So, yes, it is important to read the decision letter for a variety of reasons. 1) In the rating decision, it will state the criteria for the next level of rating. Go over that criteria to see if you meet it, but, that it wasn't considered in the decision. Highlight that criteria specifically in your appeal. Also, ensure that how you meet that criteria is documented in your medical records. This means you need to work very closely with your doctor to ensure that it is documented in your medical records and, if necessary, they do a specific doctors note that you can specifically reference to the evaluator that highlights that specific condition so the evaluator can go directly to that dated note. 2) In your letter, it may not even reference things that your decision and rating allow. Let's say that your decision letter states that your disability rating was raised to 100%. If that new rating of 100% was also made P&T, your decision letter will not state that. It will not state, "Your new rating is 100% and is P&T". It will ONLY state that you have the new rating. What the letter WILL have is that if that new rating offers you access to new benefits or not. That is the cue that the new rating may be also tagged as P&T or not as in the requirements for that new program, one of the requirements would be that the member be rated as P&T to qualify. If you are unsure, call the VBA 1-800 number and ask, specifically, is my rating tagged as P&T or not. 3) Look at the language used in the decision letter if your claim is denied. It may state that the review found your conditions to be "significantly better". Is that in your medical records? No? Then HOW did they come to that conclusion? Yes, it happens, and is used to "justify" lowering your rating or denying your claim. Appeal and during the next evaluation be sure to highlight that this was claimed in the last decision letter even though there is no evidence of it in your medical records. And, on that note, get your own copy of your medical records. Go through them. Make sure that there aren't any notes in them that DO claim your condition has improved when it hasn't. Again, work very closely with your doctor.
I just noticed in my denial letter for back that they got my incident dates wrong . Happier it 1998 but they say it was 1996 so they say it wasn’t chronic because I seen no treatment for those 4 years 🤔
I have DBQ's for two disabilities. The firstDBQ is service connected, the second DBQ is a secondary disabilitiey related to the service connected disabilitiey. Question:Should I submit the DBQ's separately or at the same time?
Anyone know if you can use the VA at all with an OTH discharge. I had a few surgeries while i was in, got sent to a pain management specialists turned into an addiction that eventually took me 10 years to break with the help of God. I have been thinking about trying to do it but was just curious. Thanks and God bless
The answer is yes and no. It completely depends on your situation and is dealt with on a case by case basis. Its also possible to "upgrade" your discharge to other than dishonorable discharge and then you would qualify for most services
Decision letter: denied. Vitiligo: Service connection may be granted for a disability which began in military or was caused by some event or experience in service. Service connection for VITILIGO is denied because the medical evidence of record fails to slow that this disability has been clinically diagnosed. While your service treatment records reflect complaints, treatment or a diagnosis similar to that claimed the medical evidence supports the conclusion that a persistent disability was not persent in service. We did not find a link between your medical your medical condition and military service. Note: MEPS listed Vitiligo in records. Treatment was giving to SM on AD to SMs STR. What was the VA saying?
out of 11 items in my claim they deferred 7 items and denied 1 item and awarded 1 item. the denial was for non combat ptsd caused by many events while on duty... suicide of friend on duty with his service revolver, (had buddy letters), dispatch to beach where a young boy was washed up who had drowned, dispatched to car accident on base, drove one body to er thinking he was passed out due to no available ambulance and found out he was already doa.. a chopper crash between islands in okinawa my friend died in china sea and i was on standby to catch a ride back.. it is hard for me to understand how the va could not connect that to non combat stressors.. I think it might be worth appealing with attorney but still have deferred mental health disorders , etc. confused confused. QUESTION how can i see the dates the decisions to defer were made, wondering all on same day, is that possible
Did you have a diagnosis from a psychiatrist for PTSD? No diagnosis, automatic denial. Also did you submit a personal statement that talks about the events and how it has impacted your daily life socially and occupationally? You must meet the requirements outlined in 38 CFR.
