Pending Reconsideration, Got A Letter From Va

[pilgrim01]

Well, I got a letter in the mail yesterday from the VA and it stated: "We have requested an examination through a private medical facility in order to determine the current level of your disability. The private facility will soon advise you of the date, time......."

Am I reading into this, but to me, it seems that they are going to give me a rating, they just don't know what number to rate at? I had my exam when I retired in November 2008. I guess that was too long ago and my current back problem was not included in the exam.

Your thoughts?

Edited December 17, 2009 by pilgrim01

[jbasser]

They are wanting to get a current level of disability for you.

They do this a lot.

J

[Rockhound]

Make sure when you get and go to this examination, that you take with you copies of everything that might be evidence of when you injured yourself and evidence since then that show how it has increased in severity since then. If you have any IME from other Dr.s and or specialists who have followed/treated you for your condition, you might try to get them to right, even a simple statement as to how your problem has gotten worse over time, even statements from any layperson such as a spouse, family member, close friend, emloyer, etc. These type of evidence may not be available to the C&P examiner, especially one who is out sourced.

Make sure you print out a copy of the C&P exam work sheet and take someone with you, remember you are supposed to be demonstrating your worst day and not your best, so having someone drive you is better than getting their on your own, also see that they are as familiar with the C&P exam work sheet as the Examiner should be, so they can attest/witness to whether or not the exam was done properly and that your answers and/or statements reported truthfully when you review the exam report when it is done.

Rockhound Rider ;)

[Pete53]

This is actually a C&P or Compensation and Pension Exam that in my opinion is required in order for you to get a rating. Be glad that they are going to do it cause you are getting close to an award.

[sharon]

Well, I got a letter in the mail yesterday from the VA and it stated: "We have requested an examination through a private medical facility in order to determine the current level of your disability. The private facility will soon advise you of the date, time......."

Am I reading into this, but to me, it seems that they are going to give me a rating, they just don't know what number to rate at? I had my exam when I retired in November 2008. I guess that was too long ago and my current back problem was not included in the exam.

Your thoughts?

If you filed within a year of getting out of the service the rating will go back to the date of discharge. Are you filing for an increase?

[halos2]

Well, I got a letter in the mail yesterday from the VA and it stated: "We have requested an examination through a private medical facility in order to determine the current level of your disability. The private facility will soon advise you of the date, time......."

******They want to determine your current level of disability...did you put in for an increase for any reason? Or a New claim? Or request a NOD? Go to the exam, on time. Be honest how much it hurts, pain, mobility problems,etc. If you have 1 good day and 6 bad/painful days tell of the painful days.

Am I reading into this, but to me, it seems that they are going to give me a rating, they just don't know what number to rate at? I had my exam when I retired in November 2008. I guess that was too long ago and my current back problem was not included in the exam.

******They may or may not rate you dependent on results of exam. They just don't decide to rate you out of the blue, there needs to be a problem/injury/occurance that happened to you to or a claim application for them to suggest a C&P exam to be done. Seems odd someone would look into your old exam of Nov08 and realize then hadn't evaluated your "back problem" as you so write. Did you put in for anything??

Edited December 20, 2009 by halos2

[pilgrim01]

Well, I initially filed for "numbness/tingling of the right leg to right foot". My doctor while on active duty never diagnosed it. He just gave me some Neurontin and sent me on my way. The VA denied my claim for the "numbness/tingling of the right leg to right foot" (March 09, I retired Nov 08). Well, 3 months after I retired (Feb 09), I went back to my new doctor because the numbness and tingling had come back. Keep in mind, this happened while my initial claim was still at the VA. My new doctor's first thing was to do MRIs and X-rays of my back. That is where the back problems were discovered. I have "multi-level lumbar disc protrusions causing bilateral foraminal stenosis at many levels and spinal stenosis at two levels". This is what my doctor put in the letter to the VA. My doctor is a doctor on a military installation (not that it means anything). In my new doctor's notes it also states nerve damage in a few locations, also. I filed a "Request for Reconsidertion" for "lumbar condition with radiculopathy". I am currently on meds (Celebrex and Neurontin).

They didn't check my back on my initial exam because my back wasn't part of the initial claim, the numbness/tingling was. Go figure. :-)

Edited December 21, 2009 by pilgrim01