Medical Research Associates

VAMO is a premier medical research group whose expertise lies in exploring the causation and effects of military injuries and their resulting disabling conditions. Our research team is composed of both medical experts and former Department of Veterans Affairs Rating experts, with a level of experience and knowledge that is unrivaled in the private sector. This dual expertise ensures that our medical research is not only comprehensive and scientifically sound, but is also meticulously tailored to meet all Veterans Benefits Administration Requirements.

With over 100 years of combined experience working within the Veterans Benefits Administration and Veterans Health Administration, our team is a powerhouse of VA experts, including former RVSR training academy instructors, RVSR Quality Review Team specialists, C&P examiner training instructors, and C&P examiners. We possess unparalleled expertise in the application and interpretation of VA regulations and precedential CAVC cases governing disability compensation, C&P examinations, and medical opinions. This unique insight is combined with our team’s direct military and combat experience, giving us an unmatched understanding of military injuries and medical conditions resulting from the rigors of military service.

We are uniquely qualified to research and analyze military injuries, providing comprehensive medical opinions that are meticulously crafted to adhere to all governing rules and regulations, including 38 CFR 3.326 and M21-1 IV.i.3.A. Our mission is to leverage this specialized knowledge to perform medical research that provides VA decisionmakers with a comprehensive understanding of the science and medicine underpinning the residuals of military injuries and the causation of secondary disabling conditions.

The VAMO team proudly includes numerous veterans, including combat veterans and combat wounded veterans. This direct, firsthand knowledge provides our team with a unique and invaluable perspective. Our shared background enables us to not only understand the medical complexities of military injuries but also to grasp the profound impact they have on a veteran's life. We leverage this personal insight and our medical expertise to research and communicate the true nature of military injuries with unmatched clarity and empathy.

Meet the
VAMO Team

Our team’s combination of medical expertise, rating expertise, military service, and over 125 years of combined work experience with the Veterans Benefits Administration and the Veterans Health Administration, has given us the knowledge required to ensure that each medical opinion we prepare adheres to all requirements of the Veterans Benefits Administration. 

Shelley Ellis, M.D.

Shelley has been a Medical Doctor for over 20 years. She previously worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Medical Opinion Specialist inside the VA Regional Benefits Office, providing medical opinions directly to Rating Veterans Service Representatives and Decision Review Officers, where she prepared thousands of medical opinions for the Veterans Benefits Administration to utilize in the adjudication of compensation claims. She also worked as a Compensation & Pension examiner for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and completed countless C&P examinations. She posseses unparalleled knowledge of medical opinions for VA claims.

Eric Holt, M.D.

Eric is a retired Air Force Medical Officer, and has been a physician for over 24 years. While serving as an Air Force Medical Officer, Eric volunteered to serve on the front lines with special forces units as their on-site treating provider when the nature of their missions made timely evacuation to field hospitals impossible. He is a combat wounded veteran who has personally gone through the VA claim process. Eric served the last decade as a physician at the Walter Reed Army Hospital, and treated countless service members. Eric also served at the US Special Operations Command Care Coalition as a treating physician for service members in special operations units.

Michele Adams, Au.D.

Michelle has been an audiologist for almost 30 years, and has performed countless comprehensive audiological examinations. This extensive clinical experience, combined with five years as a subcontractor performing C&P examinations and preparing medical opinions for the Department of Veterans Affairs, has given her unparalleled insight into the specific requirements of the VA compensation claim process. She is a highly skilled audiologist with a unique background that makes her adept at analyzing complex cases for VA disability claims for hearing loss and tinnitus, and ensures that veterans receive meticulous, defensible medical opinions.

Robert Jacobs, Ph.D.

Robert is a highly experienced clinical psychologist with more than 15 years of practice, possessing a deep understanding of the unique mental health challenges faced by military veterans. His expertise is built on his experience as a Compensation & Pension examiner for the Department of Veterans Affairs, during which he has completed countless C&P examinations and prepared numerous medical opinions at the request of the Veterans Benefits Administration. This has provided him with unparalleled knowledge of the VA claim process and its specific requirements, ensuring veterans receive thorough and accurate medical opinions for their VA disability claims.

Matthew Kelsey, Psy.D.

Matthew is a clinical psychologist certified to practice nationwide via the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PsyPact), allowing him to practice across state lines. He is an active commissioned officer in the U.S. Army National Guard. Having served as a Psychologist and Behavioral Health Officer, including a deployment to Iraq in 2022, Matthew possesses a profound and intimate understanding of the behavioral health needs of service members and veterans. This dual role as a clinician and military officer grants him unparalleled insight into the unique stressors, experiences, and cultural factors that impact the mental health of the military community. He leverages his deep clinical knowledge and military experience to provide the highest standard of support for veterans seeking the benefits they have earned.

