C and P exams

[broncovet]

I would like to ask Hadit members, most of which had "at least one" or more C and P exams:

1.  Do you know the examiner's name?  Did the examiner wear a name tag, and identify himself/herself?  

2.  What was the education level of your examiner?  (MD, Nurse, NP, Audiologist, hearing aid specialist,  Voc Rehab Specialist with a Bachelors degree, etc.  ). 

3.  Was the examiner a VA employee?  Contractor?  Did the examiner identify which?

 

I will start:

1.  No.  I have had at least 5 exams, and can only name 1 examiner because that was my regular doctor.  I dont recall any of the others wearing a name tag or identifying themselves.  All of mine were at my VAMC.  

2.  Again, I know only one examiner's level of education:  He was a "Psych D".  Exception:  I had a c and p exam for sleep apnea, who actually admitted she was not involved in sleep medicine.  This examiner had an MD, but no experience or training in sleep medicine.  Still that did not stop her from opining my sleep apnea was not related to service or secondary to any SC conditions.  Later, I read research that linked PTSD to sleep apnea.  (I dont have PTSD, but MDD has also been linked to OSA). 

3.  NONE of my C and P examiners have revealed whether they were a VA employee, or a contractor.   While I "assume" my regular Doctor's are VA employees, I really dont know how to verify that.  (This matters in the case of malpractice..ask Berta).  

      Veterans have reported VA is "not" always releasing the C and P exams until "after" the VARO decision.  I am fairly certain I am "not" the only Veteran who appealed his claim "not knowing" the medical degree (or lack thereof) of the examiner, until I got a copy of my cfile AFTER the BVA decision.    

       I do realize that at least part of this is "on me" as someone suggested.  I did not ask the examiner name, whether they were a VA employee or contractor, or their medical degree, or lack therof.  Since I did not ask, "none" of the c and p examiners responded.  While I did not ask in the past, that was likely because I did not understand "WHY" the level of expertise of the examiner was important.  

      

Edited February 21, 2021 by broncovet

[Buck52]

  Just my 2 Cents

My C&P Examiners all have had their name tag on there white coat   with their credentials  under the name or across from there name.

Some did introduce them self and some did not,  I guess were just suppose to look and read  what is on there coat  but anyone can put any name tag on a coat  and pretend to be a Dr  or C&P Examiner    Also some C&P Examiners just had there credentials on there coat with M.D.   NOT giving what their health care  specialty was in medicine. (CREDITIALS)

Most MH docs wear there name tags and credential's on there person. AND HAVE A FRAME DEGREE UPON THERE OFFICE WALL.

In my opinion most met the criteria for an C&P Examination  but in my honest opinion  its the luck of the draw  of what type personality examiner we get  and this bares sharply on the outcome of the C&P Exam.

Also I am always weary of an examiner that states this  '' Oh BE SURE YOU KNOW I AM NOT THE ONE THAT MAKES THE DECISON''

TO ME NO EXAMINER SHOULD SAY THAT TO A VETERAN...IF THEY DO THE OUTCOME OF THE EXAM IS USUALLY NOT A FAVORABLE EXAM   JUST FROM MY EXPERINCE.

A GOOD C&P EXAMINER WILL INTROUDUSE THEM SELF & ASK QUESTIONS THAT PERTAIN WHY YOUR THERE IN THE FRST PLACE  AND ALSO READ ON THE COMPUTER YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS OF WHAT YOUR CLAIMING  AND JUST HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION WITH THE VETERAN AND LISTEN TO WHAT THE VETERAN HAS TO SAY ABOUT HIS DISABILITY HE IS CLAIMING ect,,,ect,,,,if the Veteran is in doubt about something   then the Veteran needs to speak up for himself/herself & ask this examiner  Dr did you see the record what Dr Smiith mention about my condition?   if not would you please read that part, its in my medical records  if you don't have it or see it on your computer  I just happen to have a copy of that record  would you be so kind to take this record from me and add it into your exam report  Thank you Kindly sir/mam.

A Veteran that is not sure of a C&P Examiners credentials  should speak up and ask them what there credential's are  and ask if they are qualified to do this particular C&P Exam.....you don't want a heart surgeon to do a MH PTSD exam.  or a foot Dr  to do a IBS Exam   ect,,,ect,,,,

I would think just because they have the letters M.D. on their coat  doesn't mean they are qualified to do the C&P Exam    this exam can change a Veterans way of life and way of living. so we veterans need to get it right the first time around....(jmo)

[Buck52]

I will add this  its ok for a Veteran to ask these questions  and if the veteran is in doubt about anything at the exam  then the Veteran has a right to speak up...some of these C&P Examiners are just quiet and not say much  and just reads on the computer  and then says ok I have everything I need   you are free to leave this exam is over ECT,,,ECT,,,    be very weary of this type of examiner   if this happens  then this is when the Veteran needs to speak up and ask this examiner about his/her credentials and ask if they are Qualified to examine you for what your claiming....IF NOT THEN THE VETERAN NEEDS TO REPORT THIS C&P examiner to the VA C&P Office ASAP.

OR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EXAM   ASK THE EXAMINER ABOUT HIS/HER CREDITIALS  AND TRY TO MAKE A GOOD REPORE WITH THE EXAMINER.  JUST ALWAYS BE YOUR SELF AND BE HONEST WITH THE EXAMINER.

Also be it known that the VA sends the Veterans records to the C&P Examiner a week to two weeks before the exam date...this examiner is ask to read the veterans medical records and service records that pertain to what the veteran is claiming   these examiners are suppose to read and analyze these records before the exam  and also during the exam.

  The Dr needs to ask the veteran some questions and try to understand the complexity of of the VA SYSTEM and just have a good discussion with the Veteran. (THIS DON'T HAPPEN ALWAYS)

Normally after the exam depending on what examiner the VA chose for the veteran?  was this examiner a outside contractor  or was the examiner an inside Dr with the VA?...IF THE EXAMINER IS WITH THE VA  THE VETERAN NEEDS TO WAIT OVER 3 DAYS AFTER THE EXAM AND CAN REQUEST THE C&P EXAM REPORT  FROM THE OFFICE AT THE VAMC WHERE THE EXAM TOOK PLACE   THIS IS THE release of medical records office....if it was a contractor that did the exam  then the veteran needs to ask the examiner before he laves the exam about how to get a copy of the exam report...they are obligated to let the veteran know or will find out for you    normally this is in the exam instructions before the exam and a fax #is given out in the information sheet or instructions for the exam date.

Edited February 21, 2021 by Buck52

[Hucast21]

17 minutes ago, Buck52 said:

In my opinion most met the criteria for an C&P Examination  but in my honest opinion  its the luck of the draw  of what type personality examiner we get  and this bares sharply on the outcome of the C&P Exam.

This is the cold, hard truth. Raters rely too heavily on the outcome of the C&P exam from my experience. 

No veteran with in-service documentation of an illness or injury along with a current diagnosis shouldn’t need an IMO/IME to counter a bad C&P exam in my opinion.

[GBArmy]

A always, the advice we give is based on our own personal opinions. Many of us have had several C&P exams and the results have varied from what we were expecting. I had one (psych) exam and the doc said "I have expressed my opinion on your condition but you must remember, I am not the one who rates you." Big caution light goes up, man, they're going to rate me 0%, maybe 10% max. Wrong. I received a 30% rating. Another time I thought I aced it. Nope, not s-c. I really don't think you can guess right on outcomes because of the individual situations we find ourselves in. I will say that I have had some examiners say if my condition was considered s-c or not if when I asked at the end of the exam. As for whether they are employed by the VA, yes it is difficult if you are taking the exam at the VA facility. But nowadays, the majority of exams are  at a contractor's place, so it doesn't come up as often as it used to. And I would add, I am always polite. Yup, had some losers too, but the examiner is the one typing out the dbq; why poke the bear. If it is a bad exam, start complaining as soon as you can get to a phone and start the process. But just because the examiner has a personality of a fish doesn't mean he or she doesn't know what they are doing.

[Carl the Engineer]

1. I was told all their names, but not sure if they all wore a name tag.  After my first C&P, I looked them up before the exam.

2. I found 7 examiners from my C&P exams, there may be more.  Their credentials;

MD............................Medical Doctor.

MSN, FNP-BC...........Master of Nursing, Family Nursing Practitioner-Board Certified.

DNP, FNP-BC............Doctor of Nursing, Family Nursing Practitioner-Board Certified.

FNP-BC.....................Family Nursing Practitioner-Board Certified

AP NP........................Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner.

ANP-C.......................Adult Nurse Practitioner-Certified.

CCC-SLP/A...............Certification of Clinical Competence-Speech Language Pathology in Audio.

3. All were VA employees.

Hamslice

 

[broncovet]

Thanks Ham.  Did you remember those, or look em up?  Many Vets dont read their exams, their medical records, or even their decisions, then wonder why things dont go well.  You did, and you got a high rating.  

The problem is that VA many times "wont release" the C and P exam report, until AFTER the rating.  So, the Vet has no idea if it was a favorable exam or not, and if the examiner was qualified (competent) to make an opinion.   He has to wait for a denial to do anything about it.  

This generally means years of appeals.