tdiu Sending The Va Copy Or Original, Does It Matter?

[Nathan104]

Ok, this is probably a stupid question, but Ill ask anyways because I will sit here and drive myself crazy after sending a copy.

My Dr wrote me a letter saying that I am unemployable. I picked it up today. I sent in my TDIU app last week and am going to send this in to join up with it. Should I send in the original or is a copy ok? I would not send in original med records but this letter is addressed to the VA and Im not sure if they would want the original with the original signature on it? Like I said, probably a stupid question but I dont want to have to worry myself about my decision. Thanks.

[Pete53]

I would send a copy and save the original. They are not like they used to be about originals.

[Vike17]

Nathan,

Never, never, never send in original documents unless the VA specifically asks for them. Always send copies and send it certified mail with return receipt.

Having said that, you may want to have the doctor print out two or three copies and have him sign all of them.. Then you could send the VA an original signed document and still have an original signed one for yourself.

Vike 17

Edited February 23, 2007 by Vike17

[Tbird]

i always send copies, sometimes i take them to the bank and have it notoraized, they do it for customers for free. and do always ask for a reciept

[Nathan104]

Thanks for the replies. Definitly makes me feel better. I knew not to send original med records but just wasn' sure on the Dr. Letter. Appreciate the responses and hope everyone here has a great day. :)

[Nathan104]

By the way, here is what the letter states. Does this sound alright? How much weight does the VA put on Privat sector Dr's letter like this in a TDIU claim? Thanks.

Nathan ******* has been a patient of mine for the past one year. During this time I have treated him for all of his Service Connected conditions. When Mr.****** first came to me he was experiencing severe lower back pain with radiating sciatic nerve pain down his left leg. An MRI was performed which revealed an extremely large herniated nucleus pulpopis at L5-S1. I referred Mr. ****** to Dr. ***** at ***** for a surgical consult and Mr. ****** had a Lumbar Diskectomy performed on ********. After the surgery, Mr. ****** began to complain of radiating nerve pain now in both legs going down to his feet causing numbness and loss of leg strength. A second MRI was performed at ******* which revealed a large amount of scar tissue which was displacing the S1 nerve root as well as several other herniated discs. Mr. ******** condition has not improved during the time since and he experiences daily severe lower back pain and severe nerve pain radiating down both his left and right leg causing numbness in his feet and leg weakness.

I have prescribed Mr. ******* both Percocet and Tramadol to help with the pain which he describes as making him feel very lightheaded, dizzy, unable to drive, unable to concentrate and unable to perform basic tasks. Mr. ******* is unable to sit or stand for more than 15 minutes and he must lay down after that period of time. He cannot bend or lift. Mr. ****** inability to concentrate combined with the side effects of medications could in my opinion pose a danger to both others and himself in a workplace environment.

Aside from the Percocet and Tramadol, Mr. ****** is also prescribed Lisinopril and Hydrochlorothiazide to regulate his Hypertension, Temazepam for insomnia, Ranitidine HCL for acid reflux, Citalopram Hydrobromide for depression and nerve pain and Cetirizine for allergies. The side effects from all this medication combines to cause Mr. ******* severe drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, loss of concentration, inability to perform basic tasks, inability to operate a motor vehicle, ***********, weakness and difficult and frequent urination.

Mr. ******* has also complained of severe feelings of depression and is currently being seen at the ******** VA Primary Care clinic for this problem.

I have reviewed Mr. ****** complete medical records and service medical records and have been his primary physician for the past year. In my professional opinion, due to his debilitating back and nerve pain combined with the side effects of his medications Mr. ****** is permanently and totally disabled and can no longer perform any type of substantial gainful employment due to his service connected disabilities.

Edited February 23, 2007 by Nathan104

[Objee]

By the way, here is what the letter states. Does this sound alright? How much weight does the VA put on Privat sector Dr's letter like this in a TDIU claim? Thanks.

Nathan ******* has been a patient of mine for the past one year. During this time I have treated him for all of his Service Connected conditions. When Mr.****** first came to me he was experiencing severe lower back pain with radiating sciatic nerve pain down his left leg. An MRI was performed which revealed an extremely large herniated nucleus pulpopis at L5-S1. I referred Mr. ****** to Dr. ***** at ***** for a surgical consult and Mr. ****** had a Lumbar Diskectomy performed on ********. After the surgery, Mr. ****** began to complain of radiating nerve pain now in both legs going down to his feet causing numbness and loss of leg strength. A second MRI was performed at ******* which revealed a large amount of scar tissue which was displacing the S1 nerve root as well as several other herniated discs. Mr. ******** condition has not improved during the time since and he experiences daily severe lower back pain and severe nerve pain radiating down both his left and right leg causing numbness in his feet and leg weakness.

I have prescribed Mr. ******* both Percocet and Tramadol to help with the pain which he describes as making him feel very lightheaded, dizzy, unable to drive, unable to concentrate and unable to perform basic tasks. Mr. ******* is unable to sit or stand for more than 15 minutes and he must lay down after that period of time. He cannot bend or lift. Mr. ****** inability to concentrate combined with the side effects of medications could in my opinion pose a danger to both others and himself in a workplace environment.

Aside from the Percocet and Tramadol, Mr. ****** is also prescribed Lisinopril and Hydrochlorothiazide to regulate his Hypertension, Temazepam for insomnia, Ranitidine HCL for acid reflux, Citalopram Hydrobromide for depression and nerve pain and Cetirizine for allergies. The side effects from all this medication combines to cause Mr. ******* severe drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, loss of concentration, inability to perform basic tasks, inability to operate a motor vehicle, ***********, weakness and difficult and frequent urination.

Mr. ******* has also complained of severe feelings of depression and is currently being seen at the ******** VA Primary Care clinic for this problem.

I have reviewed Mr. ****** complete medical records and service medical records and have been his primary physician for the past year. In my professional opinion, due to his debilitating back and nerve pain combined with the side effects of his medications Mr. ****** is permanently and totally disabled and can no longer perform any type of substantial gainful employment due to his service connected disabilities.

Nathan,

Looks good to me. The only other element he could have more stronglyaddressed is whether he thinks you would ever regain substiantial employabilty - the P&T issue. e.g. ". . .permanently and totally disabled . . . gainful employment, nor is he ever likely to regain employability . . . " Yeah, "permanent" means that, but the VBA needs a lot of reinforcement for any idea.

Remember the old advice: "Tell them what you're going to tell them; then tell them; then tell them what you told them."

Ralph