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Anybody Use Dr. Bash Imo / Ime?

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tssnave

Question

1. Has anybody used Dr. Bash or his associate for an IMO / IME? He advertises at vawatchdog.org and says he prevails 80-90% of the time at BVA. If so, were you happy with his service?

2. How do you circumvent the four letter restriction on the hadit search engine? So much of what we do with the VA uses an acronym that this restriction makes it difficult to look stuff up. For instance, "Dr Bash IMO IME" netted me nothing more than an error message that one or more of my words had four or less letters in them. Even if I spelled out doctor and independent medical opinion I still don't know how to get Bash as an additional search critera. Plus, how many of us write out independent medical opinion in the subject line? ARRRGGGG! There's gotta be a way around this that I just haven't figured out. Please share the secret with me.

Thanks,

ts

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  • HadIt.com Elder
1. Has anybody used Dr. Bash or his associate for an IMO / IME? He advertises at vawatchdog.org and says he prevails 80-90% of the time at BVA. If so, were you happy with his service?

2. How do you circumvent the four letter restriction on the hadit search engine? So much of what we do with the VA uses an acronym that this restriction makes it difficult to look stuff up. For instance, "Dr Bash IMO IME" netted me nothing more than an error message that one or more of my words had four or less letters in them. Even if I spelled out doctor and independent medical opinion I still don't know how to get Bash as an additional search critera. Plus, how many of us write out independent medical opinion in the subject line? ARRRGGGG! There's gotta be a way around this that I just haven't figured out. Please share the secret with me.

Thanks,

ts

Ts,

I have contacted Dr. Bash's partner several times for an IME and he

is always too busy.

I gave up on him and went another direction.

Always,

Betty

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I've used Dr. Bash. It did take the good Dr alot longer to send me his IMO then what I was originaly informed. The IMO was well written and very expensive. Did his IMO help----yes, how much(?)--hard to say. After I received Dr. Bash's IMO, I obtained local professional opinions to support Dr. Bash. **Word of caution pertaining to Dr. Bash's IMO. The VARO will downplay his IMO as Dr. Bash did not actually "examine or treat" me, his opinion was based on review of a multitude of private Dr & hospital & military medical records. Respectfully, I suggest you (also) obtain support to help support Dr. Bash's IMO, if possible. My theory: if you were going to a gunfight in the old west, always put 6 bullets in your 6 shooter, not 4 or 5. When you battle the VA, remember to watch the flank and cover your "rear".

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Guest jangrin

I will state this again, I believe it is important when you are trying to win a battle with the VA.

IMO - independent medical OPINION

IME - independent medical EXAM

C+P - compensation and pension EXAM

Exams will most always carry more weight than an opinion.

Maybe VetDr will be able to do exams with his opinion in the states where he is licenced to practice.

We hired Dr. Bash and he did an IME while he was in California during the summer. Yes, it made a difference.

Hope this helps.

Edited by jangrin
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  • HadIt.com Elder

Apparently, my case is somewhat different.

After having an incomplete C&P examination, I requested another.

Around 30 days later the VAMC C&P dept called and said another examination using labs and radiology results was scheduled.

After a thorough examination of me and all the records, the VA c&p examiner stated all conditions were service connected.(1997)

The VARO rater stated little of this C&P with examination in the denial.

The VARO scribbled on a note to a VAMC staff consultant what they needed, and three days later the claim was denied by the IMO that was faxed to them from the consultant.

"ALL" of the denials I've received since the VA C&P with examination in 1997, have been from IMO's the VA has obtained from paid consultants.

I paid for an examination and opinion from a local practitioner I started going to not long after I was discharged & went to for over a decade before I started going to the VAMC's for health care. This doctor reviewed the c-file & examined me as well. He completely agreed with the VA C&P examiner that all issues are connected to military service.

I was granted Non-service connected Pension for Multiple Sclerosis going back to 1994 in 1996. The DVA stopped payment or keeping track of income for Pension after I received Social Security in 2001

After several denials & reluctance of VA MD's to commit to a diagnosis of neuromuscular symptoms, I dropped the claim for MS back in 2003.

In 2004, I ended up getting an evaluation for environmental exposures through the VAMC.

A neurologist was assigned, he had an MRI taken & diagnosed TBI, probably due to toxins. This MD refused to view any prior medical records or diagnostic tests. He also failed to recognize the brain lesion in the corpus callosum. ( a significant indicator of MS)

In 2005, I finally heard about this specialist that does IMO's on hadit.

After reading my medical records again, I decided to get the IMO so I know what treatment I need and what route my health may be taking.

Dr Bash found SMR's in my c-file that directly link Multiple Sclerosis to military service. He said I have had it since service and should be compensated/treated for it.

Last week I received a SOC denial dated Dec 12,07 from the AMC.

