VA Disability Compensation - Disability Benefit Questionnaires
Premiered January 27, 2020
The following regulations below are discussed in video:
M21 III.iv.3.A.3.a. Definition: DBQs
Disability benefit questionnaires (DBQs) are documents used to
Elicit medical information needed to make decisions on claims, and
Provide a standardized report format for medical examinations and opinions.
DBQs are designed for internal use by both VHA and contract examiners. The majority of DBQs are also approved for public use by private providers.
M21 III.iv.3.D.2.h. Qualification Requirements of Examiners – Initial Mental Disorder Examinations
The following credentialed mental health professionals are qualified to perform initial C&P mental disorder examinations:
Board-certified or board-eligible psychiatrists
Licensed doctorate-level psychologists, or the following other mental health professionals, under the close supervision of a board-certified or board-eligible psychiatrist or
Licensed doctorate-level psychologist
Doctorate-level mental health providers
Psychiatry residents, and Clinical or counseling psychologists completing a one-year internship or residency.
Important: For a claim for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based upon a stressor related to the Veteran’s fear of hostile military or terrorist activity, 38 CFR 3.304(f)(3) directs that the examination must be conducted by a VA psychiatrist or psychologist, or a psychiatrist or psychologist with whom VA has contracted.
M21 III.iv.3.D.2.i. Qualification Requirements of Examiners – Review or Increased Evaluation Mental Disorder Examinations
The following credentialed mental health professionals are qualified to perform C&P mental disorder review examinations or examinations in claims for increased evaluations of service-connected (SC) mental disorders:
Mental health professionals qualified to perform initial mental disorder examinations per M21-1, Part III, Sub part iv, 3.D.2.h, or
Other mental health professionals under the close supervision of a board-certified or board-eligible psychiatrist or licensed doctorate-level psychologist, including
Licensed clinical social workers
Nurse practitioners
Clinical nurse specialists, and
Physician assistants.
M21 III.iv.3.D.2.d. DBQs Completed by VA or Non-VA Health Care Providers
Review DBQs which are completed by VA or non-VA health care providers to ensure
The health care provider meets any specialty requirement for the examination conducted, and
The DBQ is sufficient for rating purposes. Note: DBQs completed by a licensed health care provider, to include a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant, are acceptable for VA examinations.
M21 III.iv.3.D.2.c. Tele-health and Tele-mental Health Examination
When VHA elects to conduct a video conference examination (or tele-health/tele-mental health examination) in lieu of an in-person examination, assess the report for sufficiency under the same standards applicable to in-person examinations.
Important:
A tele-health or tele-mental health examination report is only acceptable and actionable for rating purposes when prepared by a VHA or VBA- contracted Prepared by a non-VA provider, and completed by means of telephone or video-conference examination
A mental health DBQ submitted by a private provider and based on a telephone interview with a Veteran is not acceptable or actionable for rating purposes under any circumstances. VHA has determined that, in order to assess a Veteran’s mental health via tele-mental protocol, examiners must be able to:
see clearly and
fully appreciate all non-verbal cues, mannerisms, and manifestations displayed by the Veteran in a manner on par with an in-person examination.
Migraine Criteria under diagnostic code 8100:
8100 Migraines:
With very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic in adaptability………………………………50
With characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over last several months…………………………………………….30
With characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months over last several months…………………………………………………………10
Migraine DBQ Link: https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA...