Frustrated!?!?

[Wes Smith]

Is anyone else out there frustrated with this process? I mean crap, its getting old. I have been making inquiries about getting some help with secondary claims. Everyone I talk to say how thankful they are for my service then tells me they want an ass load of money to help me. I understand paying for a service but, $1500.00 for a freaking nexxus letter then half of what I get for a year. Christ Almighty. Being on my fixed income that is out of reach. Does anyone have any ideas on who I can talk to? I dont mind paying but it has to be within my means. 

[pacmanx1]

Paying for a nexus letter is a good investment but I have never paid for one.  I have received several letters and or statement from my VAMC treating physicians. Of course I have been treated by these same physicians for over fifteen (15) years and they are fully aware of my symptoms and my condition.  What are you trying to do? What type of conditions and secondary conditions are you trying to claim? Keep in mind that you may have to request referrals from your PCP to treating specialist working in their field and go from there.  There are some doctors that don't/won't write letters but they may be more willing to write a statement in your medical treatment records or progress notes/reports.

[GBArmy]

Wes I agree with Paxmanx1 but the problem is his experience is somewhat unique. Most of us aren't going to have a long established relationship with our doctors. But you just have to have a IMO and if you don't get it from your own VA doc, and 99 times out of a hundred you can't, then you have to pay a doc for it. They all don't charge an up front fee; some will even work out a payment schedule. But you HAVE to have it. You have to have a current diagnosis, and for direct service connection, you have to have an event in service. The IMO creates a nexus, or connection between the two. Some docs you could check on are Carpenter, Ellis, Arnese, Bash. But there are more. You don't work for free, and neither do they. Research here on Hadit; there are plenty of request just like yours. Good Luck.

 

 

 

[broncovet]

One answer is "The right attorney" may upfront you the money to pay for the nexus, provided that they think it seals the deal.  One Vet said Hill and Ponton did this, Glover Luck did, and maybe others.  

I can not answer that any WILL do this, but they might if they think the evidence is probative.  Basically this means its a no lose for you.  

While 1500 "sounds like a lot" to write a letter, I have a family member with an MD.  She has invested about 200,000 in student loans just to get that MD.  Its not unusual.for doctors to pay 2000, 3000, or more per month just in student loans.  

If practicing medicine were that lucrative, I guess we would have a lot of MD's looking for work.  

It reminds me of the computer expert who fixed a computer once.  He charged them about 5000 to change one wire.  They wanted an itemized bill.  So he gave them one:

1.  Wire..2 dollars

2.  Knowing which wire to change, $4998.00

    Education is very expensive.  But ignorance costs even more.  The grass always looks greener on the other side.  Try becoming a MD..and find out for yourself.  

[Buck52]

As pacmanx1 mention

get all your medical records and use the myhealthvet medical notes or progress notes, copy the ones that are favorable to your claim  high lite the parts you want the rater to be sure to read, what the Dr's have mention about you  and your PTSD Diagnosis , you can ask your MH Dr  if any of the medications you take could cause or be related to the secondary condition your claiming...you don't necessarily need to tell this Dr your filing a secondary claim  just simply ask him/her if the medications you take could be the cause or is related to the condition you have.

WAIT 3 DAYS AND GO TO MYHELTYVET NOTES PACANX1 MENTION ABOVE.  TO READ WHAT THIS DR MENTION IN THESE PROGRESS NOTES?

...SOMETIMES IT IS NOT WHAT YOU WANTED TO READ  BUT 60%OF THE TIME IT IS.

 IF YOUR DENIED?

SEND IN YOUR N.O.D. ON THE DENAIL AND SEND THIS IN AS YOUR EVIDENCE TO HELP SUBSTANTIATE YOUR CLAIM/ OR HELP SUPPORT IT.

 

EXAMPLE    VETERAN wants to file a secondary claim to his service connected 70% PTSD for Sleep Apnea   he would need the  medical rationale     to mention what you ask the Dr above ...>if your PTSD meds is likely as not the cause  or is related to your sleep apnea you have now.... so whatever the secondary condition your filing on needs to be related or caused by likely as not the reason for your secondary condition is from your service connected  primary condition.

we can't say this because were not Dr's  but we can give our lay statements and medical rationale ,but the notes from myhealthvet can be very beneficial if the Dr gives you the right answer you ask him about....

It's better to have a QUAILFIED Dr for their professional '' Independent medical opinion'' (IMO)  As GB Army mention above  but some times if you have a good Dr  they can do it for free and not really know that your even filing a claim.

We  tell these VA Dr's were filing a claim for compensation  for some reason or another they think  it's Adversarial to help Veterans in this way    and the VA MIGHT JUST RUN THEM OFF...SO THEY CLAM UP OR SIMPLY WON'T HELP US AT ALL.  OR SAY ITS NOT THEIR JOB.

 

NEVER NEVER GIVE UP  KEEP ON GOING UNTIL YOU GET ALL YOUR DESERVED BENEFITS YOUR ENTITLED TO.

Edited September 24, 2020 by Buck52

[Buck52]

If you think 1500.00 is outrageous   try 10.000.00 ouch... I have heard of Veterans selling the family farm for a good nexus letter.

[Buck52]

It would help us help you if we know what secondary claim it is you want to file off your primary claim.???