Concerns with C&P Exam

I had my C&P yesterday and am a little confused. The Doc went rather quickly through everything. He just grabbed my feet and bent my knees up and I said there was some pain but he just went on to the next things.
I had very little movement in my back and neck and he did say that he was putting in the report that I could not do the 3 repetitions due to pain.

When he checked for numbness in my legs and arms, he moved the tool so quickly that I didn't really get a chance to respond.

I also mentioned in my record it is noted that I have severe DDD in my spine and it isn't on his questionnaire and he said that it was ok because it is all part of the back issues I have.

I'm just confused and honestly a little worried.

I will be seeing the contracted dentist tomorrow for my TMJ.

Will I see a copy of the reports the Doc submit before it goes to DOD for their decision on retirement?

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[FloridaInjuredInCombat]

My C&P exam was a joke, I hope yours is not as well. You can request a copy of the report(s) directly from the VA, I did so at the office located at the C&P exam facility (VA Center Pensacola FL), and I later got copies from visiting my local VA clinic. You can get them as soon as they are in the system, but that won't change the DOD getting the same reports, even if they are flawed.

If your C&P exam(s) don't tell the whole picture fairly, a good option is to get your own doctor(s) to fill out a DBQ covering the items/areas in question. A DBQ (Disability Benefits Questionnaire) is form you can download from the VA website for particular things, such as a spinal injury. It mirrors the questions that were (supposed to be) covered in the C&P exam.

Hand a hard copy to your doctor for his examination, and have him return it to YOU (not the VA). That way, you can look it over for accuracy and completeness, and know what's in it helps not hurts your case. Then when the time is right (during the PEB appeal process) you can have a VARR done with the DBQ as evidence in show your favor. I say keep it for now, because if you or your doctor just hands it back to the VA prior to their initial ratings, they can say it was "taken into account" and may not allow it later at the VARR, and who knows whether they did or didn't consider it for the initial ratings.

At the VARR, with the DBQ as 'new' evidence, you have a decent chance of countering any short changing by the C&P exams. It made a huge difference in my case, because as I said my C&P exam was a joke. The good news is, the way it is supposed to work according to the VA rules, if the C&P and DBQ disagree on something, the decision should be made to favor the Veteran since both are considered medically equivalent exams.

If you're at this stage in the process, your next major hurdle is the MEB findings. Make sure that all conditions that don't meet retention standards are listed in their findings and appeal if needed. In my case the original MEB finding was just for the Spinal injury itself. With the help of a good JAG lawyer, on appeal, the MEB added Lumbar Radiculopathy (pain and numbness) for EACH leg.

At the intial PEB findings my back was rated at 10% (due to the worthless C&P exam) but I was also rated at 10% for EACH leg, putting me over the 30% needed for medical retirement. Then it was a matter of appealing the PEB findings with a VARR included to introduce the DBQ exam for my spinal injury. That lifted me from 30% military finding to 60%, and 80% total VA finding (with other non career ending service connected injuries).

So both the DBQ and having all conditions possible listed on the MEB can make a world of difference, that and finding a good JAG lawyer.

Good luck, I hope this helps...