Question:
Jim. I just had to have a kidney removed because of kidney cancer. I filed a claim with VA based upon contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. This is a presumptive condition. I received notice I must attend a C&P exam. If this is presumptive why the C&P. I am also on a 100% right now for agent orange prostrate cancer. How will this affect that rating with the examiner.
Jim's Reply:
The C & P exam is ordered whether or not it needs to be because...well, the truth is nobody can say why you're getting an exam. Way back in the olden days, in 2013, VA even decided to eliminate some exams by using the ACE method. By using the existing Acceptable Clinical Evidence standards most C & P exams would be eliminated.
I advise veterans that they should never miss a C & P exam no matter what. I go so far as to advise vets that they shouldn't even try to reschedule a C & P exam because that often doesn't work in favor of the vet. It's best to deal with any inconveniences and get yourself to the exam. To miss an exam is to default to denial.
Personally I'm pretty much convinced that we get unnecessary C & P exams because the contractor companies that do the exams are owned and controlled by former VA executives. If the VA were to cut the number of exams they would cut the money flow to those executives and we sure don't want that to happen. But I'm cynical after all these years of dealing with VA so there's that to consider.
This won't have any effect on your existing ratings so, go to the exam and just deal with it and you'll do OK. Good luck.