Everything Got Denied!

[ranger11bv]

opps

Edited March 13, 2015 by ranger11bv

[Gastone]

Help me out here. Do you see any VA Dr's for anything? Do you have non VA Dr's or Psychiatrist/Psychologist DX of PTSD? My VA Primary Care Dr did a PTSD Questionnaire that when scored got me referred to VA Mental Health Dept where another Questionnaire was administered and Scored resulting in the offer of either a Psychiatrist or Group Therapy. Didn't get the PTSD DX until the C&P Psychiatrist completed my PTSD DBQ, about 2 months after I started group. Get with your VA PC Dr and get referred to Mental Health for PTSD Evaluation.

Have you been able to determine exactly what the C & P that you missed was for. Did you miss more than 1 C&P. Your other issues were primarily range of motion rating increases, Orthopedic Specialists not Psychiatrist as in PTSD.

Just trying to get a clearer picture of your situation.

Semper Fi

Gastone

[ranger11bv]

Help me out here. Do you see any VA Dr's for anything? Do you have non VA Dr's or Psychiatrist/Psychologist DX of PTSD?

YES

My VA Primary Care Dr did a PTSD Questionnaire that when scored got me referred to VA Mental Health Dept where another Questionnaire was administered and Scored resulting in the offer of either a Psychiatrist or Group Therapy. Didn't get the PTSD DX until the C&P Psychiatrist completed my PTSD DBQ, about 2 months after I started group. Get with your VA PC Dr and get referred to Mental Health for PTSD Evaluation.

Have you been able to determine exactly what the C & P that you missed was for.

YES

Did you miss more than 1 C&P. Your other issues were primarily range of motion rating increases, Orthopedic Specialists not Psychiatrist as in PTSD.

NO

[ranger11bv]

Put all our condolences in one hand and xxx in the other, which one fills up. I don't have a clue to the numbers but I think the lion's share of Vet's initial claims denials are usually the result of the Vets lack of knowledge or Proactive participation. Mine was and there's probably a better than even chance your was also. i believe we're all guilty of dropping the ball in some way, shape or form. From VA's standpoint, Missing a C & P due to forgetting or not getting the notification letter has to be right up there with "The dog ate my homework." If you still live at the VA's address of record and all other mail got to you, I think it's on you. i can't remember if C & P Exam appointments ever showed up on My Healthy Vet. As I recall back 05/14 I got a C & P notification letter followed by an appointment reminder card and an actual automated reminder phone call the week before the exam.

What could and should you have done differently? Take a few days and then give us your honest opinion. Time now to start planing your future appeal. Learn from your past mistakes and avoid repeating them. You know about the 12 month appeal window and you've read the pro & cons regarding DRO Hearings and proceeding directly to BVA, right. I'm confident that barring a VARO N & M Evidence triggered Automatic Review Award, your looking at 3 to 5 years on your Appeals train ride. Maybe shorter but probably longer. With that said, I think your #1 job is to get any and all New & Material Evidence submitted to your VARO. A Senior Rater or DRO could award your claim well before a DRO Hearing or BVA Hearing is held. It all comes down to the quality of your Medical Evidence that was not available for the original rater. Time to get busy, right?

Semper Fi

Gastone

Simple: I SCREWED UP!!! Im not blaming NO ONE but myself on this. Im meeting the Director of the Phoenix RO and the Rating supervisor this Monday.

[Gastone]

Excellent answer! How did you go about getting your upcoming meeting with RO Dir & Rating Supervisor?

Do you have a PTSD DX and are you being treated by your VA Mental Health Dept?

Semper Fi

Gastone

[ranger11bv]

Excellent answer! How did you go about getting your upcoming meeting with RO Dir & Rating Supervisor?

Thnx. Got in touch with Allison Hickey, Under Secretary for Benefits

Do you have a PTSD DX and are you being treated by your VA Mental Health Dept?

Yes

Semper Fi

Gastone

[Navy04]

Ranger an Gastone, glad to see you guys are having a great mature conversation. I have had over 30 C&Ps in the last two years, and they never get easier. Most days I just want to get rid of the VA all together and never step foot in there. The majority of the C&P Docs suck, whether they are good people that are over worked, stressed and underpaid, or the kind that just don't care and want to deny all Vets. There have been quite a few times that I did not find out about a C&P until the day before, and it would be a 300 mile round trip, WTH!!! I always found a way to get there, because the VA is looking for any reason to deny us. Good luck, and God Bless!!!