Veterans Medical Advisor

                                                                          drbash@doctor.com

                 

                                          About Dr. Bash

Dr. Bash is a veteran of

Since 1986, Dr. Craig Bash has specialized in neuroimaging medical diagnosis through radiological imaging, Veterans medical benefits, second opinions, and independent medical evaluations (IMEs) for disabled veterans. An IME from Dr. Bash will correctly state the crucial information for filing claims or appeals with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, and other disability programs.

Credentials

Bachelor of Science from the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA).

Graduate of the Military Medical School (Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences [USUHS]).

Associate Professor at USUHS.

Master of Business from Golden Gate University. a two-year master's in business qualifies his comments on the full range of diagnoses as related to employment or unemployment and other occupational matters.

Board certified radiology specialist (multi-organ).

Subspecialty fellowship training (3 years) in neuroradiology, two years of which were conducted at the National Institutes of Health in the Experimental Neuroimaging Section of the Laboratory of Radiology Research. Certified as a senior member of the American Society of Neuroradiology.

Wide-ranging experience as an expert witness in both civilian and military courts, including testifying in VA courts of appeal.

Past Deputy Director of Medical Services for the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Active researcher at the National Institutes of Health.

Author of more than 20 articles for peer-reviewed publications.

Professional medical committee member (served on multiple committees).

Lecturure for medical students and resident physicians.

Special Certifications

Senior Member American Society of Neuroradiology, 1995 (Member #10747).

Board Certified Diagnostic Radiology, 1990.

National Board of Medical Examiners, 1987.

Medical Mutual Liability Insurance Society of Maryland (# MD 0043471-02).

 

Past VA-Accredited Service Organization Representative

Paralyzed Veterans of America (1996-1999)

Disabled American Veterans (2001-2006)

Medical License

Maryland Board of Medical Examiners, # D43471 (Active).

California Quality Assurance, # G65427 (Inactive).

Committees

      2005 - 2007 Board member PVA Education Foundation

      1998 - 2002 Member : Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Advisory Committee for Injury Prevention and Control (ACIPC).

      1990 - 1992 Member : Phoenix Area Indian Health Service (IHS) JCAHO preparation team.

      1996 - present Director of Research : Shapiro Spinal Cord Research foundation.

      1996 - 2007 Consultant : PVA Clinical Practice Guidelines Consortium (Spinal Cord Injury).

      1997 - 2007 Member : Steering Committee : PVA Clinical Practice Guidelines Council (Multiple Sclerosis).

Dr. Bash knows the VA both inside and out.

His Story:

Dr. Bash was injured in service in 1984, requiring a five month stay as an In-Patient at Boston West Roxbury VAMC teaching hospital (part of the Harvard teaching hospital affiliations). He spent the next seven years, subsequent his cervical spine injury, unrelentingly developing and appealing his personal 100% VA benefits.

In the early 1990s, as a medical physician (Resident), at the Washington, D.C., VA hospital, Dr. Bash worked from his wheelchair as he cared for its numerous disabled veterans. In the latter 1990s, he worked as an accredited VA Claims Agent for both the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) foundations in their legal appeals sections. In the early 2000s, he trained at the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland, performing experimental MRI treatment trial research on patients with Multiple Sclerosis and spine injuries. These two diagnoses are prevalent among VA patients, and they both require intensive Physician/Nurse expertise.

Over the past 25 years, Dr. Bash has often provided his expert testimony to BVA Judges at live hearings as an Associate Professor at the Military Medical School (USUHS). He has produced numerous expert medical/legal opinions for other service organizations (American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Purple Heart, Viet Nam Veterans of America, Wounded Warriors, Veterans Insider, and state Veteran representatives) and numerous DC/national law firms. Additionally, he has provided free outreach medical opinions to homeless veterans.

As a Director of Medical Affairs at the PVA, Dr. Bash performed multiple Quality of Care site visits (boots on the ground) to most of the VA’s largest tertiary medical centers. During this period (2-3 years), he visited several dozen hospitals throughout the US, reviewing quality of care while gathering bedside clinical data for veterans’ claims. He generated a Site Visit Report for each trip, which was sent to the Secretary of the VA and his executive staff for quality improvement.

All of these experiences are invaluably useful in the production and analysis of Dr. Bash’s independent Nexus opinions, allowing him to review most all types of disabled veterans’ claims for both the VA and Social Security. A representative sample of his Board case claim awards is attached to this web site (see Appeals BVA cases). Also, please examine his 600+ BVA case log (dating back to 1996) on the VA’s website by searching www.va.gov Board of Appeal cases (key words Dr. Bash, Craig Bash MD). The following is noteworthy: The best place to independently view outcomes of any medical opinion is on the VA’s web site in the sub section called Board of Appeals cases. The Court of Veteran Appeals site also lists a limited percent of BVA cases that have been appealed forward.

Dr. Bash’s life altering In-Patient convalescence; his personal (seven years) 100% VA claim appeals process; his physician in training; his PVA hospital site visit reporting; his NIH training; his BVA claim representative experiences; and, his dedicated work as an Associate Professor/Veterans Medical Advisor have given him unique perspectives and insights in to the internal care/claim workings of the VA. All combined this has allowed Dr. Bash to become the original VA insider.

Dr. Bash is a busy Washington, D.C. physician so please be persistent in contacting him. 

 

Craig N. Bash M.D., M.B.A. -- Associate professor -- Call or Text 530-925-6081

drbash@doctor.com

Dr. Bash in 2020

Dr. Bash in 1986

drbash@doctor.com

______________________

Craig N. Bash M.D., M.B.A.

Neuro-Radiologist and Associate Professor

Uniformed Services School of Medicine

NPI/UPIN-1225123318

4938 Hampden Lane
Bethesda, Md 20814

Dr. Bash will help with most VA and social security medical claims. Please email him with the subject line "new patient consult" to drbash@doctor.com

Call/text Lori at 530-925-6081 to schedule a phone appointment. Appointments available 7 days a week in the AM hours.

Fax 301-951-9106