RAMP DEVELOPMENT

[Jaydog]

I originally filed my claim 24 August 2014 and the denial came about 15 Sept. 2015. I filed a NOD right away contesting the results. In march of 2018 I got a notice to opt in the the new RAMP program which I did without hesitation. I figured why not i have already been waiting this long and what else could happen. Ill be the guinea pig to see how this works. I have nothing to loose. So a week ago I got a Call from V.E.S. scheduling a new C&P Exam for next week on a Saturday. Needless to say I was quite surprised about this development. I am happy this process is moving forward and I hope the results are positive. Im a little nervous about the exam as well. I will update the progress of this process as it develops..... 

[broncovet]

Keep us informed.  Im happy this (appears) to be moving.  There is much advice here on C and P exams.  In short, show up on time, be courteous, and prepared.  Know what to answer when the doc asks how are you.  

Answer the doc "on your worst day" not necessarily today.  Example:

Doc:  How are you?  

    Better today, but I didnt think I would make it on (your worst day, lets say last Thursday).  My wife and I got in a fight, the cops were called, and I was hauled to jail in a straight jacket.  There, they sent me for a mental health evaluation......

     Can you see this answer is better than the classic  "Im Fine, how are you? "?  

      Dont lie, dont exaggerate, but dont be afraid to tell the doc what is really wrong with you, either!!!  

Edited September 30, 2018 by broncovet

[Buck52]

Only one thing if you lie they will find out about it...if you tell them a story kinda like what broncovet mention about being haul away to jail in a straight jacket...After the exam is over and you leave, some examiners do a follow up and check out your story.

I had a DRO Hearing one time and the Audiologist had missed on some numbers she wrote down or had scratch them out and put in different numbers on my private hearing test...which I never caught or seen this

...at my DRO HEARING there happen to be a rating specialist present at my hearing, after the hearing the rating specialist called this Audiologist to ask about these numbers she has scratch out and put different numbers up ,  the audiologist got her copy of the record there in her office that the rating specialist was using and clear it all up  the numbers was to my advantage thank god, but this just goes to show how well they do check things out...

I didn't know this for years until I got my NEW CD ROM  C-FILE and was going through it on my lap-top...  I read that. the rating specialist mention that the audiologist was very nice and professional and was very cooperative. 

[killemall]

Good luck!!!!!

Ramps moving slow for you. Most who opted into Ramp in March are already at claim complete.

 

I'll take this as a good sighn though. Denials can come faster than approvals and a c@p likely means they need a proper rating for your disibilities.

 

I sense a win coming!!!!!!!!

[Jaydog]

Thank you all for the feed back.....Well I won't make anything up that's for sure plus they can verify my statements from the last exam I had. My story never changes its just the DR who interprets them and offers an opinion. I just hope I get someone who is sympathetic to what happened to me and not judge and take me serious. I did not feel that way during the last exam. I almost felt I was being interrogated by her and just looking for holes in my story...I just fear its another repeat of almost 5 years ago.... In my head I keep running scenarios that could happen.....I read my previous exam maybe 10 times maybe more looking for inaccuracy. I broke it done sentence by sentence to fully understand what the last examiner said or intended to say..... driving my self loony over this  

[Jaydog]

Well today I went to my C & P exam through VES..... I will have to say the exam was better than the last one I had. The main difference was that the examiner. The last C & P I had for PTSD was done by a VA Examiner. I believe she was more interested in trying to catch me in a lie. She did not believe me and the questions she was asking and how she was saying it was demeaning. All I can say is this was better, but I just don't know what the outcome will be. Of course I always think the worst about these things and second guess myself on the answers I provided and wonder if I said enough about how my behavior and how I am feeling... the examiner pretty much went off the DBQ according to the questions they were asking me.... Making sure my dates and times were correct and the timeline was correct. He was more Detailed oriented for sure.....I wish I knew how to get a copy of the report when its available to read it, but for now I just wait and see what happens... Ill keep you all posted and Thank you all  

[GeekySquid]

On 10/6/2018 at 2:47 PM, Jaydog said:

but I just don't know what the outcome will be.

@Jaydog

Good luck. My experience with the VES examiner up here in the Seattle region was not that 'nice'. I hope yours was better and you have good outcomes.

Started with getting 5 notifications in under 12 hours that i "had' to call them ASAP to confirm the appointment. They came ever after i confirmed.

When I called the number to confirm, the guy on the other end pushed at me 4 or 5 times to elect to have VES as my "preferred" outside provider for exams. I had to forcefully tell him to stop asking that question.  At the time I knew nothing about VES, literally zero, and their attempt to force that selection amounts them being all-but guaranteed business. There is no way that I can see to change that designation through our portals so I have no idea how that could be done

The C&P was for ED. The doc opened with "this is not a physical exam", which actually becomes important later.

Then instead of asking about my actual condition, he decided that he was going to ask questions about my nexus events for PTSD. They are in the file that he was supposed to have read, and there is no place on the DBQ that insists he make me repeat the nexus incidents.

After 3 or 4 questions my blood pressure was rising and I was nearing the point of not controlling my tongue and I told him that he was making this a hellish situation.

His response was to get a snotty tone and said, 'well i can just close you out as being uncooperative."  That set me off and I told him so. I also asked for his bosses name.

He calmed down and changed tracks and I took a bunch of deep breaths and my grip on the arms of the chair relaxed a bit. I hate having to act like a jackhole just to stop intrusions that are unacceptable.

He went through a bunch of the DBQ points and then got to the question of "how many "pads" do you use a day.

I told him I did not know what he was talking about, "pads" are a ladies product.

He told me what they were, which was new info for me. All i knew about incontinence products were the Depends style "diapers" and refuse to wear/buy those. It is not a discussion I ever expected to have with anyone, much less in relation to "pads".  I just own a lot of skivvies and wash them out every day. I usually change them two to three times a day.

He went on for a few more minutes, and then we were done.

Skip forward several weeks and my c-file arrived. I did not consciously know that I could have called the RO and asked for copy of the C&P be mailed me, or i would have.

I looked into the C&P and he did connect my situation to my PTSD and said 50% more likely it is caused by my SC conditions. Which is good. but then I went into the detailed questions.

This is where his opening line (from above) comes into play. He marked:

[X] The veteran declined the xxxx exam in every spot possible.

he also failed to note my discussion of "pads"  and other urinary related answers. some he just marked whatever amounts to "none' for that question.

I am fairly sure I will get the smc-k award for loss of creative organ, and I read someplace that is "Retro'ed" for a year before the claim though I am not sure of this.

I just cannot do anything until the rating decision is made and sent to me. I don't wait well, a serious character flaw.

I suspect I may file a NOD and I am researching for an Early Effective Date. I think I keep reading the ED is a secondary that is 'inferred' by PTSD and the original rating should have reflected that, but I am not yet sure of that situation. I do know my VA records show the ED plus both those and my Military records show UTI's started popping up after the nexus events.

Anyway, I hope your experience and outcomes with VES were better than mine.