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In the course of your service, multiple physical exams will take place. The documentation from these exams could be crucial to providing the Department of Veterans Affairs with information concerning disabilities acquired while in service.

I have found a number of forms used for these multiple exams and posted them here. Take a moment to really study the ones pertinent to you.

By becoming knowledgeable about these forms BEFORE you or the examiner fill them in, allows you to be prepared with questions, documentation, and/or concerns that can then be addressed and NOTED on the forms.

Insist all boxes be filled in with concise information. Don’t allow vagueness or general terms to be used. You NEED a quality written response in order to have a quality document that can be used to provide a service connection if you file a claim with the VA.

Do not be afraid to mention a problem or concern. Have the doctor note it in your records. The more written documentation about even peripheral problems, the better a record for the rest of your life and for a far future where a peripheral problem could flare up to become a major problem.

This attitude is good whether you are getting ready to leave the military or just beginning your career. The more building blocks you create, the better the chance that a service-connected disability will have proof when filing a VA claim.

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Standard Form 88 – Report of Medical Examination

http://forms.nih.gov/adobe/personnel/SF88.PDF


Note:
- Normal/Abnormal parts of your self.
- Any dental problems
- Possible lab work results
- Blood pressure for sitting, standing, after exercise, 2 min. after, recumbent, 3 min. standing filled in completely
- Visual section filled in completely
- Hearing section filled in completely
- Be prepared to tell examiner any history of problems since the last visit
- Discuss with examiner any defects/diagnoses to be reported on the form.
- Discuss if specialist exam is necessary and if so what and why and make sure it is noted.

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Standard Form 93 – Report of Medical History

http://www.brooksidepress.org/Products/OperationalMedicine/DATA/operationalmed/Forms/sf0093.pdf

Note:
- Read in advance Box 10. Past/Current Medical History
- Check EACH item you have had occur
- Read Questions 11 – 23 and prepare your answers in advance so you can be precise about the question.
- When the form says give details, GIVE DETAILS.

Comment: You might even type up a copy that lists all the answers to these questions so you can then hand it to the examiner along with the form. It could save you and the examiner time and effort. Of course, keep a copy for your own records.

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DD Form 2697 – Report of Medical Assessment

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd2697.pdf

This link to the U.S. Army Medical Department gives information on when to have a Retirement/Separation Physical along with other instructions. It might help to check it out.

http://www.crdamc.amedd.army.mil/default.asp?page=retire_phys

On the Form itself:

Note:
- Boxes 10 – 18 are very important!
- LIST EVERYTHING that is a problem.
- Write it all in advance and give a copy if the list is long. You can then take the time and write everything rather than scrambling at the last moment to remember or write in detail in a small space.
- Insist on concise information written not generalities.
- Box 20 is the Provider’s area to comment. Try to have these comments be precise and to the point.
- Again remember to keep a copy for your own personal records.

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DD Form 2648 – Preseparation Counseling Checklist for Active Component Service Members

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd2648.pdf

If you examine this form in advance, you will have the opportunity to decide just what pertains to you without the stress of filling the form in quickly. When you finally fill the form in, you will have confidence in what you note.

By looking in advance at the various websites noted in the different boxes, you can spend time on the areas pertinent to you without feeling rushed.

Note:
- Read the instructions very carefully.
- Do Not dismiss the preseparation counseling without thinking carefully about its benefits.
- Mark the boxes appropriately to your requirements.
- CHECK OUT the various websites noted (preferably in advance)
- Section V – Remarks. This is a good area to prepare your answer(s) in advance. By allowing yourself quiet and contemplative time before filling this form, you can give a focused attention to your answers.

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DD Form 2648-1 – Preseparation Counseling Checklist for Reserve Component Service Members Released from Active Duty

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd2648-1.pdf

Note:
- Read the instructions very carefully.
- Do Not dismiss the preseparation counseling without thinking carefully about its benefits.
- Mark the boxes appropriately to your requirements.
- CHECK OUT the various websites noted (preferably in advance)
- Section V – Remarks. This is a good area to prepare your answer(s) in advance. By allowing yourself quiet and contemplative time before filling this form, you can give focused attention to your answers.

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DD Form 2844 Test – Medical Record – Post Deployment Medical Assessment

Instructions & Form -- http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd2844t.pdf

Note:
- Study all questions in advance so you are able to answer accurately when being examined.

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DD Form 2796 – Post-Deployment Health Assessment (PDHA)

This is required if a DD Form 2795 was required. See this link for further details. http://www.pdhealth.mil/dcs/DD_form_2796.asp

Sample Form: http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd2796.pdf


This is another form that involves a lot of information. This form cannot be handwritten BUT by looking at a sample, you can prepare yourself for the actual.

This could affect service connection if not completed concisely and with detail. By preparing in advance, you could be less stressed as you answer the questions on the form.

- Take time in advance to understand and address the multiple sections
- Assemble documents if necessary to provide information
- Make notes to convey to the examiner

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That is all the forms I found at this time. Not all may apply to your circumstance. I hope, though, it will provide a little more help so that during transition, some stress is alleviated.

I wish you good journey.
fanaticbooks

I was looking at another topic in another forum and came across information provided by witchdoctor. Since it looked to be helpful for active service members, I copied it to here with a few revisions to make it non specific to the person.

FROM WITCHDOCTOR

If you were a hospital inpatient during your army career, the clinical records are in St. Louis.

They are not in the personal records file with the outpatient records from sick call, dental, etc. (SMR's).

They are filed by hospital name, year, month(s), patient name, ssan.

They would not be sent to the VA unless you requested copies of each inpatient stay and forwarded them yourself.

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical.html

learn more:

http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/public/active-duty-medical-records.html

Many who are new to the VA system are unaware that these letters might hold information that can be used for your claim.

Sometimes just knowing what is the procedure for a specific disability can help.

Sometimes if a procedure has been incorrectly addressed, that can be to your benefit.

Sometimes it just clarifies.

Anyway, I created a topic to hold the actual documents. Not sure if some are outdated or not, but they still might help.

You might want to look them over in case there is something there to help you as you begin your transition.

Some that come to mind are FL 10-24 & FL 10-24E1; TL 10-03; FL 10-26 just to mention a few.

Here is the link.

http://vets.yuku.com/topic/48610


fanaticbooks

Just a quick update to give encouragement to those who access in here...

Seapig let me know he received his benefits very quickly and painlessly at a percentage commensurate with his disabilities.

In my private email:
"Because of you, the site, and others, the process ended up being quite painless."

and

"Back to disability ratings for just a bit, I have had a retired guy that I have a pretty close relationship with actually come out and everything but accuse me of cheating the system. (He receives 20%). ... When he showed me his packet, how he went about filing, and his knowledge of how things are put together, I showed how he basically did just about the opposite on everything that is correct. No VSO, missed C&P's, the whole nine yards."


I am glad this worked. Hope it helps others.
fanaticbooks