I have been waiting for 4 months for the transcripts of my DRO hearing and have received all kinds of answers as to when I will get my transcripts. 2 weeks ago I followed the lead someone on here did and asked specific questions (where is my cfile, who has is signed out, etc) and received the standard answer. I sent an IRIS again yesterday asking the same thing and specifically asking that I get answers not cut and paste responses. No reply yet.

So today at 10am I get a call from the local clinic telling me that I am schedualed for 2 C&P's on the 17th. One for my IVDS and one for an increase on my knee. I have read thanks to Rentalguy, thaat IVDSexams are supposed to be a very indepth test of your nerves, etc. So I asked how long to plan for the two exams. the guy said he had me down for an hour, but it will most likely be 30 minutes.

SO....... nobody can tell me where my transcript is but they have me going for an exam.
AND..... one of my complaiints about my iinitial exam for my back was that they only did range of motion. Well how in depth can the exam be if they are going to do that AND the knee in 30 minutes?

These are the only two things I want to claim and then be done with VA for now other than my Voc Rehab. If I gotta go through all of this again because they aren't following the exam protocols AGAIN... ugh.

Don't get to frazzled as they depend on not having all the exams scheduled performed but if you get a good Doc it will take as long as he needs. All of my C&P's lasted longer than scheduled.

You might be to hung up on transcripts. My experience with them was they usually were not very well done and had a lot of holes. including typos and misspellings and entire sentences left out.

The main thing I think that you need to be worried about at this level is that all your evidence is in to be considered and that you problems are accurately noted. When you get your first notice be sure and review what they list as evidence and how they considered it. That is the key to winning your claim in my opinion.

How you refute their malarkey is the way to victory

Pete, I am not all too concerned about the transcripts as quite a few posts lately have confirmed what you said about them. I am more concerned that I couldn't even get a reply as to where my folder was, yet someone must have it or I wouldn't be going for the exams.
As for the quality of the exam.... well the original exam I had for IVDS was done by a PA (about 26 years old) who was contracted to VA and had ads up ON CRAIGSLIST... YES CRAIGSLIST all over central and western ny trying to recruit other PA's to the company to do VA exams. I can tell you that neither of them was remotely close to what the C&P sheets say. She flat out denied my IVDS then.
I have submitted everything that I have. In person no less. I'm a "2 folder person" according to the people I have talked to...... which I don't think they liked (I can't imagine how many folders some ofthe members here must need for their cfiles! LOL). I honestly think that there is too much medical terminology for the DRO to handle. When I used the word chrondomalacia (knee cartilage problem) in my hearing her face got the "what the hell did he just say?" look.
I don't know how VA can expect someone who has not been trained in medicine to read a report or claim and know what it means.

If you think chondromalacia messes with their heads, start talking to them about ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and neural foraminal stenosis.

Take a copy of the IVDS and knee exam worksheets with you to the exams. Keep them out in the open, and let them know you are keenly aware of what is to be done. If you see something wrong, or left out, call them on it (politely). This is especially true if it is a young doc who doesn't want to use a goniometer. An old guys is probably OK, but tell the young dude you'd prefer to follow the VA laws and regulations.

Shane, I am planning on that. The guy on the phone said it was "to examine the joints and neurological as it relates to your IVDS". He sounded like that was a foreign language to him. I'm assuming thaatthe letter I will get this week confirming the appointment will list what the exams are for.

I am wondering about the neuro part. I know that you have posted that only a neuro specialist (a MD preferably) should do the test, and I re-read the Spine Claim page on here but I really don't know what to expect as far as that. Is it simply running a pen up the bottom of my foot or is there supposed to be something where they electronically stimulate the nerves to test for reaction? The stuff I read didn't seem to specific on that.

I also read in there (in the newer training letter on spine injuries) that the guy who wrote it claimed that "most vets with spine injuries qualify for Special Monthly Compensation" or something like that. I have never seen that before and I always assumed that SMC was only awarded to vets who have catastrophic injuries (amputations, deafness/blindness, etc).

I am really nervous that I will fly off the handle if I get another PA who doesn't give a S***. The last one didn't even look at my knee until I asked her to. Just did the questions and ROM.

Most likely will be a battery of questions (ED, urinary/fecal incontinence, etc.) sensation tests, and straight leg raises. I doubt that they will make you do any EMG testing, etc. A spine injury is catastrophic. It took me a while to realize this, but it's true. The difference for us is that it isn't catastrophic at first, or maybe even for the first 20 years. Things typically go south all at once, though, and then you realize the true impact of that back injury. The SMC can be for things like A&A, or SMC K for a foot drop or ED. It's hard to get it for any other reason with a back injury.

After I posted that I thought "well that was kinda insensative using catastrophic so casually". I know that your situation is, at least to you and your family, catastrophic so I didn't mean to downplay your situation which I'm sure you know.
I figured the SMC was for some type of lack of use thing like you posted. I don't see me doing any straight leg raises if they ask me too. I can feel the screws in my back when I lay down in bed or on the couch. I'm sure as hell not doing them on a table in a docs office. LOL


Well I just got a reply to my IRIS and they said "my claim is with the ratings team pending final review"

WHAT?????? So no transcripts. No notices. 2 C&P's in a few weeks and I'm already with the raters?

WOW..........

Here is the email:

This is in response to your inquiry dated April 6, 2009, regarding the status of your appeal case, and the answers you have received from us. We realize your frustration with the process and the amount of time it has taken to resolve your case.

We have forwarded this inquiry to our Regional Office in Buffalo to follow up on the transcript which they said would be sent to you.

In researching your file, it indicates it is currently with our rating team pending final reviews. Please be assured your claim is currently being worked on, and clearly indicates all information is in your claim file in our Buffalo Regional Office. Unfortunately, due to the backlog of claims, the 30 day time period which was had anticipated for completion, was not attained. We sincerely apologize for this, as the claims processing can take additional amount of times depending on the complexity of the claims.

Again, please accept our apology for the amount of time it has taken to complete your claim. Thank you for your service to our country. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below.

Sincerely yours,

E. J. Kruse
National IRIS Response Center Manager

YES HI
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR QUIN 7 THE VET WITH FIRE HAT LOGO.

I HAD DRO HEARING IN FEB 09 AND THE DRO PROMISED ME HE WOULD GET BACK TO ME I CALLED MY LAWYER IRIS NOTHIN IM GETTING FED UP BECAUSE I CANT MOVE ROUND TO WELL ANY THOUGHTS WHAT TO DO WITH THE VA??