Well, it depends and that's the dilemma. In this decision letter it specifically says 'acute and chronic' and that the evidence basically wasn't strong enough for either. So although there was a complaint, this examiner is basically saying..."not good enough". For this Veteran, I would certainly recommend a HLR and then explore a private DBQ...especially if the Veteran could get a bilateral factor for left and right knee strain.
Remember the Raters and Schedulers are not "Medically Qualified" they have no training in being Medical Practitioners or Background in the Medical field Period. 👈
The C&P Contractors are Paid $3,000 dollars 💸 per veteran, they examine its all a Money 💰 Pit. As quiet as its kept the game is Deny, Deny, Deny, as many Veterans that apply for Benefits. 👈
Im so frustrated rn, got denied migraines even tho i have prescrived medications, migraine log, buddu statements, personal statements idk what else to do
I am confused...You read your decision and...you have a C&P Exam coming up...For 2 different claims, absolutely. I am assuming you had a decision letter that had decided some of your claims and some of those claims were deferred. You now have C&P Exams for those claims that were deferred. If I'm way out in left field, please comment below to straighten anything out.
@@AccreditedVSO yes I got a decision letter on Monday and my c and p exam is today Friday only one claim not sure if this is normal or not but I thought it was weird
@@bradmassey77 If you had one claim to which you were scheduled for a C&P, then got the decision letter PRIOR to that C&P, then no, that is not "normal". That is the VBA trying to manuever around the C&P process. Do the C&P exam, let the evaluator know that the claim was "decided" prior to the exam, and be prepared to appeal that decision unless the decision is one you agree with, etc.
So, yes, it is important to read the decision letter for a variety of reasons.
1) In the rating decision, it will state the criteria for the next level of rating. Go over that criteria to see if you meet it, but, that it wasn't considered in the decision. Highlight that criteria specifically in your appeal. Also, ensure that how you meet that criteria is documented in your medical records. This means you need to work very closely with your doctor to ensure that it is documented in your medical records and, if necessary, they do a specific doctors note that you can specifically reference to the evaluator that highlights that specific condition so the evaluator can go directly to that dated note.
2) In your letter, it may not even reference things that your decision and rating allow. Let's say that your decision letter states that your disability rating was raised to 100%. If that new rating of 100% was also made P&T, your decision letter will not state that. It will not state, "Your new rating is 100% and is P&T". It will ONLY state that you have the new rating. What the letter WILL have is that if that new rating offers you access to new benefits or not. That is the cue that the new rating may be also tagged as P&T or not as in the requirements for that new program, one of the requirements would be that the member be rated as P&T to qualify. If you are unsure, call the VBA 1-800 number and ask, specifically, is my rating tagged as P&T or not.
3) Look at the language used in the decision letter if your claim is denied. It may state that the review found your conditions to be "significantly better". Is that in your medical records? No? Then HOW did they come to that conclusion? Yes, it happens, and is used to "justify" lowering your rating or denying your claim. Appeal and during the next evaluation be sure to highlight that this was claimed in the last decision letter even though there is no evidence of it in your medical records. And, on that note, get your own copy of your medical records. Go through them. Make sure that there aren't any notes in them that DO claim your condition has improved when it hasn't. Again, work very closely with your doctor.
Solid recommendations
@@AccreditedVSO
I ran into every single one of them.
I just noticed in my denial letter for back that they got my incident dates wrong . Happier it 1998 but they say it was 1996 so they say it wasn’t chronic because I seen no treatment for those 4 years 🤔
Feel free to reach out to DKGVF through our intake form link. We're also having a Live Q/A tomorrow at 3pm EST.
I have DBQ's for two disabilities. The firstDBQ is service connected, the second DBQ is a secondary disabilitiey related to the service connected disabilitiey. Question:Should I submit the DBQ's separately or at the same time?
Can an in service even provide the nexus?
You should show one from a Vietnam combat vet. Deny, deny, deny........
Do you know how to get copies of old CRSC (Air Force) decision letters?
