Need Help Of How To File

[sbrewer]

Hi,

We need help on the steps to proceed with the following....

Husband is currently 50% for depression. He wants to file for an increase and also CAD as secondary and scars secondary with the CAD.

He emailed his SO(this is the only way they siim to communicate) here is his response...

(1)Send a statement to the Regional Office requesting an icrease of your service connected depression and amending your claim to include service connection for CAD secondary to depression .

(2)Let them know where you treatment for these conditions are at. (if there is treatment from outside the VAMC get a VA form 21-4142.

(3)Do not send internet reports or medical studies that link CAD to depression . Send only medical reports that link your CAD to your diagnosed depression.

Is there a certain form to use for question 1. above?

We got #2 above.

Now about #3...do we send the information from his cardiologist, or wait until he denied and we NOD?

He was increase from 10 to 50 in May of 2006.

Thanks,

sbrewer

Edited January 22, 2007 by sbrewer

[Vike17]

sbrewer,

The answer you received to number 1 and 2 were correct, there is no prescibed form for requesting an increase for an already service-connected disability. Just write the VA a short letter stating you would like to request an increase in evalution for the service-connected disability in question. Along with this letter attach all the medical records since the last C&P exam/rating decision for the said disability, or enclose the VA Form 4142 so VA can obtain the records themselves. If treatment was in a VAMC, just let them know the VAMC and the approximate dates of treatments.

As far as number three, the SO was also correct. By sending medical articles that pertain to the general public will do very little if not nothing for the secondary claims. The VA needs a statement from a medical professional that connects your secondary disabilities to that of your already sevice-connected ones. The doctor should state his/her rational as to why they came to such a conclusion. This is where the medical literature comes into play, as the doctor should then reference those medical articles as a bases for his/her rational.

Vike 17

[carlie]

You can also go to this URL a fill out a 21-4138 form -- this form is a Statement in Support of your Claim.

http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/vba-21-4138.pdf

Hope this helps a vet.

carlie