Why don't you get copies of your records and read them. Then you'll know what is in them. It may or may not be as detailed as you think it is.

It depends on a few things. They may have requested your records but not gotten them in a timely manner (for them) & so set up the exam. Or they may have requested the records & set up an exam just in case they did not get the records b4 the exam date. The examiner has a certain amount of days w/in which to start processes, also bec of the volume of SS applications coming in at this time setting up the exam almost initially after they get the application helps them in their handling of the claim. Also depending on the dates you gave for the medical services you have had if it has been almost a year they will need to set an exam if u don't have your own DR to go back to bec they have to have current med info. SS tries to discourage examiners from setting up alot of exams bec of the cost & each SS region has it's own budget for these exams. They get dinged if they go over. Also each supervisor in the regions is trying to make their "unit " look the best because that effects their bonus. It is a vicious game & has only gotten worse since the recession. Hope this helps.

Flaguy. I would suggest the same thing Janke did, it's best to get your records and review them first. Sometimes they put other peoples records in with yours, and sometimes your records are not up to date, so it's best to check them out first before SS gets them. When you go to the doctor they make you sign up like a new patient so make sure you mention everything from the first time you were hurt. No matter how insignificant it may seem to you, it may be very significant to them. Bring all your records, such as MRI's and medications, surgeries you have had even if you had them as a child still mention them. If you can't bend don't do it, if it hurts to sit let them know. Don't try to be to nice, I know that sounds rude, but you are sick and they expect you to act like it.

I very, very rarely request an exam without having all the medical records in file. For one thing, it's far better to get records from your treating source than from an exam. For another, it's far cheaper.

However, a few things could have happened here.

During your interview, when you provided a list of doctors, did you remember to include all of your doctors? You may have been so overwhelmed during the interview that you forgot this one, and if it's not on the list, we have no way of knowing that you see them. In fact, to be honest a majority of my claimants forget to mention one or more doctors until later in their case.

Did you start seeing a new doctor and forget to give us that information? We need updates

Also, in many offices, requests for medical records can get lost. It is not the doctor personally who handles them in most cases. In fact, very rarely does a doctor see an actual request in my experience. It's the medical records department who handles them.

So in answer to your question, no, it is not common for this to happen. But it does happen.