Nprc

[SpcDearman]

How long does it take for NPRC to send your personnel records? I have asked for my records on November 6th with a 3 to 4 week window and still have not received them. Should I file another request for them using my previous request number? The clock is ticking on making my appeal for denial and I need these records to find an IMO doctor. Thanks in advance for the assistance. Whats up Rdawg. Hope all is going well sir.

[71M10]

Dearman,

Last I knew, on the initial claim with VA the NPRC "loans" the Service Medical Records to the VA. If you have already filled a claim and had a decision NPRC shouldn't have medical records. They would still have all your other types of records (disciplines, citations, action reports...). Your SMR's at this point will need to be sent from your VARO under a privacy act request. The news you don't want to hear is how long the VA will take to honor that request. The estimated completion for my FOIA/Privacy Act claim is May 13 to August 13. I asked for a copy of one VONAP form (1 sheet of paper) In June of 2012

You can file your NOD without the IMO and then work on getting the IMO(don't miss that 1 year deadline). I would be suprised if they took any action on a NOD (denovo review or SOC/certification to BVA) within 18 months.

Best regards,

[meghp0405]

once you file a claim with the veterans administration, they obtain your records from the NPRC and become the older of the records. I would ask VA for a copy of all medical records they have on file.

Turnaround time varies depending on how many pages. I have assisted veterans that received them in 2 weeks and others took 4 months to obtain a reply.

[boomer2]

I was told by a lady at the NPRC that the only SMR's they send the VA are those that pertain to your claim. I don't know if that is true or not. It took me 7 months to get mine from the NPRC and this was after my claim had already been processed.

[SpcDearman]

i appreciate all of the responses and have another question. I don't want to fowl this up. I don't want to miss my 1 year appeal. I know that if i do not have an IMO then there will be no way for me to get my claim approved. I want to have the IMO to substantiate my claim but need to have ALL of my SMR's to get this done. What should i do. i have medical records and C&P exams but need to have something from when I was in the Military showing how many times I tried to get this taken care of in the military.

[71M10]

File your NOD, in the same letter request a complete copy of your service medical records and C&Ps. Indicate SMR copies are required since you are having a private specialist examine you and they will need a complete copy of the medical records. You could also take this oportunity to go on the record about why you feel the C&P exam you received was deficient/wrong.

If you really are concerned with getting this "right", you might consider bringing in a lawyer and let them manage the NOD and Appeal. It will cost you 20% of your retro, but they would most likely ensure the "T"s were crossed and "I"s dotted. Ultimately, they don't get paid if you don't (so they have a vested interest).

If my current DRO comes back with a denial on sleep apnea/restrictive lung, I think I will bring in a lawyer for the BVA journey. Next month my DRO review will hit 2 years, I suspect that if I would have put a lawyer on this two years ago they wouldn't have delayed this as much as they have(but hey its the VA- what can I, a Lawyer, or even Congress do to them?). The other 2 DRO's I had through Detroit took only 6 months and 11 months but that was a couple of years ago. The backlog is making this a much bigger animal. Remember, the bigger the animal - the bigger the smell!!

Best regards,

[SpcDearman]

Thanks for that. i have approximately 500 pages of medical information including C&P exams. I have not one SMR in there. The C&P opined using these so I want to see what he saw and used and what he saw and didnt use. Funny how he can use something in my records to deny me but not break it down as to why his opinion makes sense. I will keep the lawyer idea in mind.

[carlie]

Thanks for that. i have approximately 500 pages of medical information including C&P exams. I have not one SMR in there. The C&P opined using these so I want to see what he saw and used and what he saw and didnt use. Funny how he can use something in my records to deny me but not break it down as to why his opinion makes sense. I will keep the lawyer idea in mind.

The C&P examiner does not have authority to grant or deny a claim issue,

only a va decision maker can do that.

But I sure would check my STR/SMR's against what the examiner states

if I was not in agreement.

JMHO

[SpcDearman]

The C&P examiner does not have authority to grant or deny a claim issue,

only a va decision maker can do that.

But I sure would check my STR/SMR's against what the examiner states

if I was not in agreement.

JMHO

Carlie, first of all thank you for all that you do here. i have never been able to thank you personally for answering a question a while ago. I was worried once i didnt receive any smr's on my records but received all C&P opinions. The opinions were speculation at best. I am going to simply send my nod in and hope for the best.

All - I have decided to seek a lawyers help moving forward. i am going to send my own Nod but let him take care of everything else. I now have private health care that begins in January and I may be able to get my new PCP to write my IMO for cheaper. If now then DR.Bash here I come. :) I am going to copy my sample NOD in the correct area and welcome CONSTRUCTIVE (lol) criticism.

[carlie]

Carlie, first of all thank you for all that you do here. i have never been able to thank you personally for answering a question a while ago. I was worried once i didnt receive any smr's on my records but received all C&P opinions. The opinions were speculation at best. I am going to simply send my nod in and hope for the best.

All - I have decided to seek a lawyers help moving forward. i am going to send my own Nod but let him take care of everything else. I now have private health care that begins in January and I may be able to get my new PCP to write my IMO for cheaper. If now then DR.Bash here I come. :) I am going to copy my sample NOD in the correct area and welcome CONSTRUCTIVE (lol) criticism.

Here's my 20 bucks worth of constructive - wait and file the NOD with evidence that overcomes

the reasons for denial - you have a year to get it together.

All a lawyer can do at this point is tell you about the same thing -

Can you post the Reasons and Bases Section of the denied issues ?