a. Treating VA does not apply the physician the evidence of a “treating rule,” whereby treating physician is generally entitled to more weight than evaluations made Physician’s Treatment by consulting physicians or expert witnesses. However, a treating physician’s Background familiarity with the history of a disability may increase the probative value of and Probative any medical evidence/opinion. Value For more information on determining a expertise and Reference: physician’s experience, see 10 Vet.App. 279 (1997). , b. Definitions: The main types of medical assessments for VA purposes are diagnoses, Types of opinions, examination, and history. Medical Assessments are medical assessments made typically to identify injury or Diagnoses disease. They are typically the end result of an examination and involve the application of the physician or experience, and examiner’s knowledge, judgment to a set of facts. are medical assessments on questions such as etiology or onset. Opinions They may or may not be accompanied by a contemporaneous examination. However, like an examination, opinions involve the application of the experience, and judgment to a set of facts. examiner’s knowledge, An for VA purposes involves the collection of relevant medical examination facts (history, clinical observations, or measurements and potentially lab testing) by a medical professional. is a verbal recounting or written record of relevant life events, habits, History routine, symptoms, and/or treatment. It most often comes from the patient’s oral report and/or review of medical records. Other materials could also be relevant to a or understanding of relevant medical or physician’s examiner’s psychological history. A key evidentiary concern in many VA claims is evaluating the probative c. Medical Assessments value and weight of a diagnosis or opinion that relies upon a – claimant’s History and history. Policy Applications The self-interest in the outcome of a medical assessment and his or claimant’s her ability to recollect facts over time both raise concerns about whether history is accurate and, therefore, whether medical assessments are valid. However, as a general principle, unless the historical facts upon which a medical conclusion is based are dubious or untenable, the medical conclusion should be accepted as credible. The probative value of this medical evidence may be considered and weighed relative to other evidence of record. In most cases, medical diagnoses and opinions are based to some degree on history provided by the patient or examinee. Medical assessments based on
a. Treating Physician’s Treatment Background and Probative Value VA does not apply the “treating physician rule,” whereby the evidence of a treating physician is generally entitled to more weight than evaluations made by consulting physicians or expert witnesses. However, a treating physician’s familiarity with the history of a disability may increase the probative value of any medical evidence/opinion. Reference: For more information on determining a physician’s expertise and experience, see , 10 Vet.App. 279 (1997). b. Definitions: Types of Medical Assessments The main types of medical assessments for VA purposes are diagnoses, opinions, examination, and history. Diagnoses are medical assessments made typically to identify injury or disease. They are typically the end result of an examination and involve the application of the physician or examiner’s knowledge, experience, and judgment to a set of facts. Opinions are medical assessments on questions such as etiology or onset. They may or may not be accompanied by a contemporaneous examination. However, like an examination, opinions involve the application of the examiner’s knowledge, experience, and judgment to a set of facts. An examination for VA purposes involves the collection of relevant medical facts (history, clinical observations, or measurements and potentially lab testing) by a medical professional. History is a verbal recounting or written record of relevant life events, habits, routine, symptoms, and/or treatment. It most often comes from the patient’s oral report and/or review of medical records. Other materials could also be relevant to a physician’s or examiner’s understanding of relevant medical or psychological history. c. Medical Assessments – History and Policy Applications A key evidentiary concern in many VA claims is evaluating the probative value and weight of a diagnosis or opinion that relies upon a claimant’s history. The claimant’s self-interest in the outcome of a medical assessment and his or her ability to recollect facts over time both raise concerns about whether history is accurate and, therefore, whether medical assessments are valid. However, as a general principle, unless the historical facts upon which a medical conclusion is based are dubious or untenable, the medical conclusion should be accepted as credible. The probative value of this medical evidence may be considered and weighed relative to other evidence of record. In most cases, medical diagnoses and opinions are based to some degree on history provided by the patient or examinee. Medical assessments based on