tdiu Received IMO from Valor

[flores97]

I have received my IMO from Valor Compensation Consulting and am posting it here for everyones opinion. I am pleased overall, I do wish she had gone into more detail on the rationale portion. She also included over thirty pages of medical journal articles relevant to the secondary conditions, and my treatment records, which are all tabbed and highlighted.  I am not claiming all of the conditions listed. The only secondaries I am claiming at this time are Fibromyalgia, IBS, and GERD, as well I am going to ask for TDIU. I was going to claim Urinary Incontinence as well, but I feel that I don't have enough treatment recs for that condition at this time. I do have pads and bed pads prescribed by VA, but the docs felt it would be difficult for me to obtain sc for incontinence also due to my age, I'm only 39.If it is still a major issue in a few years, when I have more treatment records built up, I will apply then. As far as the other secondaries that were listed on this IMO, I have been diagnosed with all of them but I am only asking for sc for the ones that are moderate to severe. For example, while the Tinea Versicolor is aggravating and sometimes painful, I never know when its a Tinea rash or a Lupus rash, it also does not incapacitate me in any way(besides itching, burning and making it even more difficult to sleep). I considered the peripheral neuropathy, because that is actually a pretty moderate problem, ive been on Gabapentin for the last seven years at 900 mg a day, but I feel that just the issues I am claiming should take me to 100%. I am being fitted with a holter monitor on this Friday, and the joint and chest pain and gastro problems are to the point I do not leave the house unless I have no other choice, and of course for appointments. If I begin having organ damage from the SLE, of course I would apply for that as well. My IMO from Dr Ellis should be arriving in two weeks or so and I will be posting that as well. Please give any opinions, advice, etc. I feel that this should work since I will have a more detailed IMO from Dr Elis to submit as well. Thanks in advance for any opinions, please bear in mind this is not the entire IMO, just first three pages, entire packet was about sixty pages including articles and records

[ShuMan]

I'm not an IMO expert but based on the fist couple of pages it looks well put together and backed up by sound medical logic. Did you end up getting an IMO or an IME from Dr. Ellis?

[flores97]

I sure did Shuman, I unfortunately was unable to travel, I tried and ended up getting very sick in transit, being an idiot and trying to save money i attempted to take a greyhound bus to ok. I made it an hour outside of NC, to florence SC before the puking started, my face broke out in a malar rash as well, i gave up, exited the bus and my mother had to come pick me up. That was Sunday, i called Dr Ellis on Monday to cancel and explained what had happened. His nurse said he normally wont do an IMO(he prefers in person examinations), but due to the severity of my health conditions, my extensive treatment records, etc, we could do a phone interview, which we did, he is writing up the report and mailing it to me, and i am beyong grateful. There is no way i could have made it.

[flores97]

13 minutes ago, ShuMan said:

I'm not an IMO expert but based on the fist couple of pages it looks well put together and backed up by sound medical logic. Did you end up getting an IMO or an IME from Dr. Ellis?

Shuman, I believe she did a great job, together with the IMO from Dr Ellis, i should be good to go.

[ShuMan]

Sorry to hear about the health issues. I am glad that Dr. Ellis was willing to work with you. Two solid IMOs I would say your in this thing fully loaded..lol

[ArNG11]

Best wishes and better health to you flores, hang in there!

[flores97]

ArNG11, thank you, I am toughing it out! I'm not worried about myself as much as what would happen to my mother and kids that depend on me.

[Buck52]

flores97

so sorry you had problems traveling on the Bus, I had thought you would fly to Ok City., but never the less you did the right thing  calling your mom.

Its Great that Dr Ellis is going to write your IMO without seeing him in person,  He/she is a caring Dr for veterans.

Unfortunately I could not read the link about what your other Dr wrote   Its just to small for me to see...although I have an VA Eye Clinic May 5th eh!

I sure hope you start feeling better & you get Awarded IU P&T with no future exams....for veterans in your condition its so hard to get out and go to them  let alone force yourself to get to your appointments.

Let us know what they decided.

Good Luck & Take Care

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

[flores97]

32 minutes ago, ShuMan said:

Sorry to hear about the health issues. I am glad that Dr. Ellis was willing to work with you. Two solid IMOs I would say your in this thing fully loaded..lol

Thank you Shuman, I sure hope so!! Its not like I don't go into VA when I have flares, I do as soon as I can walk, so they know how many I'm having. I am very, very grateful to Dr Ellis!

[ArNG11]

5 minutes ago, flores97 said:

ArNG11, thank you, I am toughing it out! I'm not worried about myself as much as what would happen to my mother and kids that depend on me.

Don't talk like that, (write) but thinking about your family is admirable and I respect that.  Hang in there!  see things through, and most importantly a speedy recovery to you. 

[green]

Flores, I applied for two secondary disabilities 20 years ago that were denied due to lack of evidence.  When I reapplied in July, I had significant documentation and the C&P supported my claim.  They pre-dated the award based on my previous application date (20 years ago).  I would suggest you apply and if turned down, gather the evidence and reapply.

 

 

[flores97]

1 hour ago, ShuMan said:

Darn it, I keep hitting the quote tab! Sorry Shuman! Green, thank you for the advice, that's outstanding that they backdated, and very, very rare! May I ask if you filed a cue? Or did they acknowledge that they should have granted the original claim? In any case, congrats!! Buck and Arng11, thank you both for the support, with my father havis his accident the week before I was already stressed when I tried to travel. Buck, I was planning on flying, but my doc advised against it due to a couple of inverted lines on my ekg? Not certain what that had to do with flying, but i followed the advice and bought bus tickets, it was alot cheaper as well. Thanks again everyone for the advice, i wanted ti provide an example of the great work Valor did, i would post the entire report but everything is tabbed, stapled etc.

[syne7]

On 4/21/2016 at 9:54 AM, green said:

Flores, I applied for two secondary disabilities 20 years ago that were denied due to lack of evidence.  When I reapplied in July, I had significant documentation and the C&P supported my claim.  They pre-dated the award based on my previous application date (20 years ago).  I would suggest you apply and if turned down, gather the evidence and reapply.

 

 

Green, what mechanism did you use to adjust the date?  Claim 1 was denied... 20 years later you made claim 2 approved.  How did you get the date back to 20 years ago.  Did you appeal the approved claim 2 decision and ask for an earlier effective date?

[green]

syne7, all I did was provide the support.  As the disability had been denied in the past they looked at that decision.  They didn't go back to the date I filed the original claim but did pre-date the current claim back 12 years (sorry, didn't have the letter when I posted above and was assuming they went back 20 yrs based on the backpay).  The VA stated they could find no evidence prior to that date (not true) so i'm seeking records and will submit a CUE for an incorrect rating date.