Medical Opinions Associates, Inc.

[smoothc100]

Has anyone used Medical Opinions Associates, Inc. for an IMO?  If so what was your experience and the fees.  I'm trying to obtain an IMO for my sleep apnea.  The current company I was dealing with has been nonresponsive as of late.

[Gastone]

Have you given consideration to seeing a local non VA, Board Certified Neurologist specializing and Board Edifier Sleep Specialist? 1 appointment should be in the $150.00 area. His Clinician Notes regarding a possible Nexus supporting your claim, could Seal the Deal.

Worked for me, on the 1st try.

I was recently reading about VA IMO Fraud and the VA Policy regarding extra scrutiny for IMO's from known Drs, specializing in For Profit IMO's, not treatment. Very common for the Dr writing the "For Profit IMO," not to be  "Board Certified," in anything, just A PCP. If I were thinking of paying $1+K for a Medical Opinion, I'd certainly be looking for a Board Certified Specialist regarding my DX.

Semper Fi

 

[broncovet]

I agree with GASTONE, but, I also think the VA is treading on thin ice when they do this.  

The courts have ruled the Veteran's lay evidence is acceptable, absent evidence to the contrary, even tho the Veteran is an "interested party".  

In other words the VA CAN find your lay evidence is not credible or probative, but not based solely on the fact the Veteran is an "interested party".  

I would suggest the same standards apply for lay evidence as they do for medical evidence as far as their relation to an interested party.  Otherwise, VA could simply "throw out" any/all IME/IMO's as the doctor was getting paid by the Veteran for his opinion, and it "had to be biased" for that reason.  

This is real bad for VA, reminding you that VA hires your C and P examiner, and this examiner is often a contractor, not an employee of VA.  The VA can/does track how many benefits a particular examiner gets approved, and, perhaps award bonuses on these numbers.  

[pwrslm]

I think the VA must provide the reason and basis for them to ignore a lay statement by a Vet for disability claims.  The absence of a reason and basis is a guarantee that a denial will be returned for them to provide the missing information on appeal.  Same goes for the claim that they ignore IMO/IME, if they do not have a sufficient reason with a valid basis they cannot return a denial without the appeals judge returning the case and requiring them to provide the missing info. 

If they apply the missing info, its got to be valid, not arbitrary and biased.

[Buck52]

Most Medical specialist that are ''Veteran Friendly'' will certainly help out a veteran,

We just got to call around until we find one!

When I needed an IMO to rebut a VA ENT specialist  I called around and was just open and honest as to why I need his help, I found one specialist  board certified in all areas of my disability and he had me to get the VA guidelines and the VA  Regulations on this current disability & my medical records &  he read them examined me and wrote his impression to my disability.

It took about a week and 150.00 bucks   well worth every penny.

He did what I had ask of him and I took him the regulations that show how Equipoise is applied with VA...And what he wrote after he examined me...Well the VA Rating specalist and DRO took his  word /&more precise detail opinion over the VA Dr word  & over about 10 pages of the VA Dr's Opinions Crap and lies.

but this was about 15 /16 years ago.

[smoothc100]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.  I plan on looking for a specialist in my area.  I have the diagnosis and the CPAP from the VA, but of course they say its not service connected.  I'm going to need a nexus statement.

[Gastone]

Smooth, there is always the possibility that your OSA DX will not be SC'd.

Just went back and reviewed you 02/13 PTSD DBQ, you were Denied a PTSD SC right, did you end up with a Depression SC? That Negative VA PTSD DBQ was a real nut buster. The Dr made some very troubling observations, which in my Lay opinion,  could and probably will affect future claims.

What's your current MH SC%? Other than the mention of insomnia and a minor daytime work related concentration problem in the 02/13 DBQ, when & what other OSA symptoms did you present with? Is there a "Paper Trail" in your VA or private Med Recs.

I didn't see any mention of "Buddy Letters" or Stmt support of Claim by yourself or Sleeping Partners documenting your Sleep Problems (Hygiene, I think the Dr's call it).

Severe PTSD has been linked to SA, not so sure about Depression.

You definitely need a Board Certified medical Expert Credentialed in SA.

Semper Fi