Game Plan For C&p's

[NavyWife]

Game plan for C&P's

I feel like I have to have a strategy in place on hubby's claim now that we are getting down to the finish line. The C&P scheduler called us yesterday on a Saturday morning and Darnit we missed his call! Here's my plan with a counterpunch to every punch that VA might try to throw at us. At least the ones that I'm aware of...

1. Go to CNP exam. Take a type written single page of paper that hubby can hand to the doctor as well as keep a copy for himself. This will restate the symptoms he has already reported to VA as well as provide the answers to questions the doc would ask that affect the rating. These I will get by looking over the DBQ for the issues he has filed for. Also I will look over the clinicians guide for the issues he has filed for.

2. 3 to 5 days later go on my healthy vet and download the exams using the blue button notes feature. If the exams are favorable do nothing. If the exams are negative or say things that we didn't say, Then immediately go and pay for two IMEs. I already have two specialists that I have previously contacted ready and willing to do the IMEs. Immediately upload these IMEs to E benefits. Then the evidence would be two against one and if VA follows their own rules they would have to grant the claim.

3. Wait for the rating decision. If it is favorable do nothing. If it is not what we expected, Either the percentage granted or the effective date granted, Then review the reasons and bases section for any legal errors that VA made. If there are any, then use Bertas "go Cue yourself "template explaining to Va exactly the legal errors they made. If no response within one year then file NOD.

What other punches might VA try to throw at us that I haven't thought of here?

[Navy04]

Good Moring Navy,

I hope the Doc lets you in. My Wife has never been allowed in. Make sure he does not shower, were Cologne or do his hair, if he has any, LOL! Tell your hubby to talk about his recent bad day, from the time he got up until he went to sleep. Talk about how it affects the people around him, work, kids Etc. Then if the Doc lets you talk, your input will go along way, because the Docs know that our Wives know us better than anyone. Good luck and keep us posted

[NavyWife]

Yes, my hubby and I are both really hoping the doc will let me in too! He always gets super stressed out anytime he has to go to the doctor. His blood pressure goes through the roof!

Thanks for the good tips! I will let him know! I don't let him wear cologne because I am allergic to fragrances! haha

Update: the C&P scheduler called back this morning and his 1st appointment will be on Thursday morning early (3 days notice). I'm actually happy about the short notice, because it's less time to stress out over it.They said they will send a letter confirming the appointment, but I think we will have the appt. before we get the letter. haha

The only bad part is for his 2nd issue-TBI-they don't have any appointments available through VA, so he said it would be outsourced to a contractor and they would call us in 2 or 3 weeks to schedule that appointment. I'm kinda bummed about that, because I have heard a lot of folks on here say they could not get a copy of the exam report when it was done by a contractor.

[Jon1371]

I wish you the best of luck on Thursday and I'd be interested to know what all is involved with the TBI C&P.

[john999]

It may take longer than 3-5 days to see your C&P exam depending on who is doing it. If the rating does not go your way then appeal. You do not to have legal errors to appeal. If you believe and the evidence shows that you should have gotten benefit of doubt you can appeal on that basis. I would appeal on any basis because you never know what the next rater might do. The same evidence can be a loser or winner. I think I would appeal if they made me King for a Day. Unless you get everything you are asking for then appeal.

[NavyWife]

I think I would appeal if they made me King for a Day.

lol-thanks for the laugh!

jon1371--I will post a detailed account of the TBI exam to try and help others...

I have a feeling they are gonna try to f us on this issue. Luckily, I have read everything I can get my hands on and know the protocol they have to follow for the TBI exam. If they don't follow the protocol, then I can raise a stink.

it's all at this link here

http://www.benefits....CS/disexm58.pdf

and then compare it to the rating guide for TBI here...

http://www.benefits....rt4/s4_124a.doc

and here...

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=722fdb03583d9caa71125a48dfab2b77&node=38:1.0.1.1.5.2.110&rgn=div7

[Jon1371]

Thanks, NavyWife. I just read through the doctor's notes from my first VA healthcare system and there's no mention of TBI screening. I don't know if it was mandatory or when it started. They diagnosed me as bipolar because I was having mood swings. Never been manic ever and that diagnosis has followed me for 9 years now. One of the other system's I used said that I denied TBI and another person screened me positive for TBI. I never knew what TBI was until a couple months ago. I thought your vehicle had to get hit or your person take shrapnel. Your husband's fall was documented, wasn't it? He was in a coma for a few days, right? I might not be remembering correctly.