u/Sadpancake_03

Has anybody had a MH C&P examiner diagnose you with a different disorder, during the whole 20 min on a telehealth call, and then use that new diagnosis to say "less likely than not'? I just go my DBQ back for anxiety, secondary to an already service connected disability and she put less likely than not on causation and aggravation. This claim is surely going to be denied now. I'm sure I can HLR this, as my nexus wasn't even part of her evidence, but very frustrating.

I was recently denied for 8 secondaries related to my service connected left ankle. I had a nexus from my DPM, with the correct VA language, records going back 20-25 years so I felt pretty good about this claim. I had been working on it for 6 months. The denials were all based on the C&P examiners saying I'm old and fat and caused by years of working (which i never discussed my work history with the C&P examiner. My nexus was mentioned 1 time in the denial and that was under evidence and it was labeled as "Private Treatment Records".

The C&P examiner, in his 10 minutes with me, decided my gait was normal, which contradicts everything in my nexus. Paragraph below is pasted and copied in each denial... I have treatment records for my back for the last 25 years that were uploaded with the claim

During VA exam conducted on March 3, 2026, examiner explained, The claimed condition is less likely than not proximately due to or the result of ankle pathology. Rationale is current back arthritis is less likely due to left ankle pathology no evidence to show this. normal gait on exam. more likely than not due to old age and being overweight. he is 55 years old. being older is a common risk factor for developing arthritis, including (joint) arthritis. As we age, the cartilage that cushions our joints naturally begins to wear down and can become damaged, which can lead to arthritis. Working full-time while overweight significantly increases the risk of developing back arthritis and accelerating existing damage. Excess weight puts constant, heavy pressure on spinal joints (mechanical stress), while also triggering fat-related inflammation that degrades cartilage. Sitting for long periods at work, combined with excess body weight, can accelerate degeneration of the spinal discs, leading to pain.

I feel I've got a decent HLR here, but also feel I need representation. With these denials should I seek an attorney? My VSO has done absolutely jack shit for me