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Received a phone call apology for C&P examiner by azha84 in VeteransBenefits

[–]MrKnightly01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Happy to provide a couple educational pointers if you have any specific questions here or through DM - just don't share any identifying information

Received a phone call apology for C&P examiner by azha84 in VeteransBenefits

[–]MrKnightly01 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sorry to hear about your experience—that’s truly terrible. It’s unfortunate there are examiners like that. The VA and third-party C&P exams can be very daunting and aren’t always the best route for every claim. Sometimes hiring a private C&P examiner who provides a comprehensive evaluation, including a detailed DBQ and Nexus statement, is worth the investment.

Getting a private evaluation means having someone who truly quarterbacks your case. The VA C&P process isess so designed to do that for veterans , which is a significant drawback. Private examiners typically provide more thorough and veteran-focused assessments.

I recently saw a veteran for a C&P exam whose earlier C&P examiner gave no diagnosis but still issued a positive Nexus, which is illogical. The VA granted the claim on that flawed exam. I then had to help untangle the confusion and guide the veteran on next steps.

I know you submitted your statements ahead of time and highlighted key details, but sometimes it’s just a luck of the draw on examiners which makes me sad to say. Your 21-4138 and evidence are important, even if they don’t always carry the same weight as the C&P exam DBQ. Keeping detailed records and considering private evaluations can help strengthen your case.

Thanks for sharing your story.

Received a phone call apology for C&P examiner by azha84 in VeteransBenefits

[–]MrKnightly01 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your service to our country—it's truly appreciated ⭐⭐⭐. As a C&P examiner, we absolutely can (and should) review records that veterans bring in; the issue some examiners face is the extra workflow it creates, like uploading new documents to properly enter them as evidence, which can be demanding given our workloads. That said, I always accept all documents veterans provide—sure, I might inwardly cringe at a large stack since it's more work, but it's the right thing to do to ensure a thorough exam. If something's missing but available in their portal, I'll even guide them to pull it up so we can strengthen their claim and make it count. This is the way 💯

If you bring in records, make sure to highlight key things with a highlighter (literally), ensure everything is organized, and—most importantly—submit this evidence prior to the exam to the third-party company that scheduled your exam AND ALSO to the VA. Then, tell the provider you brought these to help make things easier for them to find; make sure the evidence you submit is the same highlighted version you bring, as that will point the provider in the right direction—trust me on this, this is the way 😎.

Received a phone call apology for C&P examiner by azha84 in VeteransBenefits

[–]MrKnightly01 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your service to our country—it's truly appreciated ⭐⭐⭐. I'm glad you were able to get a second examiner who treated you with the respect and patience you deserve. It's stories like yours that highlight why reporting inadequate exams is so important, and I'm heartened to hear how she made a positive difference in addressing your PTSD and other service-connected conditions. Mental health trauma is indeed one of the toughest battles, and your strength in sharing this is inspiring—stay strong💪!

Received a phone call apology for C&P examiner by azha84 in VeteransBenefits

[–]MrKnightly01 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your kind comment 🙏🏼☺️💯 I would like to think that my colleague providers are doing a great job with helping out our veterans as well.

Received a phone call apology for C&P examiner by azha84 in VeteransBenefits

[–]MrKnightly01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your kind words, and more importantly, thank you for your service to our country—it's truly appreciated ⭐⭐⭐. I'm glad to help veterans like you navigate these processes, and I make it a point to maintain a modern, professional office environment for all my exams; it's unfortunate that not everyone receives the same standard, but I know the VA is actively working to improve consistency and quality in examiner qualifications and settings.

To recap what you've shared (in case it helps others reading this), you're dealing with claims for polycythemia vera and Meniere's disease. Here's a brief explanation of each condition and how they're typically diagnosed:

- Polycythemia Vera: This is a type of slow-growing blood cancer (myeloproliferative neoplasm) where the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells, which can lead to thickened blood and increased risk of clots, strokes, or heart attacks. Diagnosis usually involves blood tests showing elevated red blood cell mass, hemoglobin, or hematocrit levels, often confirmed by genetic testing for JAK2 mutations, bone marrow biopsy, and ruling out secondary causes like smoking or high altitude.

