Nexus Letter

[babyray]

I have an appt w/ my private neurosurgeron today & I need a nexus letter connecting my SC'ed disabilities to my currently existing medical condition. It should be just a plain basic letter that I can get the doc to sign. Hopefully she will sign it. Thx.

babyray

Edited December 17, 2009 by babyray

[JamesBreckenridge]

I have an appt w/ my private neurosurgeron today & I need a nexus letter connecting my SC'ed disabilities to my currently existing medical condition. It should be just a plain basic letter that I can get the doc to sign. Hopefully she will sign it. Thx.

babyray

Wish I'd seen this before your appointment. I would have told you to provide your private doctor with as much of your records as you can, so that he could review them and consider them when making his decision. It makes for a stronger independant medical opinion when a doctor who is a specialist in the field weighs the same evidence that the VA doctor is going to weigh when the VA doctor decides if there's a nexus or not.

[babyray]

Wish I'd seen this before your appointment. I would have told you to provide your private doctor with as much of your records as you can, so that he could review them and consider them when making his decision. It makes for a stronger independant medical opinion when a doctor who is a specialist in the field weighs the same evidence that the VA doctor is going to weigh when the VA doctor decides if there's a nexus or not.

Thx but it doesn't matter. This PA told me that she would not be able to give me an IMO, the doc would have to & I would have to go thru more tests including physical theraype. I had my records w/ me but she refused.

babyray

[broncovet]

The Nexus letter needs to say something VERY close to:

"The Veterans (medical condition) is at least as likely as not due to ____________ sustained while in military service."

Or:

The Veterans .......is most likely due to ........ in military service.

==========================================================================

If he says

The Veterans.......might be due to military service

or

The Veterans.......could be due to military service.

Your claim will be denied as the VA considers it speculative.

[Rockhound]

My last nexus letter was from my primary care physicion/PCP Dr. It was ignored since the C&P examiner wrote an opinion which also included a reason and basis supporting that opinion, which of course was in opposition to my PCP's opinion giving it less weight because it didn't provide the supporting reason and basis with it.

This is even though my PCP is a MD and the C&P examiner is a specialized Nurse Practitioner. I'm not sure if she is a Specialist in Nose & Sinusis, but my PCP is not one, although I'm sure she has diagnosed enough similiar problems of the nose and sinusis to make an informed and quality opinion just as good as the NP is capable of doing.

So I would say, that if you are going for a nexus statement, make sure that it is also backed by a medically sound and supported opinion with as much documentation of your medical records listed and any medical papers/treateses to give it the weight of a sound medical possibility or if possible a sound medical certainty.

Print out a copy of the C&P examination worksheet for your problem, so the specialist will know what information needs to be covered in the exam and if you have already has a C&P exam, provide a copy of it as well so they can see if their opinion differs from theirs, so they will know what area to spend special attention when writing up their differing opinion making sure they provide the necessary supporting evidence in their rebutall.

It tears me up that a Nurse practitioner who has less schooling, experience, and definately less time spent with the Veteran than their PCP has, their opinion is given more weight just because they are given a better opportunity, direction, and training in giving C&P exams their PCP. If a C&P examiners opinion doesn't meet ther requirements for rating purposes, their report/opinion is returned and told where it is lacking, but when our PCP's send in their opinion that doesn't meet these same standards, it is up to the Veteran to tell their PCP how and why their opinion was regected as either not supported or has less weight in the rating officers opinion.

I wish you luck for it is not many VA Drs' whether they are PCP's or Specialist, who will take the time and effert and do what it takes to see that you are well supported with both a nexus letter and well supported opinion, to get what you deserve, which is a fair shot at the benefits and compensation you fully deserve.

Rockhound Rider ;)

[babyray]

The Nexus letter needs to say something VERY close to:

"The Veterans (medical condition) is at least as likely as not due to ____________ sustained while in military service."

Or:

The Veterans .......is most likely due to ........ in military service.

==========================================================================

If he says

The Veterans.......might be due to military service

or

The Veterans.......could be due to military service.

Your claim will be denied as the VA considers it speculative.

What if the doc says The Veterans......possible due to military service.

[poolguy11550]

What if the doc says The Veterans......possible due to military service.

Its possible that I'll win the lottery this weekend. In reality, its not very likely, but nonetheless possible. Possibly less than a 50% likelihood, or in VA speak "not likely".