Please help, been to DLA tribunal, more medical evidence required...

purplemel

Hi all,sorry, I got carried away in the title! Anyway, I applied for DLA back in October 2011 on the basis that my I have degeneration of the discs in my lower back, which cause massive pain, hence massive drug cocktail, and I also have bipolar disorder, anxiety, insomnia and panic attacks.

It got turned down straight away so I rang them to find out why and request they got in touch with my doctor etc. They said they wouldn't do that as it would cost them money! They had used the dreaded ESA 'medical' report to form their decision on (this has since been overturned in the ESA tribunal in Dec '11). I had plenty of evidence from my very helpful GP, but this wasn't enough...

When we finally got to the tribunal ion 13th March,I was so stressed I could have burst, yet when we got called in and took a seat, they said they felt it necessary to gain more further medical evidence, to include my GP records and an EMP Doctor, who I later find out is from the numb skulls that did my ESA 'medical', which instantly made my brain freak out!!
Anyway, I received a copy of my medical records a few weeks ago, then we received the letter to say the doctor would be here the following Tuesday, causing the alarm bells to start ringing!

Anyway, Tuesday comes and he was very nice, but I don't really know what to think about it all. My OH (and carer) thinks it went well, and the Doctor actually recommended that I have an MRI on my neck.

I rang the tribunal service today to give them our new landline number and to try and garner how long we are likely to wait now for the tribunal, and she said that they had actually posted out a copy of the EMP Doctor's report today!!!!! I am now in a complete state of panic. What happens if he has written rubbish that I disagree with? I have a lovely lady in the local CAB who has prepared my submission for me, so I suppose I can ask her, but I am petrified he will write complete cr*p and they will take his word and ignore all the other evidence I have.

I do apologise if I have waffled, or not made sense, I am a little manic at the moment, and at the mercy of oxycodone and other heavy duty meds.

If I haven't already said it, many thanks for any help you can give me, it really is greatfully received.

rogerblack

purplemel wrote: »

What happens if he has written rubbish that I disagree with?

Then you write a letter outlining your concerns with the report to the tribunals service, on the address they give at the top of their letters.

Do this in plenty of time before the new tribunal sits, so they can fully consider it.
If possible, refer to internal contradictions in the evidence, or supply alternative evidence from any professionals that may see you.

purplemel

Hi Roger, many thanks for your help, I can't tell you how stressed I am by all this. It didn't arrive today in the post, so I dare say it will arrive tomorrow. Knowing my luck, they will finally schedule the tribunal for next week when I haven't had time to reply if I disagree with the report.

purplemel

well, I had my copy of the EMP report and he has basically lied and omitted what doesn't suit him! I was so angry and upset I haven't really been able to deal with it sensibly yet, other than to place a call to my local CAB office who have previously prepared a submission for me, and I have also contacted my local MP out of desperation, and she is going to help. Tomorrow, if I am well enough, I plan to sit down and go through, word by word, what he has said, and note what I disagree with, then get CAB to help put it all together with the evidence I have already. If anyone has any other ideas, I am more than happy to hear them, thanks all

Ellejmorgan

purplemel wrote: »

Hi all,sorry, I got carried away in the title! Anyway, I applied for DLA back in October 2011 on the basis that my I have degeneration of the discs in my lower back, which cause massive pain, hence massive drug cocktail, and I also have bipolar disorder, anxiety, insomnia and panic attacks.

It got turned down straight away so I rang them to find out why and request they got in touch with my doctor etc. They said they wouldn't do that as it would cost them money! They had used the dreaded ESA 'medical' report to form their decision on (this has since been overturned in the ESA tribunal in Dec '11). I had plenty of evidence from my very helpful GP, but this wasn't enough...

When we finally got to the tribunal ion 13th March,I was so stressed I could have burst, yet when we got called in and took a seat, they said they felt it necessary to gain more further medical evidence, to include my GP records and an EMP Doctor, who I later find out is from the numb skulls that did my ESA 'medical', which instantly made my brain freak out!!
Anyway, I received a copy of my medical records a few weeks ago, then we received the letter to say the doctor would be here the following Tuesday, causing the alarm bells to start ringing!

Anyway, Tuesday comes and he was very nice, but I don't really know what to think about it all. My OH (and carer) thinks it went well, and the Doctor actually recommended that I have an MRI on my neck.

I rang the tribunal service today to give them our new landline number and to try and garner how long we are likely to wait now for the tribunal, and she said that they had actually posted out a copy of the EMP Doctor's report today!!!!! I am now in a complete state of panic. What happens if he has written rubbish that I disagree with? I have a lovely lady in the local CAB who has prepared my submission for me, so I suppose I can ask her, but I am petrified he will write complete cr*p and they will take his word and ignore all the other evidence I have.

I do apologise if I have waffled, or not made sense, I am a little manic at the moment, and at the mercy of oxycodone and other heavy duty meds.

If I haven't already said it, many thanks for any help you can give me, it really is greatfully received.

I also have this disorder am affected in lower spine and neck..
My last DLA claim was submitted before the neck issues started, i was awarded low care only based on cooking..
I need to submit a new claim as it expired in november, but if i were you i wouldn't expect too much.
I've had surgery and need another op on my neck, also have arthritis, sciatica and radioculopathy in arm, lower spine is wearing..I'm on 52.5 mcg buenorphine, oramorph, pregablin and dyhydrocodeine.
I'm only 33