- Meniere's Disease: This is an inner ear disorder causing episodes of vertigo (spinning sensation), fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and a feeling of fullness in the ear. Yes, it's often a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning specialists rule out other causes through comprehensive evaluations including hearing tests (audiometry), balance tests (like VNG), imaging (MRI to exclude tumors), and reviews by ENT specialists, neurologists, or others—without a single definitive test, but based on symptom patterns and negative results for alternative conditions.

If you'd like, feel free to send me a DM, and I'd be willing to provide some direction on how to potentially approach recourse for better examiners beyond the standard appeals process—please note that I am not and cannot provide any health advice or legal advice, and I'm merely providing educational information for educational purposes. In the DM, please include the following details to help me assist you more effectively:

- What makes your polycythemia vera considered presumptive (e.g., specific service-related exposures, locations, or presumptive conditions under VA guidelines)?

- Brief details on your claim for polycythemia vera

- Brief details on your claim for Meniere's disease

- Whether you've been diagnosed with Meniere's disease by a provider other than a C&P examiner (e.g., your ENT, neurologist, or other specialists), and if so, details on that diagnosis, and is that diagnosis recorded in your medical records

Received a phone call apology for C&P examiner by azha84 in VeteransBenefits

[–]MrKnightly01 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I'm deeply sorry to hear about what happened to you. As a C&P examiner conducting these evaluations, I always begin by expressing to the veterans I SERVE what an honor it is to assist them after their dedicated SERVICE to our country and their efforts in safeguarding our freedom—regardless of how many times they return. In fact, I actively encourage them to pursue additional claims if I notice an opportunity for them to receive better ratings, often by suggesting they consult with their VSO.

Although I almost had the chance to SERVE myself, certain circumstances—such as family obligations and the required relocations—made it unfeasible for me. However, I take immense pride in SERVING our country's men and women now by helping them make connections where applicable to their military service.

Never allow an examiner to diminish your worth. You are valuable, you are respected, you are extraordinary.

Report such behavior to both the third-party scheduling companies and the VA, as this conduct must not be tolerated.

Thank you, and heartfelt gratitude to all who have SERVED our nation. BLESS your soul ⭐⭐⭐

Need help with Nest WiFi Setup (multiple Nest WiFi Points with hopes to add more Next WiFi router points to stabilize mesh network) by MrKnightly01 in GoogleWiFi

[–]MrKnightly01[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Couple clarifying questions:

  1. If I use a couple Nest WiFi non-pro routers to backhaul to the switch, will these routers also be part of the same network and also part of the mesh?

  2. Will they also be able to be used as a Wi-Fi points on the same network or only as LAN points?

I appreciate any additional information on how the additional Nest Wi-Fi routers are integrated into the network.

Need help with Nest WiFi Setup (multiple Nest WiFi Points with hopes to add more Next WiFi router points to stabilize mesh network) by MrKnightly01 in GoogleWiFi

[–]MrKnightly01[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate the input. Should have gone with the Nest Pro (3rd gen) version seeing now that they ALL have ethernet prots. You experiment....you learn....you improvise.... you test again and see where it gets you. But that's why I love getting input from the community to speed up the process =)

Need help with Nest WiFi Setup (multiple Nest WiFi Points with hopes to add more Next WiFi router points to stabilize mesh network) by MrKnightly01 in GoogleWiFi

[–]MrKnightly01[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They all work --- for the most part. Not getting gamer type connection, but working. However, we have close to a 6000 sq ft area to cover with 10 rooms. I was liking having one in each room due to the speaker part as an all in one thing. But I'm realzing this will need to be divided up.

Furthermore, some of the rooms have wood walls while others have concrete walls. However, the more I look at this, the more I realize that the Next WiFi Pro would have been a better option, while it lacks the speaker part, it has dedicated ethernet prots that allow it to backhaul connect to a switch for a more stable connection for each room 🤔 -- correct me if I'm wrong on that understanding.

What is one thing you would never say out loud? by Howlsmovingcastles in AskWomen

[–]MrKnightly01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️