Jennifer Monville

Jennifer is a retired VA Rating Quality Review Specialist (RQRS). She is a highly specialized VA disability claims expert, retiring from the Department of Veterans Affairs after 25 years in senior adjudicative and quality assurance roles. As an RQRS, she mastered the VA’s standards for rating accuracy and compliance. This was preceded by extensive service as a Decision Review Officer (DRO), a role requiring an expert-level understanding of the law and signatory authority on complex, contested cases. Jennifer began her technical career as a Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR), directly adjudicating thousands of claims, including specialized work on the Seriously Injured/Very Seriously Injured team, and later became a certified RVSR and DRO instructor. Her extensive experience guarantees an expert knowledge of the requirements of a medical opinion for use in the VA claim process.

Sheila Shipman

Sheila is a retired VA Rating Quality Review Specialist (RQRS) and retired US Navy veteran. She is a highly specialized VA disability claims expert, retiring from the Department of Veterans Affairs after 26 years in senior adjudicative and quality assurance roles. As an RQRS, she mastered the VA’s standards for rating accuracy and compliance. Sheila served as the Supervisor over the Rating Quality Review Team, and was responsible for managing the entire rating quality control process. Prior to this, she served as a Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR), and made decisions on thousands of disability claims. She also served as a VA Supervisor Liaison handling sensitive White House and Veteran Service Officer inquiries. Her extensive experience guarantees an expert knowledge of the complex requirements of a medical opinion for use in the VA claim process.

Ronald Kee, B.A.

Ron is a retired VA Rating Quality Review Specialist (RQRS). He is a highly specialized VA disability claims expert, retiring from the Department of Veterans Affairs after 30 years in senior adjudicative and quality assurance roles. As an RQRS, he mastered the VA’s standards for rating accuracy and compliance. This was preceded by extensive service as a Decision Review Officer (DRO), a role requiring an expert-level understanding of the law and signatory authority on complex, contested cases. Ron began his technical career as a Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR), directly adjudicating thousands of claims. He also served as the C&P examiner quality and training coordinator. Ron’s extensive experience guarantees expert knowledge of the complex requirements of a medical opinion for use in the VA claim process.

Shawna Abercrombie - RN, BSN

Shawna is the Chief Executive Officer of VAMO and a highly accomplished Registered Nurse. Her leadership is underpinned by a powerful and unique blend of clinical expertise and military service. As a commissioned officer in the Army National Guard Nurse Corps and an experienced emergency department trauma nurse, Shawna has cultivated a deep, practical understanding of complex medical injuries and critical decision-making. This background makes her a uniquely skilled Medical Opinion Specialist, adept at analyzing and dissecting complex medical records for VA disability claims. Her clinical authority and administrative vision are the driving force behind VAMO's mission to provide meticulous and defensible medical opinions, ensuring quality and expertise in every service the company provides.

Jack Heilman

Jack is a former U.S. Army Paratrooper who served in Operation Desert Storm, and he brings a unique perspective to the VAMO team. His direct combat experience provides him with a profound, firsthand understanding of military service and its physical and psychological demands, and the residual effect these demands have.This invaluable insight is combined with his experience as a VA Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR) further provides him with an unparalleled understanding of how the VA evaluates and decides claims, and the vital role that a properly written medical opinion plays in the successful outcome of a claim.

Lauren Martin

Director of Communications & Engagement. Lauren's academic background at Nashville State with a major in Psychology equipped her with a strong understanding of human behavior and communication. Specializing in social media strategy and public communications, she leverages this foundation to strategically enhance our brand's digital presence and effectively engage with our diverse audiences.

Jenny Henry, RN BSN

Jenny is a registered nurse with a diverse and extensive background, including experience in high-stakes environments such as ER, ICU, and PCU, as well as Medical Surgical, PACU, and Post-Partum care. As a commissioned officer in the Army National Guard Nurse Corps, her unique blend of clinical expertise and military service makes her a highly skilled Medical Opinion Specialist who is adept at analyzing complex medical cases for VA disability claims.

Danielle Miller, MHS, RD, LDN

Danielle plays a pivotal role in our mission by meticulously curating and translating the latest medical findings into actionable intelligence. She synthesizes complex data and presents critical insights to our medical team, ensuring they have the most pertinent information to inform their professional medical opinions for Veterans Affairs claims.

Dawn Abercrombie

Dawn is a medical records specialist within the insurance industry, demonstrating a strong command of the medical profession, including high-tech medical imaging. She is adept at navigating the complexities of medical documentation, from initial record creation to document completion, ensuring precision and accuracy. She is a proud member of a military family, with her father, son, and daughter-in-law veterans of the US Armed Forces.

Jeff Weatherman

As our Operations Director, Jeff leads and directs all operational activities, with a primary focus on regulatory compliance and risk management. Jeff ensures the company meets or exceeds industry standards. Jeff's academic background at the University of Tennessee with a major in psychology provides unique perspectives on team management and effective communication, which is crucial for leading a high-stakes compliance team.

