Based on your responses, we've outlined your personalized situation and recommended next steps below!
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What these denials mean:
The VA is acknowledging your mental disorder diagnosis but is claiming it existed before your service-connected (SC) disability and was not worsened beyond its natural progression by your SC disability.
When this happens, the burden of proof to demonstrate this aggravation falls on you, the Veteran.
You can still qualify for service-connection if:
Your mental disorder became significantly worse than would typically be expected due to your service-connected disability.
We need to present evidence that your mental disorder was aggravated by your SC disability, with adequate evidence and medical reasoning connecting the two conditions.
How to establish this connection:
Phase 1: Medical Literature Review & Records Review- You'll need to provide information about your SC disability and rating, records relevant to your mental disorder, and any records that could potentially connect these disabilities. I would conduct a review to determine if medical evidence supports a connection between your conditions. I would conduct a Records Review, so I can review to determine the level of impairment before potential aggravation by your SC disability and to assess for evidence regarding aggravation as a result of your SC disability. If there is not evidence supporting a positive nexus opinion, the process will conclude here.
Phase 2: Independent Medical Examination (IME) - We would determine your current level of impairment to compare to previous levels of impairment. If there is not evidence of aggravation, the process will conclude here.
Phase 3: IMO - If both a diagnosis and a medical link are supported, I write a formal IMO.
Standard VA Disability Claim Process
The VA will provide:
- Free medical examination
- Free records review
Your Fieldstone Service Plan:
Estimated Total Cost:
$2,850
Phase 1: $700 (due at booking)
- Records Review: $350
- Forensic analysis of up to 50 pages of records.
- Medical Literature Review: $350
- A detailed examination of medical and scientific literature to determine if there is scientific evidence supporting a connection between a veteran's service-connected primary condition and their claimed secondary condition.
- A detailed examination of medical and scientific literature to determine if there is scientific evidence supporting a connection between a veteran's service-connected primary condition and their claimed secondary condition.
If not enough evidence to provide a positive IMO, the process concludes here.
Phase 2: $1100 (billed only after Phase 1)
- Telehealth IME: $1,100
- 1-hour telehealth examination
If no aggravation is found, the process concludes here.
Phase 3: $1050 (billed only if aggravation is found)
- IMO: $1050
- A formal independent medical opinion (IMO) supporting a secondary service connection.
Total for all phases: $2850
Timeline:
Phase One
- Sign-up & Pay: Secure Phase One of your plan and access intake packet.
- Intake & Upload: Complete intake forms and upload medical/service records.
- Confirmation & Analysis: After you confirmed a complete record submission, you will be informed within 2 weeks if there is enough evidence to provide a positive IMO. If there isn't, the process concludes here. If there is, you can choose to move on to the next phase.
Phase Two
- Pay: Secure Phase Two of your plan.
- Assessment: You will complete clinical assessments.
- Scheduling: Upon completing assessments, you will schedule your telehealth exam.
- Deliverables: You will receive your Completed Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) via secure email message within 1 week of your exam. If there is not aggravation indicated, the process concludes here. If there is aggravation, you can choose to move on to the next phase.
Phase Three
- Pay: Secure final Phase of your plan
- Lock-in Delivery Date: Upon paying, you will be redirected to a scheduling calendar where you will "lock in" the date by which your IMO will be emailed to you.
- Deliverables: You will receive IMO by secure email by End of Business on the date you reserved.
Ready to book your service?
We're ready to help! Sign up for your Fieldstone Service Plan below.
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