In some cases, VA will seek an independent medical opinion (IMO) from a specialist outside the VA system. This typically happens when the medical question in your claim is particularly complex, when existing medical opinions conflict with each other, or when the condition involves specialized expertise that is not available within the VA examination system. An IMO can be requested by the regional office, the Board of Veterans Appeals, or sometimes at the request of the veteran. The independent examiner reviews your entire claims file and provides an opinion on the medical questions at issue. This opinion carries significant weight because it comes from a specialist with relevant expertise. You also have the right to obtain your own independent medical opinion from a private specialist. A well-reasoned private IMO from a qualified specialist can be very persuasive, especially when it addresses specific shortcomings in the VA medical opinion. If you are considering getting your own IMO, choose a doctor who has expertise in the relevant medical specialty and who is willing to review your complete medical history and provide a detailed written explanation supporting their conclusion.
Note: This article references sections of the VA's M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual. The VA periodically reorganizes the M21-1 and section numbers may have changed since this article was written. For the most current section references, visit the VA's public M21-1 Web Automated Reference Material System (WARMS).