you don't need a private doctor imo to win a appeal or a claim

[Mr cue]

It is really get to me that the only advice I see give is a veteran need a private imo.

To win there claim or appeal.

When did hadit stop stating law cfr VA manual to help veterans.

If you file a claim nine time out of ten the VA is going to order exams with it without a imo.

I just don't see how this is helping.

My opinion is that it is discourage veterans.

We all understand that it hard to get your VA doctor to do a report and most don't have 1000s to pay for One.

An 9 time out of ten the VA is going to not even address the private imo away.

They have want to address your record

So give this advice to me is sending veterans down a rabbit hole.

This is my opinion.

Other believe this is the only way.

I have Never had a private imo done or use in any of my grant's

The VA half the time doesn't even want to address there own comp exam.

If there favorable.

 

 

 

[ShrekTheTank]

It is great you never needed to get an IMO.  

I agree it is not always needed as most of mine were done without it.

There are times where it sadly is needed.  I have a rare condition and the VA had no idea how to rate it.  I had to take it to the CAVC and yes, I needed a lawyer as I did not have time to fight this and take care of my family.  I did need one, IMO for this condition.

For all the other 9 conditions I did not need any help doing these.  I got all the help from here.  

So, for the most part I agree you should not, but there are times it is needed.  

Edited March 25, 2022 by shrekthetank1

[Mr cue]

I could be wrong but the only advice I see posted for every veteran is that you need a imo.

Like I said that wasn't the case on hadit.

We use to give law cfr and bva cases that may help the veteran.

That is how many if us became verse in the law and cfr. Well that how I got started.

The law and cfr and VA manual are the rules the VA must follow.

This is how you win claims.

 

The veteran affairs has give a billion dollars contract for comp exam.

Believe me you will be send for a comp exam. With or without a private imo

If the case go to the court it is about not about a imo it's about the law.

I just feel we are doing a dis service to the veterans who post on hadit.

With the only advice give is you need a imo. This is my opinion

 

 

[Tbird]

@Mr cue I agree with you. It seems that there has been a trend for for some members to push IMO's, I don't agree with that. Perhaps some folks  forgot what hadit.com is all about and others never understood. 

When you run a forum such as this the membership drives the conversation. Sometimes I need to step in and redirect the conversation but as a rule the membership is the driving force on discussions.

 

[Tbird]

8 hours ago, shrekthetank1 said:

It is great you never needed to get an IMO.  

I agree it is not always needed as most of mine were done without it.

There are times where it sadly is needed.  I have a rare condition and the VA had no idea how to rate it.  I had to take it to the CAVC and yes, I needed a lawyer as I did not have time to fight this and take care of my family.  I did need one, IMO for this condition.

For all the other 9 conditions I did not need any help doing these.  I got all the help from here.  

So, for the most part I agree you should not, but there are times it is needed.  

@shrekthetank1I agree. It is more the exception, not the rule. `

 

[broncovet]

Here is how you can "really" find out if you need an IMO/IME:

1.  Review your cfile.  Does each issue claimed have a valid nexus?  If you dont have a valid nexus, or you have nexus statements that conflict (one doc says you do, another says you dont), move to next step.  

2.  Ask your regular doctors to provide a nexus.  If a VA doc will not, move to step 3.  

3.  Review your decision.  What is the reasons and bases for denial?  If the decision says something close to "there is no evidence that your current disability was due to an in service event.  NOTE::  VA often disguises the real reason.  "If" you have a current diagnosis, AND you have an IN Service Event, with a valid nexus, you should be service connected.   Since you cant count on VA to tell you the real reasons for denial, lowball or bad effective date, you may need to consider a professional representative, such as a lawyer, to help you decide.  

4.  "Other than a valid nexus", you may still need an IMO/IME "if" you were lowballed, and your medical records dont show "all" your symptoms documented.  

5.   Are you seeking TDIU?  Did your doc state you are unable to maintain SGE, but you got denied anyway?  This is a trick.  You see, you have to show you cant do ANY job, not just your present job.   Your doc can state you are unable to maintain SGE on your present job, but the doc can not say, whether or not you could be retrained for a "sedentary" position or another type of position where your disabiilites could be accomodated and you could still work.  

    Example:  You are SC for 2 bad knees.  You work in a warehouse moving boxes.  Your doc has opined you are unable to move boxes anymore, because it inflames your knees.  However, could you be retrained as, oh maybe a computer programmer, where you dont need to be on your feet for extended periods and lift objects over the doc's weight limit.  

This is a great example of when you need an IMO from a voc rehab specialist to get tdiu, if you have already been denied.  

6.  Lastly, you may still need an IMO/IME to document earlier symptoms that were not documented previously in your records, to get an EED.  

     Example:  Your family doctor, of many years was there and he assisted with your birth.  

He is aware of your medical history since birth.  You join the military as a parachutist, and develop knee problems out of the service.  But, you live with the pain of bad knees for years, even tho, you had applied and were given an unsatisfactory effective date.  

Your doctor may be able to document previously undocumented symptoms, "especially if" you visited that doctor (perhaps for another issue), and he saw you limping.  

       No, an IMO is not needed all the time.  Its a tool.  It takes some effort to really determine if you need one, or you can just spend the money anyway.  I recommend you follow the above steps to decide if you need one..not just guess at what is in your medical records.  

      I did not spend the money to buy an IMO, until I had exhausted all other avenues.  

Edited March 25, 2022 by broncovet

[broncovet]

 I disagree with a blanket statement, "you dont need an IMO to win your claim", when, in order to make a good choice (whether or not to get an IMO), you need INFORMATION, 

like I posted above.  The CFR's wont tell you if you need an IMO..that can only be determined with a thorough review of your cfile, as I explained above.