ptsd Any Info On What Needs To Be In An Imo/ime ? Any Samples ?

[sdvet33]

Hello everyone,

First i'd like to thank everyone on here who has been a great help to me in the past. I appreciate everything everyone here has done for me.

My situation is that i was told i need an IME/IMO to strengthen my case for 100% TDIU and for my SSDI benefits. Currently i am at 80% and My VSO and everyone who has seen my file thinks i should be getting TDIU and SSDI. I recently had a psych appointment rescheduled and its wasn't until October so the V.A allowed me to use the Choice program and go to a civilian doctor. I asked the Civilian Doc if she could write me a IME/IMO and she said she had never written one but would be willing to write something. I told her kind of what i thought it was and what needs to be on there but i don't know much about them. She used to work at the V.A and specializes in PTSD cases so i think she knows her stuff as far as PTSD goes.

Anyway i was wondering if someone could tell me exactly what all needs to be on there. I just told her it's an evaluation and needs to include all my symptoms. Can anyone give me some guidance, and or, provide me with a sample/template/ or copy of their IME/IMO. It would be much appreciated. I've looked around for other Docs and their trying to charge me a couple grand and i have no money. If i could get a solid definition to what needs to be written i could get this doc to help me.

Any information i can get will help.

Thank you in advance i appreciate it.

[Berta]

If this is for an initial diagnosis of PTSD, the VA will not accept that diagnosis from a non VA MH provider ( 2010 PTSD regs)

If this is for a rating increase for established SC PTSD,then an IMO/IME might help.

When the VA awarded the 80%, why did they not consider TDIU then?

Were you working then?

If not ,what reason did they give you in the 80% decision, for not considering TDIU?

Every IMO/IME has to contain the key points here:




I didnt make this information up, I prepared it by going over 2 strong IMOs I have from Dr. Bash.

As a former VA doctor himself, he knows exactly what an IMO should contain.

[broncovet]

Berta said it better than I did. Yes, she is right the VA does not accept private doc's PTSD diagnosis. However, you indicated the VA sent you to this doc for PTSD treatment, so its hard to imagine the VA sends you to the doc for treatment then wont acknowledge their expertise. Its like, gee, if this doc is not competent to treat me, you sent me there, WHY?

However, try not get yourself into this can of worms. Make sure you read the docs reports and that it contains what you need. If you send your claim in missing a valid nexus, expect to be denied.

[Berta]

I didn't catch that Broncovet.....,Thanks..........you made a very good point.....the VA sent him to this private shrink........

I guess that means VA pays her.for treatment of this vet's MH disability

that should make her opinion very probative......

I have Never heard of VA doing that before.

[Buck52]

I still don't think the Private Dr opine will mean much even if the VA sent him there , if this Dr don't work for the VA...they will certainly use that against him, its like a game of chess we never know how the VA will move.

but they very well could stick to those changed regs back in 2010 as jbasser mention!

I think if he went to the VA MH and let them read his history a good favorable VA MH Dr will help and write up a good DBQ.

I Always wanted to know the difference between a DBQ & Nexus letter? aren't they basiacly saying the same??

jmo

..................Buck

[pwrslm]

Duty to assist?

As long as the opinion of the specialist that the VA sent the Vet to see indicates that it is possible that a PTSD condition exists, the duty to assist the Vet in the proper diagnosis is established.

VA also has to identify and grant awards for “inferred” claims, which are claims that the evidence supports but the claimant did not specifically request. So if the non VA specialists certified that X Y and Z diagnosis existed as supporting evidence of PTSD, the VA has the duty to infer that X Y and Z are also (an informal) part and parcel of the claim. So if they declined the PTSD claim, they have the duty to apply X Y and Z as inferred claims as if they had been itemized in the claim.

[pwrslm]

"I Always wanted to know the difference between a DBQ & Nexus letter? aren't they basiacly saying the same??"

..................Buck

DBQ is a Disability questionnaire, there are several, all VA FORM numbers for different conditions. Its sole purpose is to establish the condition of the subject and is used to measure current disability for VA ratings.

A nexus letter is a connection between conditions that existed when the vet was on Active Duty (as established in medical file), with the condition that exists currently, and how those two are related. Some conditions are assumed, others require specialists opinions, like MST, if they are not found in the Service Members Records...