Dr. Craig N. Bash, M.D, M.B.A
Bethesda Doctor Craig Bash has spent decades independently evaluating soldiers fighting their VA ratings.
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Recognized Expert
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Navigating VA
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Expert Witness
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Credentials
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Media
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Veterans need a recognized medical expert who knows the VA system. As a disabled veteran himself and a respected, board certified physician, Dr. Bash fits the need—and adds even further insight as a VA-accredited service organization representative. His 11 years postgraduate education, 20 years experience as a physician, and his VA background adds irrefutable credibility to each Independent Medical Examination (IME) he painstakingly prepares.
Dr. Bash often finds relevant medical information in a patient’s file that previously has been overlooked. Frequently, the patient’s diagnosis is modified or changed, based on Dr. Bash’s review of the full medical records. An accurate diagnosis leads toward a fair and rational analysis of the case. And Dr Bash’s thorough review allows him to give a better assessment of the patient’s level of disability. (Note: To reach this end, Dr. Bash asks many questions and will need a copy of the patient’s full medical record.)
Careful and early attention to the details of your case could save years of appeals, and help you arrive at a higher disability rating sooner. However, it is never too late to get an independent medical evaluation.
Dr. Bash often finds relevant medical information in a patient’s file that previously has been overlooked. Frequently, the patient’s diagnosis is modified or changed, based on Dr. Bash’s review of the full medical records. An accurate diagnosis leads toward a fair and rational analysis of the case. And Dr Bash’s thorough review allows him to give a better assessment of the patient’s level of disability. (Note: To reach this end, Dr. Bash asks many questions and will need a copy of the patient’s full medical record.)
Careful and early attention to the details of your case could save years of appeals, and help you arrive at a higher disability rating sooner. However, it is never too late to get an independent medical evaluation.
Helping Veterans towards successful claims
Like all bureaucracies, the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) is unyielding in how it applies federal law that governs a veteran’s right to compensation. If your disability claim is not clearly supported by your medical records—with the exact evidence VA requires—you will be denied benefits. This is evident in the low (15-20%) approval rate for cases at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
If you are an honorably discharged veteran, you served your country well and you earned certain benefits. These benefits include the right to receive compensation and medical care for any disabling medical condition that was incurred or aggravated while you were in service. Sad to say, sometimes it can be difficult for the veteran to obtain the earned benefits guaranteed by law.
Like all bureaucracies, the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) is unyielding in how it applies federal law that governs a veteran’s right to compensation. If your disability claim is not clearly supported by your medical records—with the exact evidence VA requires—you will be denied benefits. This is evident in the low (15-20%) approval rate for cases at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
If you are an honorably discharged veteran, you served your country well and you earned certain benefits. These benefits include the right to receive compensation and medical care for any disabling medical condition that was incurred or aggravated while you were in service. Sad to say, sometimes it can be difficult for the veteran to obtain the earned benefits guaranteed by law.
Added to his medical and administrative expertise, Dr. Bash has extensive experience as an expert trial witness. He is available for reviews and personal appearances for BVA hearings and military medical or physical evaluation boards (MEB and PEB). He also can assist in obtaining dependents and survivors’ benefits, 1151 claims for VA Hospital mal-practice, death and DIC claims for veteran's family members. He can even write an IME for Veteran hospital mal-practice Tort claims.
You can confirm Dr. Bash’s credentials at HealthGrades.com. A fee is charged for this service, but please be advised that Dr. Bash is not affiliated with this service provider, except as one of its listed physicians. He does not receive any proceeds from this, and it is available simply as a tool to verify his credentials.
- Over 4000 patient independent veteran medical opinions-IMOs/IMEs.
- Over 500 Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) cases processed with veteran medical opinions.
- Over 1000 name mentions in Court of Veterans Appeal (CVA) with veteran medical opinions.
- Over 50 Personal expert witness testimonies/veteran medical opinions for veterans at regional office rater/ DRO and Board of Appeals levels.
- Over 50 site visits to 20 of the largest VA tertiary care hospitals with veteran medical opinions on quality of care for hospitalized spinal injured veteran in and outpatients.
- Over 20 VA nursing home visit with associated veteran medical opinions on quality of care.
- Over 10 VA clinic visits with associated veteran medical opinions on quality of care.
- Over 3 years as a medical director for Paralyzed Veterans of America. (PVA).
- Over 7 veteran service organizations have used my veteran medical opinion reports.
- Over 40 lectures to large groups of veteran service officers.
- Over 50 VA advocacy lawyers have used my Veteran Medical opinions.
- Over 3 years as a resident in radiology at the Washington DC VA hospital.
- Over 6 years as a member of Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Spinal cord research committee.
- Over 10 years as research director of Shapiro spinal cord research foundation for vets/non-veterans.
- Over 3 years studying spinal cord CSF flow in veterans and non-veteran patients at the NIH.
- Over 15 years studying Multiple Sclerosis in vets/non-veterans with research MRI scans at the NIH.
- Over 25 years teaching Uniformed Services medical students medical issues common in Veterans.
- Over 12 “Bash Bulletins” concerning veteran medical opinions on my web site.
- Over 30 years as an over 100% service connected for my own spinal cord medical issues.
- Over 5 months as an inpatient in Boston West Roxbury VA hospital.
- One year as Neuro-radiology Fellow at University of Maryland/Shock Trauma/Baltimore VAMC.
- Helped formulate VA formulary, VA clinical practice guidelines for spinal cord and Multiple Sclerosis.
- Advised VA committee on benefit/care guidelines for VA offspring with Spina Bifida.
- SES level committee chairman for CDC injury prevention (veteran and non-veteran) sub-committee.