DBQs No Longer Available Online

[JustGettingStarted]

VA has removed all the DBQs from their website with this statement at the end of the page:  "VBA has discontinued the use of public facing Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs).  Originally, public facing DBQs were designed to assist Veterans living overseas to obtain medical evidence in support of their benefit claims where limited options were available.  Today, VA works with contracted providers in more than 30 foreign countries to conduct disability medical examinations."

I monitor a Veteran's facebook page and often refer veterans to the DBQs for their conditions.  In some cases, it is to download and have their doctor fill out a copy; in others, it is so a veteran can fill out the DBQ and take it to their C&P exam to make sure all the facts essential to their claim are covered by the examiner.  I had my dermatologist do a DBQ for me after fighting the VA for almost 2 years for an increase because the VA examiners couldn't complete a simple form.  It was the key to getting an increase from 0 to 60% for a skin condition and winning a CUE to get 8 years in back pay.

This is an affront to the veteran community making it much more difficult for veterans to win their claims.  

I am wondering if the DBQs can be requested under FOIA and posted on some other pages such as here on Hadit.  I know it is more work for the admins, but if someone had the time to take this on and provide this vital information to veterans, it would be extremely helpful.

Also, if you could start a new thread just for DBQs, I have blank copies in PDF format that I would be glad to upload.  I figure even if they become a bit outdated, they would be better than have zero access to this information.

https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/dbq_disabilityexams.asp

[GBArmy]

Hamslice That kinda paints the picture that the VA is almost conspiring to deny rather than maximize the benefits a veteran is entitled to. Now you know the VA bends over backwards to find a way to get us what we deserve. Right? Well, we just have to keep on sharing info and helping others finds out what works. "You don't lose until you quit trying!"

[Guest]

10 hours ago, Hamslice said:

Here's the deal.

The VA had a secret code, with the "as least as likely" bullsh** that had to be verbatim for your claim to succeed.  Then, some Veteran's broke the code, found the required terminology to win claims.

Then, the VA started using a checklist for the Veteran's claim.  Then, some Veterans found the checklist and started using it to win claims.

Well we can't have Veteran's winning now can we, 

Didn't think so,

Hamslice

Now, it will take another couple years to find their new formula, and when we do, we ride!!!!!!

 

Hamslice, even though VA has discontinued the checklist, unless something else has change, a veteran can still have his/her treating physician to write a statement in his/her progress reports(treatment notes) that the veteran's condition is as least likely as not caused by or the result of military service or the veteran's condition is as least likely as not caused by or the result of the veteran's already service connected condition to win service connection.

[Vync]

It does make me wonder if a veteran can request copies of all the DBQs via a FOIA request or if they will simply deny using the same justification in their response to me (same as on web site).

[Guest]

36 minutes ago, Vync said:

It does make me wonder if a veteran can request copies of all the DBQs via a FOIA request or if they will simply deny using the same justification in their response to me (same as on web site).

IMHO, my thoughts are even if the veteran's claim is denied due to VA's discontinued the private DBQs, the veteran should win on appeal if the DBQs are properly filled out by a regular treating doctor.  The problem was, VA discontinued the private DBQs because VA believed that the doctors filling out and signing them was being paid for by the veteran but under the scope of being treated for a condition/disability should have a different outcome.  The doctor would be working in his or her profession and in their medical field and not for profit. We must understand that some not all DBQs were in questioned, So if the treating doctor is a local doctor that treats the veteran on a regular basis then the DBQs should be good.

Edited April 1, 2020 by pete992

[seminoles]

So, the VA can send us to incompetent providers (you know NP for complicated things they aren't even specialists in), yet my specialist that I have been seeing at the VA no longer can fill out a DBQ for me?  I understand some of these vultures who are charging thousands of dollars for an imo crap to get veterans awards, not my place to judge but my VA or everyday provider who sees me all the time, they should be allowed to fill out my DBQ for more than the quacks that are often hired to do CP exams.  You know, the ones who write in their reports that you "waited to long" which is definitely not a valid reason to deny service connection or you had too many babies, also not a reason to deny service connection (when there is evidence in service of the problem existing, won both of those btw) I could go on and on, fact of the matter is, many give up and just say screw it they denied me.  Of course they did, they do it all the time and they deny and low ball the shit out of most of us. Another way to get away with it.  Shameful, instead they should disallow these "ambulance chasers" I don't know what else to call them.  My private doctor doesn't charge me anything to fill out a form, my VA other than my crappy primary care doctor fill out anything I need, including DBQs.   

 

[Buck52]

I never had any luck with VA Dr's filling out a DBQ anyway...I always had to get a private Dr to do it.

for a IMO.IME

bypass the DBQ and ask the Dr to give his/her medical opinion on what you need them to mention in their medical opinion

let these Dr's know to Use the VA lango like ''is likely as not''  or 50% more likely as not   ect,,,ect,,,  of course these private Dr cost $$ but well worth it.