My Claim: Increased, Denied and Deferred

[Shotlife]

Good evening.  My claim was decided.  My rating for anxiety with depressive features at 30% and changed to PTSD at 50%.

My VSO said I should be furious at the denial for Psoriasis and Prostatic Arthritis.  We filled a NOD with DRO.  He said get ready for the long haul. 

Lastly the CUE on my shoulder was deferred.  Considering this was going back to 04/2011 and my C&P went very well I am hoping this is a good sign.  

Any insights?

[Shotlife]

I only filed for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, they opened up skin condition on their own.  This is for a direct service connection. 

[Shotlife]

[Shotlife]

[Berta]

Your VSO is right-you should be pissed  at this ,. I  consider this has a basis for a CUE-we have plenty CUE templates and info here-

BUT- if the dermatologist would be willing to write a brief IM0/IME that follows the IMO/IME criteria here at hadit- it will help your claim, if the CUE does not work-

I didn't see this"reasonable letter"  in the evidence list: or the downloads-

"I had a great word letter from my Corpsman and a "reasonable" letter from a private dermatologist."

What he stated in the document was OK but not strong enough nor in a format of wording that VA is used to but I would be cueing them up the yings yangs if I got this decision

I had the same training your VSO had- he/she can handle the CUE or come here for more info.

[Shotlife]

Clarus Dermatology is on the evidence list.  We did a DRO for not having proper consideration of the letter from the doctor or the corpsman.  Unfortunately this is all the Dermatologist was willing to provide.

[Berta]

It seems they only referred to the  Psoriasis and Prostatic Arthritis

as a skin condition but I assume the claim was definitely for  the exact medical condition.

There are certainly awards at the BVA for your condition:

https://www.va.gov/vetapp18/files2/1808933.txt

If  a DRO hearing or DRO conference does not alter the decision, I suggest you go to the BVA search feature for psoriasis

https://www.index.va.gov/search/va/bva_search.jsp?QT=Psoriasis+and+Prostatic+Arthritis&EW=&AT=granted&ET=&RPP=10&DB=2018&DB=2017&DB=2016&DB=2015&DB=2014&DB=2013&DB=2012&DB=2011&DB=2010&DB=2009&DB=2008&DB=2007&DB=2006&DB=2005&DB=2004&DB=2003&DB=2002&DB=2001&DB=2000&DB=1999&DB=1998&DB=1997&DB=1996&DB=1995&DB=1994&DB=1993&DB=1992

and narrow it down with your VARO name in the browser  or the state it is in- and you might find an IMO/IME doctor ,in any grants , there who can help you.

Sometimes IMO/IME doctors are only refered to by initial  at the BVA but even those initials, if in your state ,could be searched for under a google search of dermatologists.

Research is a pain in the butt, I know- and sometimes I researched for way over more than an hour, or two -to find info here to help vets-and give them a solid reply-I have no time these days to do much of that 

But it is often research and determination that wins claims- that is how I won my claims.