DBQ added 8 months later?

[allansc2005]

Morning folks,

 

Eight months ago I had a C&P exam for SC Miniere's disease, and am following it's progress on va.gov.

 

This morning I noticed they added a new DBQ dated July 13th, 2024.

 

I guess under any other circumstances a new DBQ would be good news, but 8 months AFTER my C&P exam?

 

Questions:

Does this late DBQ sound legit?

Does anyone know how to interpret all these numbers, letters..., associated with a DBQ; is there a "cheat sheet"?

I already know there are certain forms for each DBQ, Mental, Organs, Spine.., but here is my new DBQ(first million numbers and letters omitted )   4_1_DBQ_1015_1

 

Also please note that the VA won't give you a copy of a DBQ if the case hasn't been settled.

 

Thanks,

2-2-0 HOOAH!

 

 

 

 

[allansc2005]

Broncovet, one super change the VA made earlier this year is when they allowed the condition Miniere's disease to be a separate condition of the ear(s).

Because it's a syndrome of the inner ear, no more need to include it in other conditions of the ear such as tinnitus(though it's a symptom), Otis Media, perforated ear drum.., etc.

Hell I had ENT doctors tell me for years that the rare Miniere's disease/syndrome "has nothing to do with most other ear problems because it originates from the inner ear.."

It took the VA this long to figure out they need a separate CFR for Minere's? 

 

 

 

 

[Vync]

3 hours ago, broncovet said:

CCK, like most everyone else, is looking at the "bottom line" (money).  CCK is not a non profit.  

And, this means they rarely spend a lot of time on issues which are unlikely to produce back pay retro.  

Over the decades, I have discovered that I have very little influence over things like how the VA operates. 

Mr. Carpenter, NVLSP, and, yes CCK law have done things very good for Vets.  But its slow.

As long as congress continues to buy into VA's alleged "claimant friendly" rhetoric, the VA gets its own in house police force (VAOIG)

to ensure the continuation of VA being a "honey pot" for well connected contractors.  And, helping Veterans has a much lower priority than enriching friends and family of high ups.  

CCK merely reviewed my denial letter and then declined to represent me. The denial letter is riddled with obvious errors and did not ask to look at other documents.

[Vync]

1 hour ago, allansc2005 said:

Hell I had ENT doctors tell me for years that the rare Miniere's disease/syndrome "has nothing to do with most other ear problems because it originates from the inner ear.."

It took the VA this long to figure out they need a separate CFR for Minere's? 

Yep. They are not in a rush to add more potential conditions. Look how long it took for toxic exposure and AO to happen. It only happened due to a new law being passed.

[pacmanx1]

1 hour ago, allansc2005 said:

I know examiners can expand or add to the diagnosis, and can determine a SC date, but not sure what "powers" they have beyond that.

If you already have a favorable medical opinion, the only thing a new medical examiner can/could do is write an unfavorable medical opinion but the VA and or the BVA is supposed to give the veteran the benefit of doubt with two opposing medical opinions because it would put the claim/appeal in relative equipoise (equal weight or balance of evidence).  Of course, the new medical examiner could also write a favorable medical opinion.

I filed a claim for sleep apnea and the VA sent me to a contract C & P exam. When I went to the exam, I asked the examiner why I was there and what was the exam for, and she told me that the VA wanted her medical opinion if my sleep apnea was caused by my service-connected fibromyalgia.  I then told her that I just got a medical opinion from my treating VAMC Rheumatologist, and she stated that the VA did not really need her opinion and wrote that she agreed with my treating doctor's opinion.  My claim for sleep apnea was granted within 30 days from the C & P examiner's opinion. 

[allansc2005]

UPDATE:

Got a letter last night from QTC Medical Services, the C&P contractor for the VA.

It wasn't the usual letter giving date, time, location.., for a C&P exam, the letter was obscure.

Called them last night letting them know that I already had a in-person C&P exam for Meniere's disease, and asked what did the letter pertain to?

 

Was told that the letter concerned an Independent Medical Opinion-IMO the VA had requested, and I didn't need to do anything.

So let's see here, my ENT doctor diagnosed me with Meniere's disease, gave me meds for it, was sent to a C&P exam 8 months ago, the examiner seemed to agree with the diagnosis.., and now ANOTHER opinion?

 

So what's next, another IMO? What's the VA looking for?

Seems ambiguous to me!

 

 

[Lemuel]

1 hour ago, allansc2005 said:

UPDATE:

Got a letter last night from QTC Medical Services, the C&P contractor for the VA.

It wasn't the usual letter giving date, time, location.., for a C&P exam, the letter was obscure.

Called them last night letting them know that I already had a in-person C&P exam for Meniere's disease, and asked what did the letter pertain to?

 

Was told that the letter concerned an Independent Medical Opinion-IMO the VA had requested, and I didn't need to do anything.

So let's see here, my ENT doctor diagnosed me with Meniere's disease, gave me meds for it, was sent to a C&P exam 8 months ago, the examiner seemed to agree with the diagnosis.., and now ANOTHER opinion?

 

So what's next, another IMO? What's the VA looking for?

Seems ambiguous to me!

 

 

I am guessing.  May be a research project ordered by the Director, Compensation Services for changing "Menier's syndrome" from a symptom to a separate diagnosis.

What I am trying to get done with "organic denial" (anosognosia) from brain damage vs "denial" from ego protection or psychological denial.  Psychological denial focuses on owning the "disability" as coming from ego (soul).  The other focuses on adjusting to lost skills from brain damage.  Which do you think would lead to suicide if mistreated as the other?  Which would be the better focus for both?  Both lead to owning the disability.

A matter changing a from a symptom to a diagnosis.  Menier's syndrome is a condition in itself, a neurological condition not a "symptom".  But the room spinning can be a symptom of another condition.  

Same with denial and anosognosia. Denial can be a symptom of the condition of anosognosia which is a particular brain damage condition that does not go away without specific treatment directed at it.  Menier's syndrome does not go away without treatment directed specifically at it.  

Both anosognosia and Menier's syndrome can be reoccurring despite of treatment.

Edited July 19 by Lemuel
left out definitive phrases