LHI examiners

[Whodat]

Who out there had bad experiences with LHI C&P examiners?

I would like to share my experience with LHI.

2019, I had filed a claim. A c&p exam was scheduled with LHI. Shortly afterwards, I received a Fedex packet will info to include the examiner info. I pulled up the examiner's info, 3 years of Nurse Practitioner, as well as 3 years with VA system.

I had already been diagnosed with migraines, and had an event or injury that would connect it. The diagnosis was from my Neurologist. 

During my exam with this NP, he kept saying that he doesn't think that my headaches aren't migraines, he thinks that I have cluster headaches.

I am unsure of how the report was written up but I do know that it wasn't good. Denied. 

So of course I had did a HLR. I had gotten  letter from VA duty to assist error and they are returning my claim to the RO for corrections. 

I get another letter from LHI for another c&p exam for migraines. Who do I see? The same examiner. Now things get ugly. He has remembered me and what comes out of his mouth, why are you here again. 

Started the exam, nowhere did he used the dbq, just basically telling me that I do not have migraines, that is clusters. Then he proceeded to tell me that ptsd does not cause headaches.  I feel another bad c&p exam.

Looks like the Department of Veterans affairs has done it again. They claimed to be backlogged,but what do they do? Hire sub contractors with little or no experience conducting bad exams knowing that the Vet is going to appeal. Job security for the contractors just like Brown &Root back in the days. 

The bad thing is that this NP is also a Vet. 

 

[Berta]

A C & P exam is what justifies either an award or a denial-unless it is so insufficient the VA has it re done, but that most often occurs only when the veteran, not the VA, raises hell- meaning they complain directly to QTC, LHI, or VES ( I put their contact numbers here  available under a search)- and/or  the veteran calls the White House Veterans Hot Line:

1-855-948-2311 

I am still gathering info/evidence  for a letter almost ready to be sent to VA Secretary McDonough to see why veterans cannot have their C & P exam results sooner than later.

It has taken me longer that I thought it would, -but that is because I want it to be as good as my last letter to former Secretary Shulkin. I had raised a 'good cause' legal argument,with evidence, to Dr Shulkin.  And that letter got great results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Whodat]

Berta, you are the best. I have been following you for awhile. You know your stuff. Even music like Teddy Pendergrass. 

Hopefully I don't get denied, been fighting for years. I just think that the examiner tries hard to give an unfavorable exam. He even asked questions about my employment. I did not see that question on the DBQ. 

[Whodat]

Dustoff you are one of the few lucky ones. I am sure that there are some good examiners at LHI. I just have been one of the unlucky ones that had never ran across a good one.

[pacmanx1]

6 hours ago, Whodat said:

He even asked questions about my employment. I did not see that question on the DBQ. 

Not sure what questions he asked but I think all DBQs have a section that deals with "SECTION FUNCTIONAL IMPACT." Headaches can be so severe that individuals may have to leave work or may not be able to go to work or drive.

[john999]

When you go for your LHI exam it is a total crap shoot.  Last time I went the so-called exam doctor added four conditions to what I was asking for which meant an extra 80%.  I was shocked but at the same time the C&P doctor did not provide a rational for increasing my DMII rating.  Instead she provided the VA with justification to raise secondary conditions.  Goofy IMO.  Even with claims I have won I don't understand the VA rational and neither do my doctors.  It is like playing the lotto. You just keep buying your tickets (claims and exams) and maybe you win one day.  Just appeal all decisions you don't agree with 100%.

[Cat4Christ777]

I have had a 'bad experience' with LHI contractors with VBA!

Last Summer (2021), LHI scheduled me (on June 3rd) for a C&P exam regarding my claim for 'early menopause' diagnosed during service (I was 35). I had requested a female examiner, so they scheduled me with Physician Assistant Emily Bunn, who was very thorough and professional, and ultimately agreed with me that the extreme stress I experienced in the USAF caused the early menopause. She filed her report the same day.

Three weeks later, the VA apparently contacted LHI for 'further medical information,' implying that Bunn's report wasn't good enough for them, and apparently wanting a male doctor--someone who had never spoken, nor met with, me--to read her report and offer a second opinion. The VA then used that 2nd opinion to deny me, in September.

That denial--the last for the Summer--caused me to hire a VA specialist attorney, who investigated the events and told me about VA's illegal activities. She even told me that the C&P exam I had earlier with a Mr. Beach (for my claim of Hyperparathyroidism caused by that same extreme stress which damaged my Endocrine system) WAS NOT CERTIFIED TO PERFORM C&P EXAMS!!! And, yet the VBA scheduled me with him.

My attorney, Leslie Dean, told me that it is widely known by VA accredited attorneys, that the VA does this sort of thing on a regular basis, and they know it's illegal, but they do it anyway. They're getting away with illegal behavior, and there does not seem to be a way to stop them!