Seeking medical providers in Southern Calfornia for medical opinion

chezplan

Well-Known Member
Registered Member
I have an appeal in process that my right knee is a secondary condition to my left knee and back which are service connected. I am seeking recommendations that members may have for an orthopedic doctor in the Orange County or San Diego area that is familiar with the VA process. I'd like to have them review my medical records and provide an independent medical opinion regarding my right knee being a secondary condition that developed as a result of another service connected condition.
 
Are you having a hard time getting the Long Beach VA Medical Center to show a nexus between the two injuries? Typically they are pretty user friendly there.
 
I saw my VA primary care at the Laguna Hills clinic and she said that VA Long Beach hospital doctors do not write medical opinions. I checked with the American Legion rep at the Long Beach hospital and they suggested getting a referral to a specialist at the Long Beach hospital and then see if the doctor could include progress notes that state my condition is secondary to my other service conditions. I feel like I'm taking a chance with the VA doctor, so I'm considering seeing a civilian doctor who can review my medical files and provide an independent medical opinion.

I am open to suggestions that would save me the cost of a civilian doctor reviewing my files.
 
I saw my VA primary care at the Laguna Hills clinic and she said that VA Long Beach hospital doctors do not write medical opinions. I checked with the American Legion rep at the Long Beach hospital and they suggested getting a referral to a specialist at the Long Beach hospital and then see if the doctor could include progress notes that state my condition is secondary to my other service conditions. I feel like I'm taking a chance with the VA doctor, so I'm considering seeing a civilian doctor who can review my medical files and provide an independent medical opinion.

I am open to suggestions that would save me the cost of a civilian doctor reviewing my files.

I have gotten many medical opinions written from specialists at the LBVA.

Request a referral to orthopedics and as them to note in the record that your rt. knee condition is secondary to your left knee and back. More than likely it will happen.

Have you filed the claim for compensation and pension yet? It is likely that you will be examined by the VA or a VA contractor for the C&P claim.
 
Thank you for the response, here's a bit of history on my right knee. The right knee claim was initially denied as service connected. Therefore, I submitted an NOD and was seen at QTC for the condition in September 2015. At the end of August 2016, the VA review officer called and told me that the QTC doctor did not make a finding on the knee, therefore they had no medical basis to make a positive finding for my right knee. He suggested that I obtain a medical opinion letter from a doctor and submit that to support my case. He said the letter needed to state the medical opinion, rational for the opinion, and that the doctor reviewed my entire case file.

I tried my HMO doctor but he does not provide medical opinion letters. I then tried the VA but my primary care said VA doctors would not provide medical opinion letters. I then began to search for civilian medical orthopedic doctors who could prepare independent medical opinions.

What's throwing me off is that the VA review officer is looking for the three elements in the medical opinion letter in order to make a decision. Would the VA orthopedic doctor's medical opinion in their progress notes be sufficient for the VA review officer to make a decision?

Side note: I only started in the VA healthcare system about 2 years ago, but appears I should have built up a case history with my knees at the VA rather than my HMO.
 
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