Dbq's

[Buck52]

Some times when Medical examiner Fills out a DBQ he/she does not answer all the questions or most of the questions that pertain to the veterans disability & usually the results is denied.

Some VA Dr's are reluctant to address all the questions in a DBQ unless the veteran request it be done especially the questions that address the veterans disability for his claim.

I am not sure a veteran can exchange a DBQ with an IMO/IME but when submitting your DBQ if you think you have a bad DBQ one that is not favorable its usually best to submit a IMO Also one that addresses your disability.

And while at a C&P its hard to ask the Dr to address all the questions in a DBQ because they don't have the time or just not veteran friendly or whatever, however ask the Dr to Address the questions that pertain to your disability in the DBQ!

Just my thoughts & hope this will save some time on processing the veterans claim's toward a favorable decision.

[rootbeer22]

Fat:

I found the same problems and issues with the local DBQ's at an VAMC and I may have made a mistake by asking for them in the first place instead of going to a local doctor? Also, from the start, the nurse gave me the feeling that I was intefering with her regular workload and was not keen to do the extra exams in the first place? I don't think the process had fully been vetted yet and the clininc was not fully aware of the policy in fairness to them? Originally, I saw an annoucement where at VAMC CP Clinics they could/would help Vets to complete their DBQ and exams. I figured that this would speed up my application process but it has not so far? However, my experience was that they had a nurse to do them and they were not all thorough, accurate, or/or she mixed issues from one DBQ to other questionaires done on the same day. For instance, she did all the questionaires first then did all of the exams much later seperately then added everything together. We did this over a course of two sessions, over a two weeks and a couple hours so she mixed comments from one contention to several others? As an example, like comments associated with my feet and ankles were mixed with in my back exam which had nothing to do with one another? Also, although she had no expertise in diagnosing some medical areas, she made unfavorable comments without understanding that mt SMR coverd the condition? But as she did comment anyway with innacurate information? Mainly, she was supposed to review all of my records first (and marked off that she did) before the exams but spent very little if any time on the records which made me very sceptical? I was involved in a Tank Accident and Explosion but that was glossed over?

The biggest issue was with my back and the ROM measurements...she pushed my back and outer extremeties way beyond the pain level, then wrote down something different then from what the measuring devices showed? This erroded my confidence in the local DBQ exam process at that point. I expected the same kind of treatment in terms of exams as if I were still in the military? Frankly, the jury is still out on the acutal impact on my overalll claims but I have been scheduled for 4 new ACE Exams recently? Who knows maybe I'm fine...I'm going to write an article about the FDC experience so other Vets can see what happended to me

[Buck52]

rootbeer22 ,

you may want to ask for another C&P from a different Dr and you would prefer a Specialist MD to do the exam but still theres no guarantee that will work its how they rate the DBQ and address all the questions particular to your disability. hopefully in favor.

Edited January 24, 2015 by Buck52

[ArNG11]

Buck,

In regards to my statement about Secretary McDonald sending out a notice to all VA medical personnel, including doctors, directing them to complete DBQs and IMOs; this notice would be directed to doctors and certain medical personnel qualified to complete IMOs or DBQs. It is my understanding that only doctors can complete DBQs.

I say nay on this. That is the way it is supposed to happen but doesn't The VA can use any doc they want to fill out a DBQ. It just has to be medical personal. Nurses, Nurse Practitioners and doctors not dealing with the illness or condition that you are claiming and it's completely legit. If you are getting an IMO/IME do NOT do this. Your evidence will be thrown to the side. Your best chance of having a DBQ filled out by a private doc is to have the DBQ filled out by a specialist in the field along with a medical narrative. Also very important that they mention that they have reviewed your entire medical record to include service medical records. JMHO

P.S. One of my DBQ C&P Exams for sleep apnea was done by a gynecologist. Please tell me how that makes sense! VA has the cards stacked in their favor.