not a Q but a STATEMENT about the power of an IMO/IME

[paulcolrain]

im currently writing my award time frame and my success story for this Great Veterans Blog Information site.

but, in the mean time i want to stress and admit that all the others here stressed to me ,,,, if you get any type of small retro and believe your going further in your VA quest for benefits you deserve. please please,,, do your self a favor and save $2,500 and get an IMO/IME... it is the world of difference... if i can say that 1 of the 5 most important things ive learned here on this site is,,, the importance of realizing that a C and P exam will never get you there no matter your evidence. please take this advice and save up to get your imo/ime and then get your win from the VA.
 

[Buck52]

Its Actually getting very hard anymore to get in to see a Dr about anything  if you don't have a premium Insurance policy...Most Dr's nowadays are in a group and only take patients with insurance,  some private practice Dr's will accept cash but they are getting far and between to find.

So sometimes a IMO/IME we need may just consist of a office visit, and hopefully they will accept cash payment..I think its because most patients have good insurance and there's no cash at hand in the office of the Dr.

I tell veterans that need an IMO/IME to just call around until you find that Dr that is Veteran friendly and wants to help a Vet in need.

just be open and honest with the Dr  or his staff and let them know what you need and how you can pay.....I've had to do this like 3 times while I was fighting the VA for my benefits.

depending on what you need for your IMO/IME? some Dr are real good at helping veterans but they don't come cheap. ..>but they will accept Cash.

if you think they are to expensive  then check around until you find a Dr that you can afford.

I do not believe you get what you pay for on this subject...some Dr out there are just to expensive to mess with, if there qualified Dr & Want help you and less expensive as some well known Dr's AND YOU LET THEM KNOW TO USE VA LANGUAGE AND HOW TO WORD THINGS THE VA LOVES... & They do this   its  just as good as one of the expensive Dr.

Most Veterans that need their benefits just don't have the $$$ or Insurance  to get these high and expensive IMO/IME from popular Dr's.

So please just make some phone calls...you will eventually find a caring Dr that understands and veteran friendly  that will help you.

[pwrslm]

On my first claim for SC I sat down and started calling every specialist in the phone book. I found one who would give me an IMO for 250. I provided info about how the IMO must be worded and he did a bang up job for me. Claim was approved rapidly because my file was hardship at that time. 250 was a great price in 2014, if they wanted 500 it was a great price. 
The IMO needs to describe the "etiology" of the condition that links your active duty issue with the current issue. That is a term used to describe the technical reasons of how your service connected injury is related to or a result of a condition you are dealing with now. As long as your IMO contains an etiology, its almost a sure thing that you will be approved. Remember none of the MD's giving IMO's will lie for you. If they say no, its probably no. If you want a second opinion go for it, but if you hire an MD on the outside they usually dont have an axe to grind with anyone. Be ready because there is a possibility that the IMO rejects an etiology that you are seeking.

[seminoles]

On 9/23/2018 at 8:23 AM, Buck52 said:

Its Actually getting very hard anymore to get in to see a Dr about anything  if you don't have a premium Insurance policy...Most Dr's nowadays are in a group and only take patients with insurance,  some private practice Dr's will accept cash but they are getting far and between to find.

So sometimes a IMO/IME we need may just consist of a office visit, and hopefully they will accept cash payment..I think its because most patients have good insurance and there's no cash at hand in the office of the Dr.

I tell veterans that need an IMO/IME to just call around until you find that Dr that is Veteran friendly and wants to help a Vet in need.

just be open and honest with the Dr  or his staff and let them know what you need and how you can pay.....I've had to do this like 3 times while I was fighting the VA for my benefits.

depending on what you need for your IMO/IME? some Dr are real good at helping veterans but they don't come cheap. ..>but they will accept Cash.

if you think they are to expensive  then check around until you find a Dr that you can afford.

I do not believe you get what you pay for on this subject...some Dr out there are just to expensive to mess with, if there qualified Dr & Want help you and less expensive as some well known Dr's AND YOU LET THEM KNOW TO USE VA LANGUAGE AND HOW TO WORD THINGS THE VA LOVES... & They do this   its  just as good as one of the expensive Dr.

Most Veterans that need their benefits just don't have the $$$ or Insurance  to get these high and expensive IMO/IME from popular Dr's.

So please just make some phone calls...you will eventually find a caring Dr that understands and veteran friendly  that will help you.

It is near impossible to find a doctor to even see us without insurance, let alone fill out an IMO.  Sad state of affairs really.  I hate using the VA more than anything but have no other choice.  Veterans like me are screwed, if you get a back doc, well that is how it is.  Fighting is futile really until you get enough ammo together to get someone involved to fight for you that has more pull than you do.  Now, if I were a post 9/11 veteran I would have all the resources available to me, from the VA as well as organizations that ONLY cater to post 9/11 veterans, who btw will never get a single penny from anyone in our circle of friends, family or veterans.   So, I just fight another day and tell them if they refuse to provide me care, fine I won't set foot in a VA mh clinic or hospital.  I will be dead first.  I trust them about as much as a trust a  crack head with a bowl of crack.  ZERO.

[Buck52]

I have learned over the years never mention a claim to the VA Dr's ,Just ask questions about your condition wisely and keep asking questions show to be  concerned about your medical condition, the Dr's will slip up on some things not realizing your getting valuable medical information from them.

say things like so Dr my condition could be related to or the cause of some of the medications I take right? should I keep doing the things I am doing or ask for a different medication to try?  ect,,,ect,,, just generally keep the conversation intact to the issues at hand....never mention a claim, After 3 days go back to Myhealthvet and see what the Dr put in his/her report on the last appointment visit  each time...eventually you will be surprised at what the VA Dr Mention...some times its just what you need as medical evidence to help substantiate  your claim.

[paulcolrain]

On 9/23/2018 at 6:04 AM, broncovet said:

I agree with all these, but will add for those who dont have 2500 or whatever for the IMO:  Sometimes you can get a VA doc who is "on your side".

very true bronko... so if anyone is asked to go to C + P on lower radicular i would argue with the doc about why your tingling in your feet, shins, ankles.... then ask doc to report what specific nerves it follows ???? find it and argue it.

[killemall]

Broncovet.

 

Well said man.  I've been rated 50% for hearing loss and 10% for tinnitus since 2013.  I feel it's worst now at 38 then when I got that rating at 33.

Depression is huge with my hearing loss. I mean HUGE.  I often give up talking to others before I even try.

As far as the imo or one.

Me and a buddy both used Dr Bash to right an IME for both of us.

 

The person who looked at my friends a greed with everything the ime said and my buddy got 100%...up from his prior 80%

 

The person who looked at mine contested everything in the ime and I remained at my previous 70%

I guess the point is.....Yes it's a great weapon....But you are still fighting a flawed system