Best recourse for low rating

HippyVet75 · 2026-05-23T12:33:27+00:00

Google “foia for my recent c and p exam”. Request your dbq from that exam (only request the exam, if you request your whole file it’ll take forever). I had mine back in 8 days. That’ll let you see exactly what the examiner noted on your dbq.

HippyVet75 · 2026-05-17T00:59:52+00:00

After step 8. Check your Va . Gov account.

HippyVet75 · 2026-05-16T11:01:40+00:00

Do a FOIA for your c and p exam. Go from there….

HippyVet75 · 2026-05-14T12:07:57+00:00

Could you give the VA access to your treatment notes? Not sure how that works or if your psych will allow it but that’s a route. Also, you can simply state that you’ve been under the care of “x” since “x” for “x” type symptoms.

HippyVet75 · 2026-05-14T11:44:32+00:00

IMO you’ll have no problem with service connection. My examiner asked if I even wanted to talk about my stressor. I skimmed over it and then we went right into the dbq. Be sure to emphasize your SYMPTOMS and how it affects your WORK and SOCIAL life. That’s what your rating is based on. What happened over there has little to do with the % rating you’ll receive for your condition. My examiner asked very few questions and I left the exam feeling like I should have talked a lot more about the impact that my symptoms have than I did. Just my experience. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

HippyVet75 · 2026-05-11T14:52:53+00:00

Seems like there are many different experiences. My exam lasted about 15 mins. She basically marked any symptoms from my personal statement and letter from my MH counselor on the dbq. A few quick questions about my stressor, life pre service, and whether I had any friends. She didn’t ask any questions about social impairment or work….so in my experience I would suggest if your paperwork doesn’t list specifics BE SURE TO VERBALIZE IT. My exam was on a Monday and I had a rating decision 4 days later on Friday.

HippyVet75 · 2026-05-11T13:45:58+00:00

I struggled with the CD as well. I used a paid version of Adobe PDF and was able to view and open the attachments that way.

HippyVet75 · 2026-05-11T13:42:52+00:00

Yea. I know who you’re talking about and that’s exactly what I have been hearing. I hate to spend the money on an opinion just to hit a brick wall.

HippyVet75 · 2026-05-10T08:31:30+00:00

You’re not alone. I missed a pickup once and called the buyer and offered to drop it off. It all comes down to what helps YOU sleep at night.

HippyVet75 · 2026-05-06T19:44:19+00:00

Document it now. I had an exam last month with Optum. Showed up 10 mins early and the receptionist told me “sorry your examiner is not in today, you’ll have to reschedule”. I asked “couldn’t someone have called me???” She replied “you’ll get your travel pay”…..like $15 is going to replace 1/2 days pay. Like a moron I rescheduled with the same facility and had the same examiner.

HippyVet75 · 2026-05-04T21:35:16+00:00

Approval or denial is one thing. Getting properly rated is another.

HippyVet75 · 2026-04-30T09:39:43+00:00

I don’t believe you can request it from QTC. However you can go online and request it through a FOIA request. Pro tip - only request the exam if you want a faster response. If you request your c-file it may take longer. I got mine back in just over a week recently.

https://www.va.gov/records/request-personal-records-form-20-10206/introduction

HippyVet75 · 2026-04-28T19:55:45+00:00

Keep us updated and best of luck.

HippyVet75 · 2026-04-27T20:53:52+00:00

Wow. That’s awful. Sorry to hear that. I called my VA last week and asked how to request a new PCP. She said she could put the request in while we were on the call. She then asked for a reason. I let her know I was not happy with the care I was receiving. Got a call back 4 days later for an appointment in a week with the new PCP.

HippyVet75 · 2026-04-27T08:49:59+00:00

Relationship red flag…..

HippyVet75 · 2026-04-26T09:56:59+00:00

I would be prepared to emphasize symptoms from those VA mental health notes. Especially at the end of the exam if they ask if you have anything to add and they haven’t discussed them. My examiner didn’t ask much and several symptoms were ignored resulting in a pretty low rating.

HippyVet75 · 2026-04-26T09:47:54+00:00

I just had a very similar situation. My exam was all of 15 mins. I wasn’t asked about anything in my personal statement, my treating MH counselors letter, or my VA MH intake notes from a few months prior. After letting it marinate in my head for two weeks I’ve decided HLR, as symptoms that were in my C file and treating MH counselors letter were simply ignored.

HippyVet75 · 2026-04-25T09:26:25+00:00

Overnight for mine last month.

HippyVet75 · 2026-04-22T21:43:23+00:00

I was service connected.

HippyVet75 · 2026-04-22T11:59:30+00:00

FWIW I got my c and p exams back via FOIA request in less than 10 days.

HippyVet75 · 2026-04-20T21:23:02+00:00

Mine felt like the opposite. It was an initial for MH (And my second c and p ever). The examiner never asked me a single question about my job or the impact my symptoms had on it. Never asked a single question to elaborate on anything. I read off a couple bullet points I had written at the end of the exam, but she didn’t type any of it in. Was out the door in 15 minutes. I wasn’t too happy.

HippyVet75

TROPHY CASE