(1)Entitlement to Service connection.

Medical Opinions from Dr Bash were reviewed and considered. The doctor stated that your multilevel degenerative changes of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines are related to your motor vehicle accident in service. He further stated that he reviewed your VA claims file including military service records, VA examination and treatment records and private treatment records and SSOC dated April-05. However, he does not state what specific evidence in your claim files was used to substantiate his opinion. Further, he does not state where or who he obtained this evidence from as he is a private doctor and not a "VA" doctor.

There is no evidence in your claims file to show you requested a copy of your claims file for submission to the doctor for review.

Reasonable doubt does not apply in this case because the preponderance of the evidence is against you. We gave Dr Gireesan's opinion more weight than Dr Bash's. Dr Gireesan actually viewed your claim file in it's entirety and addressed each piece of medical evidence to substantiate his opinion. Dr Bash's opinion is not supported by credible evidence showing he reviewed your claims file. The only evidence cited by Dr Bash was evidence stated in the April 2005 SSOC.

Denied because there is no medical link to service according to them.

In the end, it does not matter what you submit when it comes to a DVA paycheck or bonus.

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  • HadIt.com Elder

It's obvious that he VA is going to fight every step of the way.

You are going to need a lawyer, and depending on his advice, file an appeal, or other similar action.

The VA Dr's C&P's seem to be in "equipoise", and you will need to get another IMO and obtain a complete copy of your service records available to the doctor.

Another possibility is to have Dr. Bash refute the second C&P at the BVA appeal or in court. You may also need to get a senator or congressman involved, since, at least on the surface, it appears that the VA is bound and determined to deny your claims.

Apparently, my case is somewhat different.

After having an incomplete C&P examination, I requested another.

Around 30 days later the VAMC C&P dept called and said another examination using labs and radiology results was scheduled.

After a thorough examination of me and all the records, the VA c&p examiner stated all conditions were service connected.(1997)

The VARO rater stated little of this C&P with examination in the denial.

The VARO scribbled on a note to a VAMC staff consultant what they needed, and three days later the claim was denied by the IMO that was faxed to them from the consultant.

"ALL" of the denials I've received since the VA C&P with examination in 1997, have been from IMO's the VA has obtained from paid consultants.

I paid for an examination and opinion from a local practitioner I started going to not long after I was discharged & went to for over a decade before I started going to the VAMC's for health care. This doctor reviewed the c-file & examined me as well. He completely agreed with the VA C&P examiner that all issues are connected to military service.

I was granted Non-service connected Pension for Multiple Sclerosis going back to 1994 in 1996. The DVA stopped payment or keeping track of income for Pension after I received Social Security in 2001

After several denials & reluctance of VA MD's to commit to a diagnosis of neuromuscular symptoms, I dropped the claim for MS back in 2003.

In 2004, I ended up getting an evaluation for environmental exposures through the VAMC.

A neurologist was assigned, he had an MRI taken & diagnosed TBI, probably due to toxins. This MD refused to view any prior medical records or diagnostic tests. He also failed to recognize the brain lesion in the corpus callosum. ( a significant indicator of MS)

In 2005, I finally heard about this specialist that does IMO's on hadit.

After reading my medical records again, I decided to get the IMO so I know what treatment I need and what route my health may be taking.

Dr Bash found SMR's in my c-file that directly link Multiple Sclerosis to military service. He said I have had it since service and should be compensated/treated for it.

Last week I received a SOC denial dated Dec 12,07 from the AMC.

(1)Entitlement to Service connection.

Medical Opinions from Dr Bash were reviewed and considered. The doctor stated that your multilevel degenerative changes of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines are related to your motor vehicle accident in service. He further stated that he reviewed your VA claims file including military service records, VA examination and treatment records and private treatment records and SSOC dated April-05. However, he does not state what specific evidence in your claim files was used to substantiate his opinion. Further, he does not state where or who he obtained this evidence from as he is a private doctor and not a "VA" doctor.

There is no evidence in your claims file to show you requested a copy of your claims file for submission to the doctor for review.

Reasonable doubt does not apply in this case because the preponderance of the evidence is against you. We gave Dr Gireesan's opinion more weight than Dr Bash's. Dr Gireesan actually viewed your claim file in it's entirety and addressed each piece of medical evidence to substantiate his opinion. Dr Bash's opinion is not supported by credible evidence showing he reviewed your claims file. The only evidence cited by Dr Bash was evidence stated in the April 2005 SSOC.

Denied because there is no medical link to service according to them.

In the end, it does not matter what you submit when it comes to a DVA paycheck or bonus.

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  • HadIt.com Elder

Allan:

I hope that you got copies of your SMR's to give to Dr Bash. It looks to me like the VA is trying to discredit Dr Bash

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