VA Reconsideration - Is it possible to get a copy of the rater's decision document?

[YellowHammer]

It looks like I will preparing a request for VA reconsideration. Is it possible to get a copy of the rater's decision document that includes his rational for the rating and what is required for the next highest rating?

It appears these documents are mailed to veterans upon decision of their claim. Seeing as I am in the IDES, does anybody know if I can get mine for use in preparing my reconsideration?

Example of what im talking about: http://www.va.gov/vetapp13/Files1/1300006.txt

 

[Wild Blue]

Great question. The docs I received from the IPEB are almost non-existent in terms of providing any justification as far as why the VA chose to rate my condition analogous to the condition that they did, and how they arrived at the particular rating. They only stated that "a higher rating would be based upon more severe residuals." It gives us pretty much NOTHING to go on, to challenge the VA's decision criteria on appeal (reconsideration), and we have to come up with our own argument from scratch as to why it should be rated a particular way. Booooooo...

 

[Warrior644]

It looks like I will preparing a request for VA reconsideration. Is it possible to get a copy of the rater's decision document that includes his rational for the rating and what is required for the next highest rating?

It appears these documents are mailed to veterans upon decision of their claim. Seeing as I am in the IDES, does anybody know if I can get mine for use in preparing my reconsideration?

Example of what im talking about: http://www.va.gov/vetapp13/Files1/1300006.txt

Upon receipt of your IPEB findings inclusive of DoD and DoVA proposed ratings, you should receive a DoVA "Disability Evaluation System Proposed Rating" document (which has a detailed "Reasons For Decision" analysis for all conditions), a DoVA "Disability Evaluation System Proposed Rating" document (which has a detailed VASRD code, disability name, and associated potential disability percentage for any condition), and a DoVA Early Benefits Estimation letter (which provides an early estimate of all applicable DoVA benefits).

To that extent, what exactly are you potentially going to contest with the VARR request? It seems that you disagree with the DoVA D-RAS' assignment of a proposed rating(s) for particular medical condition(s), correct?

That said, the aforementioned documents shall list condition(s) stating something similar to "a higher evaluation of XXX percentage is not warranted unless there is..." which tells you the criteria to meet the next higher rating for that specific medical condition.

Moreover, the DoVA D-RAS VSR may provide additional feedback at the end of the "Disability Evaluation System Proposed Rating" document which has a detailed VASRD code, disability name, and associated potential disability percentage for any service-connected disability.

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!