Psych C&P Exam Completely Wrong??

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clementines

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
Hey there!

I recently had a Psych C&P exam with VES and the assessment became available on TOL, so I reviewed it and was completely flabbergasted with how wrong it was. It basically contradicted four years of mental health treatment, and many things I specifically verbalized were contradicted as well. I'm not sure how this provider could have gotten it so wrong. It almost seemed willful. I informed them of (documented) hospitalizations for SI, panic attacks, relationship problems I'd had, etc. and none of those items were marked on the document. The provider had specifically written I'd experienced none of those things. I don't know what to do. What's my next step from here? This was my major claim for my MEB and this provider stated I had no mental health disorders and was just experiencing adjustment problems? I'm so lost. I'm so scared. What is next? I feel like my whole existence and experiences have been undermined by somebody who made a lot of assumptions about me instead of actually listening to me.
 
1. See if your treating psych will fill out their own DBQ. Your VA rep can add it to your file.
2. Fill out a 4138 (VA form) to document your dispute of an incorrect DBQ and the items the provider missed or misrepresented.
 
clementines said:
Hey there!

I recently had a Psych C&P exam with VES and the assessment became available on TOL, so I reviewed it and was completely flabbergasted with how wrong it was. It basically contradicted four years of mental health treatment, and many things I specifically verbalized were contradicted as well. I'm not sure how this provider could have gotten it so wrong. It almost seemed willful. I informed them of (documented) hospitalizations for SI, panic attacks, relationship problems I'd had, etc. and none of those items were marked on the document. The provider had specifically written I'd experienced none of those things. I don't know what to do. What's my next step from here? This was my major claim for my MEB and this provider stated I had no mental health disorders and was just experiencing adjustment problems? I'm so lost. I'm so scared. What is next? I feel like my whole existence and experiences have been undermined by somebody who made a lot of assumptions about me instead of actually listening to me.
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As Nswo13 said, get your treating doc to complete a VA DBQ and ensure a clear medical opinion is included. You can also pay to have a DBQ completed based on the existing files you send and usually one medical exam/interview. To win this, you have to build your case.

Also reach out to your JAG legal counsel and inform them.
 
You need to go to a civilian provider to counter the VA contractor exam. I just had a VA contractor Hearing Exam and they totally hosed me on it, I too think it was willful also.....I should have known something was up when the audiologist said she was prior Navy and that she just got done with all of her training from the VA. What kind of training? What other training is VA giving her on her already known profession? makes me wonder if they are giving her training on how to hose veterans....So now I am going to my civilian doctor and getting a complete hearing exam and having him write up a Medical Opinion, oh also have a crap load of buddy statements to back up every thing. You want to have a boat load of paperwork uploaded to the VA to prove your case. The cases that have little to no proof will get denied, the cases that have a crap ton of paperwork for the reviewer to go through will have a chance to get approved.
 
clementines said:
Hey there!

I recently had a Psych C&P exam with VES and the assessment became available on TOL, so I reviewed it and was completely flabbergasted with how wrong it was. It basically contradicted four years of mental health treatment, and many things I specifically verbalized were contradicted as well. I'm not sure how this provider could have gotten it so wrong. It almost seemed willful. I informed them of (documented) hospitalizations for SI, panic attacks, relationship problems I'd had, etc. and none of those items were marked on the document. The provider had specifically written I'd experienced none of those things. I don't know what to do. What's my next step from here? This was my major claim for my MEB and this provider stated I had no mental health disorders and was just experiencing adjustment problems? I'm so lost. I'm so scared. What is next? I feel like my whole existence and experiences have been undermined by somebody who made a lot of assumptions about me instead of actually listening to me.
Click to expand...
In addition to these comments about getting a DBQ filled out by your docs you need to upload it to your claim online at va.gov and include the form for statement in support of a claim. On the form you can express the things you just said about past treatment and what you told the provider for your va assigned exam. Then include the 2nd opinion dbq filled out by your treating dr. and that should square you up. It's much better to get this fixed and get the right rating than to sweat the wrong ratings and have to rely on a VARR at the end of this process.
 
You might also call the company that subcontracted the examiner. You may be able to get the contractor to commit to a redo.
 
Provis said:
In addition to these comments about getting a DBQ filled out by your docs you need to upload it to your claim online at va.gov and include the form for statement in support of a claim. On the form you can express the things you just said about past treatment and what you told the provider for your va assigned exam. Then include the 2nd opinion dbq filled out by your treating dr. and that should square you up. It's much better to get this fixed and get the right rating than to sweat the wrong ratings and have to rely on a VARR at the end of this process.
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My military psychologist is the one who referred me for MEB/wrote my NARSUM -- would this individual and/or my psychiatrist be the folks I'd request a DBQ from? I do see an off-base counselor as well, but I'm not sure they would meet the necessary qualification to be able to write about my diagnoses. Thank you for the input!
 
You may ask the military doc for a letter that supports your initial diagnosis. However, generally speaking military docs will not fill out a DBQ. That's what the IDES process is for. You have to go to an outside private provider vs government. There are many that offer paid and unpaid services to do so. Make sure it is a provider that has experience doing this. I would also contact VES for a revelation with a different doc as Chaplin suggested.
 
Nswo13 said:
1. See if your treating psych will fill out their own DBQ. Your VA rep can add it to your file.
2. Fill out a 4138 (VA form) to document your dispute of an incorrect DBQ and the items the provider missed or misrepresented.
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I'll run down both of these avenues! I was intimidated by the 4138 upon seeing your suggestion, but my MSC has since said it would be a viable option to address the inaccuracies so I think I will try to do that as well. Would you suggest any particular format? Is simply stating the section and then saying why it's inaccurate good enough, or should I reference treatments/treatment dates/doctors/events etc. in detail? I'm afraid it could become a very lengthy document and I tend to be a bit long-winded. Thank you!
 
I would keep it to the point. Call out the inaccuracies and state the facts on why it is wrong, referencing your medical records/treatment.

My military doc was willing to do a DBQ, maybe just depends. Worth asking. The NARSUM is for the dod determination for fit/unfit. The DBQ is for the Va rating side. The ratings the Va decides from your records and these DBQs go to the PEB mirroring the Va rating for your specific dod referred condition.
 
clementines said:
I'll run down both of these avenues! I was intimidated by the 4138 upon seeing your suggestion, but my MSC has since said it would be a viable option to address the inaccuracies so I think I will try to do that as well. Would you suggest any particular format? Is simply stating the section and then saying why it's inaccurate good enough, or should I reference treatments/treatment dates/doctors/events etc. in detail? I'm afraid it could become a very lengthy document and I tend to be a bit long-winded. Thank you!
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You should be doing everything possible to show why that assessment is wrong. Attack it from every angle.

Personally write statement being clear and to the point, get your treating doc/military doc to help anyway they can in writing, call VES and file a dispute with them, get an email chain with VES going so you have proof, inform JAG of the disagreement and ask for a path forward, find an outside private doc to help you, maybe start seeing the Vet Center now and create a paper trail, have a spouse or someone close to you write a statement, find a doc that will do DBQs in your area that has this specific experience, gather all military supporting documents including LODs, P3 profiles, doc notes, a clear diagnosis and medical opinion, build a packet that no doc would challenge

You will likely lose unless you get lots of evidence together. It's your future, fight only as hard as you believe it's worth to you.
 
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