrive in ~ lol.

carlie

[pacmanx1]

True they may not be the actual office but you will never hear of the scanning office or scanning department. To get information of records of any kind must go through the release of information and that is what I was trying to pass on. The may not have the authority and they may not actually put the information in the computerized system but they know how and where to send the information so it can be added to the veterans file, computerized or not.

please keep in mind that books and manuals are "great" tools but they can not replace experience. We sometimes miss out of an opportunity by thinking too much, when the only thing we have to do is open our mouths and ask a simple question.

[darkhorse]

My doctor keeps a file of all my outside VA medical records. Not sure if she scans them in but I know she has hard copies. This how it works for me.

DH

True they may not be the actual office but you will never hear of the scanning office or scanning department. To get information of records of any kind must go through the release of information and that is what I was trying to pass on. The may not have the authority and they may not actually put the information in the computerized system but they know how and where to send the information so it can be added to the veterans file, computerized or not.

please keep in mind that books and manuals are "great" tools but they can not replace experience. We sometimes miss out of an opportunity by thinking too much, when the only thing we have to do is open our mouths and ask a simple question.

[Ricky]

Ok

The VA ROI section will not include anything into your medical records. If you have outside records from a fee basis etc... then you can go to the ROI and fill out the ROI form which will be sent to the doc you went to who will send the records to the VA.

A C&P doc will not include any outside records into your VA medical records. He will include it in the Cfile before returning it to the VARO.

If you are in the VA health care system and have a PCP assigned then that is a different story. He can have anything he wishes to put in your records. He is a bit different than a C&P doc or a vet trying to get something put into the records.

[Aquabear]

I go to Phys Thpy at VAMC. This week I showed my therapist my new outside MRI lumbar spine which showed more damage than my MRI from Feb 09 at VAMC. He this will help me and him alot to adjust my therapy, made a copy of it and said he will have it scanned and entered into my VA record. I'll check later this week when I see him again.

IMHO I think this situation really is on a case by case basis. One person in one office may say we cannot do it where someone else may help you even though it may not be the SOP- "standard operating procedure".

Regarding CP exams, I had one in July 09.

I myself brought a lot of papers to my CP exam. I did make a table of contents, separated everything, put in date order as best I could so it could be easily read by anyone. My examainer a PA sorted thru them, he did not submit them himself but did note on exam notes some of the information on there, did note multiple times that my wifes statement was in there on how I many times cannot perform certain tasks and more, noted that I will be sending it after exam and told me to mail it ASAP- do not wait.

Be patient, be persistent and be well

Good luck mi amigo