Charles Weatherman

Charles is a combat wounded Marine who has personally navigated the VA disability claims process. After being forced to retire from the VA due to his own combat wounds, Charles used his profound insight and extensive background as a former Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR) and former National-level C&P Examination Quality Manager to assemble this expert VAMO team. As a strategic Consultant, he personally ensured the team’s collective expertise.

Veteran Volunteer Initiative

Meet the
Volunteers

The staff at VAMO is committed to supporting veterans. Recognizing the desire of many retired veteran representatives to remain engaged with the veteran community, we established the Veteran Volunteer Initiative. This initiative provides an opportunity for these retired veterans to volunteer their time and share their valuable knowledge with fellow veterans. We anticipate continued growth of the initiative and the addition of new volunteers in the near future.

Colleen Sullivan

Colleen is a former US Marine, and disabled veteran. She is also a former AmVets National Appeals Officer at the Board of Veterans Appeals, and a former DAV National Service Officer. She volunteers her time interacting with veterans by answering our telephone calls, text messages, and emails. If you’ve reached out to us at VAMO, you have probably spoken to Colleen. She possesses a wealth of knowledge, and is eager to help her fellow veterans who need assistance with a medical opinion. We are fortunate to have Colleen as a valued member of the VAMO team.

James Gionet, Quality Consultant

James is a dedicated expert in veterans' benefits, drawing from his distinguished career as a (Retired) Department of Veterans Affairs RVSR/DRO and RVSR Training Academy Instructor. As a U.S. Army Long Range Reconnaissance Member and Combat Veteran, his firsthand military experience uniquely shapes his professional contributions. James generously volunteers his time, meticulously ensuring that all medical opinions adhere to Veterans Benefits Administration standards and consistently achieve high quality.

Renee Augugliaro

Renee is a US Navy veteran. She is also a former VA Rating Veteran Service Representative (RVSR). As an RVSR, she was the subject matter expert on military sexual trauma (MST) claims, and made Rating Decisions for MST claims at the VA Regional Benefits Office. Renee volunteers her time sharing her extensive knowledge with veterans who have questions regarding MST claims. If you are a veteran who has questions about the VA MST claim process and want to talk to someone who actually knows the process, please feel free to call Renee at (615) 495-9699 and ask any questions that you may have.

Our Process

1. Contact Us

If you need a medical opinion, we will be happy to give you a free consultation. You can contact us by phone call, text message, or email, to discuss your medical opinion with retired VA employees who spent their career making decisions on VA disability claims.

2. Gather Records

Our doctors need to review specific documentation to provide a medical opinion. We will explain what documentation we need, and how you can provide them to us. We will review the documentation for free to determine if we can prepare a medical opinion for you.

3. Make Payment

After reviewing your documentation and determining we can prepare a medical opinion for you, we will send you an invoice for payment. When you are ready for us to proceed, you can pay the invoice and our experts will immediately get work preparing your medical opinion.

4. Fast Delivery

Our goal is to have your medical opinion completed within a week of payment. We will never sacrifice quality over timeliness. So if you send us over 5000 pages of records to review, it could take slightly longer to prepare your medical opinion.

5. 100% Satisfaction

Our goal is to ensure that you are completely satisfied with the medical opinion we prepare. So you can feel free to ask for any edits that you deem necessary. This includes writing future addendums to our medical opinions at no charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

The fee for our medical research and medical opinion preparation is $775.

There are no hidden fees, and no contracts to sign. The total price $775.

We will send you an invoice for payment via email. You can pay the invoice when you are ready for us to prepare your medical opinion.

Once we have received your payment, our team of experts will begin researching the causation of your condition and preparing your medical opinion.

The invoice we send you will have options to pay via credit card, debit card, or Health Savings Account (HSA) card. The invoice will also contain an option for a payment plan via AfterPay.

We generally require the electronic VA Claim File in order to fully research the cause of a disabling condition. This is the evidence we typically require:

  • DD-214 Certificate of Discharge from Active Duty
  • Military Service Medical Records
  • Military Personnel Records
  • VA C&P Disability Benefit Questionnaires
  • VA Rating Decisions
  • Treatment reports from VA Medical Centers and private doctors

These documents can be shared with us at Info@VAMedicalOpinions.com, or we can create a “shared folder” where you can securely upload your documents. We use Google Workspace, as it is secure and HIPPA compliant. If you have any questions about getting your medical records to us, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Many veterans can not afford to pay for a medical opinion. So we started the VAMO Donation Initiative to allow people to donate money to pay for our services for veterans who can not afford it. Our Donation Initiative is in its beginning stages, but we have already begun receiving donations. If you require the assistance of our Donation Initiative, please reach out and ask if we have donation money available to pay for your medical opinion. You can visit our Donation Initiative here: VAMO Donation Initiative