ROM Question

Air Force Blues

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Registered Member
Hey everyone. I am going through a MEB and just received my VA exam results. Lot of small issues with basically everything, but one massive issue I saw was my ROM for flexation. I have had range of motion testing before when we initially started the MEB, and came out to a flexation of 30, which they did include in my history in the exam notes. Now the big problem here is the VA doc had told me 30 in the exam room, wrote 35 on the paper (a 20% drop benefits wise). I'm at a loss here and wondering what I'm supposed to do. Am I screwed because he wrote 35 down? Does the past noted ROM from Febuary mean nothing now that this new one is written?

Crazy stressful honestly; I expected there to be issues but I didn't expect this to be one of them honestly.

Thank you in advance for your advice.
 
Get a physical exam from a off base doc, be it a physio or neuro doc. If you get screwed on the informal you could use this as evidence for a reconsideration request.
 
Get a physical exam from a off base doc, be it a physio or neuro doc. If you get screwed on the informal you could use this as evidence for a reconsideration request.

I appreciate your comment. I just contacted our legal team and sure enough they gave the same advice. For future reference in case someone else has the same problem and views this looking for an answer:

Legal said to get a new measurement from a specialist, be it on or off base as long as they are a specialist. They stressed the VA docs being general medical doctors, and that the VA has to take the ratings given by specialists over general doctors. Request an impartial review and submit a letter of exception even though it's the VA issue, not the local medical team. Other than that all I can do is wait and prep.
 
Request an impartial review and submit a letter of exception even though it's the VA issue, not the local medical team. Other than that all I can do is wait and prep.

Yes, do this. Start preparing.

I had an IMR done, and in it the Lt Col said "Patient has ongoing migraine headaches" and then a little later in the paragraph says "he is having headaches more than half the days of the month"

My Neurologist wrong "he has maybe 12 to 15 migraines a month"

and what did the VA do? rated them at 0%

If you know you've gone through the process of the IMR and gathering additional data, start combing through your records and start preparing as if they are going to deny your claim. Then you'll be way ahead of the game if you need to do a VARR.
 
Get a physical exam from a off base doc, be it a physio or neuro doc. If you get screwed on the informal you could use this as evidence for a reconsideration request.
Do you use new evidence at the FPEB for a higher percentage?

How does the ratings reconsideration work with a new ROM exam?

Thanks!
 
I think a better option than an FPEB, is to stick with the VARR. The FPEB can't increase percentages; they must use the VA's numbers. So ask for a VARR, submit you rebuttal evidence and hopeful you will get a great outcome.
 
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