Still Waiting For C&p Exam - Any Suggestions ?

[devildog 71]

Hi All;

Been laid up for awhile - had bypass surgery this past December - but am feeling a little better now.

Anyway ,I filed my claim via my Am. Legion VSO last June (2006) - The first part of January - this year '2007 I called the 800 # to inquire about the status of my claim , and if they knew when I could expect to get an appt for the C&P - all I was told was that , "It's still being verified. It could take up to another six months or a year."

Is this normal ?? Can my VSO do something to put a 'fire' under them to speed things up ??

Any and all suggestions are appreciated...

Thanks..

[Guest jangrin]

devildog71,

We have not recieved accurate information from the 800# in the past. We have sent in IRIS inquiries and we seem to recieve not only better information regarding the claim, but it also seems to get the file moving to the next step.

We usually ask for a telephone call back on the response when we can get the person to actually look in the file for us. A couple of times I know it was taken out of the moth ball pile and dusted off and sent to the next step, such as C+P exams.

Try the IRIS. They might be a little more specific. Good luck.

Jangrin

PS-glad your feeling better, you might be able to put a hardship request in becasue of the heart bypass. Just a thought.

Edited March 22, 2007 by jangrin (see edit history)

[Pete53]

Your Service Officer should at least ask for 100% while you recuperate from your bypass surgery.

Its probably taking to long and you might consider a nudge.

[Hoppy]

devildog 71,

The time frame you have been given sounds a little long. I am not familar with your claim. However, the VA is not compeled to schedule a C&P just because you file a claim or ask for a C&P. They ignored my request for 5 years.

Just as a guess I would think that if it is a PTSD claim they will verify your duty status or want a verifiable stressor before they would schedule a C&P. If it is a claim for a presumptive disorder then they should schedule the C&P if a post service diagnosis from a doctor is submitted with the claim. Any other types of medical or psychiatric conditions usually requires medical evidence of both an inservice and post service diagnosis before they will schedule a C&P.

If you get a denial prior to the C&P it could be so vague as not explain why the C&P was not warranted. In this event check back here on hadit.

[Hoppy]

By the way. If you have or can get strong evidence from a current treating physician and submit it to the RO they could award the claim without a C&P. Additionally, it makes it harder for a C&P examiner to write a bogus C&P when he is required to review the strong evidence from the treating doctor.

[devildog 71]

By the way. If you have or can get strong evidence from a current treating physician and submit it to the RO they could award the claim without a C&P. Additionally, it makes it harder for a C&P examiner to write a bogus C&P when he is required to review the strong evidence from the treating doctor.

Thank All for the info..Just FYI , in JUNE'06 my VSO and I filed the ORIGINAL claim - then a month later - in JULY '06 - we completed and filed (afterhearing from the VA)the response to FDVA letter (Statement in support of claim) and completed VA Form 0781 , as well as VA VCAA - I also attached copies of forms ; 21-4138; 21-4142 ; and medical records from BOTH my civilian Doc's as well as my VA Shrink and Doc's and also my in-patient stays -along with the current meds I'm on - My initial claim is for PTSD , but my VSO said he was "going to throw in " ALL my medical problems , i.e., Type 2 Diabetes ; Empysema ; MDD ; Hypertension ; COPD ; respiratory and coronary problems ,etc..Of course , I had my bypass surgery in Dec'06 (5 months AFTER I responded with the stressor letter,etc..) Should I go ahead and have my VSO mail THOSE med records to them NOW ?? Also , my VA shrink 'upped' my Celexa from 20 to 40mg and my Lorazepam (0.5mg) to 3x a day - that's in addition to the Plavix ,Coreg , and Nitro I'm NOW on as well as my Metformin being 'upped' from 500mg to 850mg tabs - 2x a day and my Atenolol (50mg) tabs 2x a day...I apologize for 'rambling' on - but will get with my VSO next week and let you know what he says..Thanks all and God Bless...

Devildog71

[jbasser]

Veteran, are you service connected for Hypertension?

If you are that will be the fastest avenue to take to obtain SC for a heart condition. The VA will take their time if a claim is considered as a secondary such as DMII.

Anyhow according to your post, I am willing to bet if you call back again you may get an entirely different answer.

[Guest jangrin]

Devildog71,

My husband filed his claim in February "06 for PTSD, Depression, DMII, HBP, PN, CAD, Cataracts, Hearing, Tinnitis, ED, Gastrointestinal probs.(undiagnosed), medication side effects, and TDIU filed one month after initial claim.

His claim is very similar to your claim (excluding the pulmanary problems). Anyway, he got his first C+P in October "06 (DMII), then nothing until March 07(two more C+Ps) one for PTSD and one for IBS. Now we are back to waiting again.

It's been over 13 months and we were told the average claim is taking 9 to 12 months, but complex cases such as ours are going out to the 18 month or longer range.

I think you should be hearing something soon about your C+P exams. I would diffinately send an IRIS inquiry and ask to have them call you back. Once you can actually talk to someone, they may be able to put your file in line for scheduling the C+P exams that you will need.

Good Luck, unfortunately, the DMII claims seem to take forever to resolve and are usually assigned to the more experienced raters, who also have the most claims to work.

Jangrin

Edited March 22, 2007 by jangrin (see edit history)

[john999]

jangrin

When you have a lot of individual claims the VA will often wait and rate them all at once. You know a CT scan could also show that your husband has ateriosceloris in his legs which is a very common secondary condition to DMII. I got a CT scan because I had a lump on my leg and they discovered the arteriosceolris in my leg. I was service connected for it due to the DMII diagnosis. The VBM lists all the potential DMII complications. I don't know why a DMII claim should take so long since you either have it or you don't. If it was caused by AO it is a slam/dunk.

[Guest jangrin]

jangrin

When you have a lot of individual claims the VA will often wait and rate them all at once. You know a CT scan could also show that your husband has ateriosceloris in his legs which is a very common secondary condition to DMII. I got a CT scan because I had a lump on my leg and they discovered the arteriosceolris in my leg. I was service connected for it due to the DMII diagnosis. The VBM lists all the potential DMII complications. I don't know why a DMII claim should take so long since you either have it or you don't. If it was caused by AO it is a slam/dunk.

John999,

Were you service connected for ateriosclerosis in the legs or for PN in the legs?

What was the DX code for that rating?Was the rating for arteriosclerosis for the PN or the heart? Please?

Following a five month wait in our new home area and for the first time in many many months my husband got in to see his new PCP with the VA clinic. The new doctor after just one visit has;

Increased his BP meds, Increased his DMII meds, increased his PTSD/mental health meds. Order new blood-work done. Two urine tests (possible Kidney involvment). Got in the mail a notice of appointment for the VAMC for a PACT clinic appt for his feet/leg circulation. Also an appointment for his eyes.

I am happy she is on top of things right away. I feel better. I will request and send to the VARO copies of the records of all the changes in meds and the results of all the testing as it continues to have merit for the inital claim. She is also setting up the appointment so my husband can get back into group.And he has two follow up appts with her. She really is a blessing at this point.

Jangrin

[spike]

The biggest problem with PTSD is SC the stressors. I am was in the USMC....and had to do a lot of the leg work to help them verify.....It seems like they would rather not find anything....SO if you have to do your leg work to help them verify.