Anyone know if you can use the VA at all with an OTH discharge. I had a few surgeries while i was in, got sent to a pain management specialists turned into an addiction that eventually took me 10 years to break with the help of God. I have been thinking about trying to do it but was just curious. Thanks and God bless
The answer is yes and no. It completely depends on your situation and is dealt with on a case by case basis. Its also possible to "upgrade" your discharge to other than dishonorable discharge and then you would qualify for most services
@@JoshVet619 that's what I have I believe. Other than honorable but wasn't dishonorable in the legal sense
What do advise got decision letter 2 denied condutions and deferrer 3rd condition would u recomend higher review or apeal process
Supplemental requires new evidence, but is likely quicker.
Question in reference to "Left Foot/Right Foot Conditions"
Would Pes Planus and Plantar Fasciitis be considered pyramiding claims?
Decision letter: denied. Vitiligo: Service connection may be granted for a disability which began in military or was caused by some event or experience in service. Service connection for VITILIGO is denied because the medical evidence of record fails to slow that this disability has been clinically diagnosed. While your service treatment records reflect complaints, treatment or a diagnosis similar to that claimed the medical evidence supports the conclusion that a persistent disability was not persent in service. We did not find a link between your medical your medical condition and military service.
Note: MEPS listed Vitiligo in records. Treatment was giving to SM on AD to SMs STR.
What was the VA saying?
out of 11 items in my claim they deferred 7 items and denied 1 item and awarded 1 item. the denial was for non combat ptsd caused by many events while on duty... suicide of friend on duty with his service revolver, (had buddy letters), dispatch to beach where a young boy was washed up who had drowned, dispatched to car accident on base, drove one body to er thinking he was passed out due to no available ambulance and found out he was already doa.. a chopper crash between islands in okinawa my friend died in china sea and i was on standby to catch a ride back.. it is hard for me to understand how the va could not connect that to non combat stressors.. I think it might be worth appealing with attorney but still have deferred mental health disorders , etc.
confused confused. QUESTION how can i see the dates the decisions to defer were made, wondering all on same day, is that possible
Did you have a diagnosis from a psychiatrist for PTSD? No diagnosis, automatic denial. Also did you submit a personal statement that talks about the events and how it has impacted your daily life socially and occupationally? You must meet the requirements outlined in 38 CFR.
I don’t understand, the person had evidence of complaining of knee pain during service, wouldn’t that be the nexus?
Well, it depends and that's the dilemma. In this decision letter it specifically says 'acute and chronic' and that the evidence basically wasn't strong enough for either. So although there was a complaint, this examiner is basically saying..."not good enough".
For this Veteran, I would certainly recommend a HLR and then explore a private DBQ...especially if the Veteran could get a bilateral factor for left and right knee strain.
Remember the Raters and Schedulers are not "Medically Qualified" they have no training in being Medical Practitioners or Background in the Medical field Period. 👈
The C&P Contractors are Paid $3,000 dollars 💸 per veteran, they examine its all a Money 💰 Pit. As quiet as its kept the game is Deny, Deny, Deny, as many Veterans that apply for Benefits. 👈
Im so frustrated rn, got denied migraines even tho i have prescrived medications, migraine log, buddu statements, personal statements idk what else to do
I read my decision letter today kinda messed up my c and p appt is this coming Friday is this normal?
I am confused...You read your decision and...you have a C&P Exam coming up...For 2 different claims, absolutely. I am assuming you had a decision letter that had decided some of your claims and some of those claims were deferred. You now have C&P Exams for those claims that were deferred.
If I'm way out in left field, please comment below to straighten anything out.
@@AccreditedVSO yes I got a decision letter on Monday and my c and p exam is today Friday only one claim not sure if this is normal or not but I thought it was weird
@@bradmassey77
If you had one claim to which you were scheduled for a C&P, then got the decision letter PRIOR to that C&P, then no, that is not "normal". That is the VBA trying to manuever around the C&P process. Do the C&P exam, let the evaluator know that the claim was "decided" prior to the exam, and be prepared to appeal that decision unless the decision is one you agree with, etc.
What is that annoying banging noise?