I have had a number of Visiting Doctors, (examining Medical practitioners as they are sometimes called for DLA purposes), glad to say they have all been very helpful indeed.
I would strongly advise anyone interested in claiming to go to the Advice site
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/ It will take you through step by step and can make all the difference.
You do not always get a visit from a Doctor anyway, especially if you have seen a Consultant during the last year and give a clear idea of how your disabilities affect you.
First DLA awards for Lupus are often short, say 2 years, as they like to assess how you progress on medication. I had a series of short awards then was awarded it indefinitely, so it does sometimes happen fairly easily.
When my Son was ill as a child I had to go to Tribunal for him, Visiting Doctor was superficially nice but wrote a very inaccurate report. It took 20 months to get to Tribunal, which was successful. Again it was worth doing but you do need to put the work in and if you have good professional advice , so much the better.
x Lola
You may be amused to know that one of the Visiting Doctors was later struck off and another accidentally drove her car over our lawn!!!! They are all human.