Jump to content

Ask Your VA Claims Questions | Read Current Posts 
Read VA Disability Claims Articles
Search | View All Forums | Donate | Blogs | New Users | Rules 

  • tbirds-va-claims-struggle (1).png

  • 01-2024-stay-online-donate-banner.png

     

  • 0

Letters Written By Va Providers

Rate this question


lugnut

Question

I asked my MH DR. if he would write an opinion as to my condition, his take on the history,etc, etc.

He told me that he had done so in the past, but had received a letter stating that he must refrain from doing so or face losing his VA job. They told him it was a conflict of interest for him to opine in a matter relating to the VBA. Anyone else ever heard of this?? It seems to me that VA is telling us that we must go "outside the system" hire a private Dr. be diagnosed, then get an IMO/IME from that person. Is that the way others read this??? I suppose I can get my progress notes to send in, but that isn't the same as an IMO. I'm kinda lost here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Recommended Posts

  • 0

Great points, guys. I always presumed that notes by themselves would influence a decision when the VA records were pulled. Having a direct statement is even better.

Limbo is status quo for the VARO.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Thanks folks, I have an appointment with my Dr. on the 23rd and will discuss this with him. Actually, I will print a copy of the Directives and bring them with me. Again I really appreciate your help.

Buddy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I dont want you to have negative feelings towards the VA but be very cautious and choose your words wisely! I have had a few Doctors turn my words around and use them against me. They might say one thing in an appointment and put the opposite in the notes. Kind of like a two-faced friend. I guess it is human nature. Just watch your back because just when you think they have your back they will turn on you to protect themselves.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0
  • HadIt.com Elder

These VA providers suffer from a common ailment at the VA...."Lack of Guts" disease. However, if they are new on the team the VA will get rid of them if they go against the unwritten policy. I had a pain doctor who went against the VA's plan. He prescribed Fentanyl Patch for me. This drug is expensive. He got fired or transferred. A few years ago I had a Russian doctor for a PCP. She would write great letters for me. She got kicked upstairs. Now I have routine VA doctor who will not stick her neck out one inch. I don't even bother to ask anymore.

The Russian doctor had access to a IME type application on her VA computer that would generate the most beautiful letter you ever read to make secondary connections. That App. must have been deleted.

John

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

The thing about a letter is: we have many posts of vets with clear evidence in their notes that was missed or ignored by raters causing them denials, delays and grief.

So- leave nothing to chance. hold your doc's feet to the fire for a conclusion using the info provided here.

If they won't do it, go to the patient advocate, hospital director and the IG insisting you want a denial in writing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Tell a friend

    Love HadIt.com’s VA Disability Community Vets helping Vets since 1997? Tell a friend!
  • Recent Achievements

    • Lebro earned a badge
      First Post
    • stuart55 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • stuart55 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Lebro earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • Sparklinger earned a badge
      First Post
  • Our picks

    • Caluza Triangle defines what is necessary for service connection
      Caluza Triangle – Caluza vs Brown defined what is necessary for service connection. See COVA– CALUZA V. BROWN–TOTAL RECALL

      This has to be MEDICALLY Documented in your records:

      Current Diagnosis.   (No diagnosis, no Service Connection.)

      In-Service Event or Aggravation.
      Nexus (link- cause and effect- connection) or Doctor’s Statement close to: “The Veteran’s (current diagnosis) is at least as likely due to x Event in military service”
      • 0 replies
    • Do the sct codes help or hurt my disability rating 
    • VA has gotten away with (mis) interpreting their  ambigious, , vague regulations, then enforcing them willy nilly never in Veterans favor.  

      They justify all this to congress by calling themselves a "pro claimant Veteran friendly organization" who grants the benefit of the doubt to Veterans.  

      This is not true, 

      Proof:  

          About 80-90 percent of Veterans are initially denied by VA, pushing us into a massive backlog of appeals, or worse, sending impoverished Veterans "to the homeless streets" because  when they cant work, they can not keep their home.  I was one of those Veterans who they denied for a bogus reason:  "Its been too long since military service".  This is bogus because its not one of the criteria for service connection, but simply made up by VA.  And, I was a homeless Vet, albeit a short time,  mostly due to the kindness of strangers and friends. 

          Hadit would not be necessary if, indeed, VA gave Veterans the benefit of the doubt, and processed our claims efficiently and paid us promptly.  The VA is broken. 

          A huge percentage (nearly 100 percent) of Veterans who do get 100 percent, do so only after lengthy appeals.  I have answered questions for thousands of Veterans, and can only name ONE person who got their benefits correct on the first Regional Office decision.  All of the rest of us pretty much had lengthy frustrating appeals, mostly having to appeal multiple multiple times like I did. 

          I wish I know how VA gets away with lying to congress about how "VA is a claimant friendly system, where the Veteran is given the benefit of the doubt".   Then how come so many Veterans are homeless, and how come 22 Veterans take their life each day?  Va likes to blame the Veterans, not their system.   
    • Welcome to hadit!  

          There are certain rules about community care reimbursement, and I have no idea if you met them or not.  Try reading this:

      https://www.va.gov/resources/getting-emergency-care-at-non-va-facilities/

         However, (and I have no idea of knowing whether or not you would likely succeed) Im unsure of why you seem to be so adamant against getting an increase in disability compensation.  

         When I buy stuff, say at Kroger, or pay bills, I have never had anyone say, "Wait!  Is this money from disability compensation, or did you earn it working at a regular job?"  Not once.  Thus, if you did get an increase, likely you would have no trouble paying this with the increase compensation.  

          However, there are many false rumors out there that suggest if you apply for an increase, the VA will reduce your benefits instead.  

      That rumor is false but I do hear people tell Veterans that a lot.  There are strict rules VA has to reduce you and, NOT ONE of those rules have anything to do with applying for an increase.  

      Yes, the VA can reduce your benefits, but generally only when your condition has "actually improved" under ordinary conditions of life.  

          Unless you contacted the VA within 72 hours of your medical treatment, you may not be eligible for reimbursement, or at least that is how I read the link, I posted above. Here are SOME of the rules the VA must comply with in order to reduce your compensation benefits:

      https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/3.344

       
    • Good question.   

          Maybe I can clear it up.  

          The spouse is eligible for DIC if you die of a SC condition OR any condition if you are P and T for 10 years or more.  (my paraphrase).  

      More here:

      Source:

      https://www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/

      NOTE:   TO PROVE CAUSE OF DEATH WILL LIKELY REQUIRE AN AUTOPSY.  This means if you die of a SC condtion, your spouse would need to do an autopsy to prove cause of death to be from a SC condtiond.    If you were P and T for 10 full years, then the cause of death may not matter so much. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Guidelines and Terms of Use