DBQ's...Disability Benefits Questionnaires   

Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) Are released (Again)  

VAWatchdog believes that the DBQ initiative is another failed attempt to improve the claims process.

Each time VA attempts to improve the disability rating process, it adds more complex layers of paperwork to the equation. This time veterans are tasked to get these complex forms completed by civilian physicians. This ignores the facts that civilian physicians don't like completing complex forms and that the information is already in the medical record.

VA also ignores the fact that they have to verify every DBQ. How else will they know who completed and signed the form? As it stands today, veterans could complete their own forms and sign a false name and nobody will be the wiser.

VAWatchdog provides these forms to you so that you may have more data available to you to use as you develop your claim. These forms, much like the Disability Exam Worksheets, will allow you to know exactly what details VA is looking for so that you can win your claim.

Below you'll find the forms arranged in groups by their alpha order as well as the number of each form.

Cardiovascular

21-0960A-1	Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD)
21-0960A-2	Artery and Vein Conditions (Vascular Diseases including Varicose Veins)
21-0960A-3	Hypertension
21-0960A-4	Heart Conditions (including IHD, Non-IHD, Arrhythmias, Valvular Disease and Cardiac Surgery)

Dental and Oral  

21-0960M-15	Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Conditions
21-0960D-1	Oral and Dental Conditions, including Mouth, Lips, and Tongue (other than Temporomandibular Joint Conditions)

Dermatological  

Ear, Nose and Throat  

This Is An Important Alert! Read Carefully!


Are You "Incompetent"?  

You may get a trick question from the examiner.  

When you are examined you may be asked about your abilities to manage your own finances. The examiner might ask a simple question like, "How do you pay your bills each month?"

The wrong answer could result in the examiner making the comment that you are "Incompetent to manage your finances." That's the first step to having a fiduciary appointed to take control of your money.

For example, you might tell the examiner that you aren't very good at balancing a checkbook or that you don't have a good head for math so your spouse takes care of all that. Many families have an arrangement like that and it works well for them.

In the eyes of VA though, that lifestyle may indicate that you couldn't do it yourself and you'll soon receive notice that VA is proposing to appoint a fiduciary.

If you are capable of managing your finances, even if you don't actually balance the bank account each month, be sure to use caution when answering questions about finances.

Endocrinological  

Gastrointestinal  

Genitourinary  

Gynecological  

Hematologic and Lymphatic  

21-0960B-1	Hairy Cell and Other B-Cell Leukemias
21-0960B-2	Hematologic and Lymphatic Conditions, including Leukemia

Infectious Diseases  

Musculoskeletal  

Neurological  

21-0960C-1	Parkinson's Disease
21-0960C-2	Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease)
21-0960C-3	Cranial Nerve Conditions
21-0960C-4	Diabetic Sensory-Motor Peripheral Neuropathy
21-0960C-5	Central Nervous System and Neuromuscular Diseases (except TBI, ALS, PD, MS, Headaches, TMJ, Epilepsy, Narcolepsy, Peripheral Nerves, Sleep Apnea, Cranial Nerves, Fibromyalgia, and CFS)
21-0960C-6	Narcolepsy
21-0960C-7	Fibromyalgia
21-0960C-8	Headaches (Including Migraine Headaches)
21-0960C-9	Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
21-0960C-10	Peripheral Nerve Conditions (Not Including Diabetic Sensory-Motor Peripheral Neuropathy)
21-0960C-11	Seizure Disorders

Ophthalmological  

21-0960N-2

Eye Conditions

Psychological  

Respiratory  

Rheumatolgical

Surgery (General Surgery)  

21-0960H-1	Hernias (including Abdominal, Inguinal, and Femoral Hernias)
21-0960H-2	Rectum and Anus Conditions (including Hemorrhoids)