Mental Health Increase, Iu, Fdc

[teflonron2]

I filed my intent claim for an increase for mental health a few weeks ago and I'm trying to do an FDC. All of my records are with the VA.

Will the regional office request those records or do I supply them? Is paper or digitial preferred? Is it possible to only send the relevant mental health progress notes? Can I summarize the doctors notes or provide an index of all relevant mental health appointments? Anything I can do to make it easier for the claim specialist?

I'm currently 60% SC (40% for my back and 30% mental health) and wanting to apply for IU. Can I file for IU expecting an increase to my 30% for Major Depressive Disorder, which would bump me to the minimum % requirements?

I have a letter signed by both of my mental health providers to submit with claim stating that my symptoms "totally impair my ability to function in all spheres and I present as unemployable in any setting and symptom severity has grossly affected ability to function in social settings." So I'm assuming my SC will jump from 30% to at least 70%, in effect qualifying my for IU. I'm just not sure if I can submit that IU application along with my claim for an increase if I'm technically just shy of the 70% combined rating or 60% with a single disability or do I have to wait for a decision on my claim for increase?

Thanks in advance

[USMC_VET]

I filed my intent claim for an increase for mental health a few weeks ago and I'm trying to do an FDC. All of my records are with the VA.

Will the regional office request those records or do I supply them? Is paper or digitial preferred? Is it possible to only send the relevant mental health progress notes? Can I summarize the doctors notes or provide an index of all relevant mental health appointments? Anything I can do to make it easier for the claim specialist?

I'm currently 60% SC (40% for my back and 30% mental health) and wanting to apply for IU. Can I file for IU expecting an increase to my 30% for Major Depressive Disorder, which would bump me to the minimum % requirements?

I have a letter signed by both of my mental health providers to submit with claim stating that my symptoms "totally impair my ability to function in all spheres and I present as unemployable in any setting and symptom severity has grossly affected ability to function in social settings." So I'm assuming my SC will jump from 30% to at least 70%, in effect qualifying my for IU. I'm just not sure if I can submit that IU application along with my claim for an increase if I'm technically just shy of the 70% combined rating or 60% with a single disability or do I have to wait for a decision on my claim for increase?

Thanks in advance

Will the regional office request those records or do I supply them? Is paper or digitial preferred? Is it possible to only send the relevant mental health progress notes? Can I summarize the doctors notes or provide an index of all relevant mental health appointments? Anything I can do to make it easier for the claim specialist?

Personally I go into Myhealthevet and print off all the relevant docs from my VA file and submit them with the rest of my evidence.

The difference between a FDC and Standard Claim is this...

In Both Claims you can submit evidence and documents from both Federal and private sources.

STANDARD CLAIM: You identify St. Joe Hospital & Orthopedic Associates as places where you have sought treatment an authorize the VA to get records. You also identify you worked for General Electric for 15 years but had to quit work due to your disability and were missing too many days.

The Government (VA) makes a "reasonable effort" to contact these two hospitals for your records as well as your former employer for your sick days and reasons for leaving.

FDC: You go to St Joes Hospital and Orthopedic Associates and get copies of these records and submit them yourself as evidence, you also go to GE and get them to print off your leave days and copies of sick leave slips and get a copy of your termination papers and sworn declarations from you former supervisor(s) as to the reason you left.

The VA says that the FDC cuts the 'average' claim process time from 254 days to 110. Thats average, but it does cut down days.

This is your claim and to do it right NEVER trust the VA to do any work or the right thing. You have no idea what records they will obtain and what makes it into the raters hands. The only way to do this is to do the leg work yourself and ENSURE that they get the correct documents. To do this you will want to submit them in 3 ways. Ebenefits (digital), Mail (paper copy) and Fax (paper copy). I explain more how to properly send in your evidence in this thread ()

Dont summarize doctors notes as evidence. summarize them on the evidence list you submit to them, but if you just send in a one page summary of 100 pages of notes, then its not medical evidence its a statement from yourself and holds much much much less weight. Think of it from the VA's point of view, how do they know the doctor really wrote that?

The best way to make it easier for the rater is to gather all the evidence, support your evidence with a IMO/IME and DBQ from a private doctor and then tie all of the medical evidence together with sworn declarations as to WHY it is worse and HOW it is hurting you, your fmaily and you life more now than before. (go to link above to learn more about sworn declarations).

Can I file for IU expecting an increase to my 30% for Major Depressive Disorder, which would bump me to the minimum % requirements?

Iam unsure of this one. I dont think so. You need to be 70%+ to get IU so i dont think you can file for it until you hit the mark. I would wait to hear from the experts here though.

I have a letter signed by both of my mental health providers to submit with claim stating that my symptoms "totally impair my ability to function in all spheres and I present as unemployable in any setting and symptom severity has grossly affected ability to function in social settings." So I'm assuming my SC will jump from 30% to at least 70%, in effect qualifying my for IU. I'm just not sure if I can submit that IU application along with my claim for an increase if I'm technically just shy of the 70% combined rating or 60% with a single disability or do I have to wait for a decision on my claim for increase?

I would not just have that letter, but have the doctors fill out a DBQ for Major Depressive along with a Independent Medical Exam/Opinion and submit that. It will help much more to have a private dbq to go along with it.

[teflonron2]

This is some great info, USMC VET. Thank you for laying out the standard vs FDC. I'm going to look into getting one of those DBQ's done by my Psychiatrist and I'm going to read through that link you sent about the evidence. Thats what most of my questions have to do with

[Navy04]

I agree with USMC on this one bud. Just submit claim on Ebenefits as FDC and good luck

[teflonron2]

Thanks Navy04

[bluevet]

You can file for TDIU with your claim for increased compensation. In fact, although the general rule is that you need at least a 60% rating on a single disability, or a total combined 70%, this is not written in stone. Here's what the VA has to say about TDIU when a veteran does not meet this criteria.

"Under exceptional circumstances this benefit may be granted with a lower disability rating than noted above provided the evidence shows the service-connected disability or disabilities present such an exceptional or unusual disability picture, due to such factors as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization, that applying the normal disability requirements is impractical."

There is no need to wait to file for TDIU. I would file for both at the same time.

Here's a link to this information on the VA website: http://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-special-individual_unemployability.asp