Rob Grant

I originally submitted my claim to the VA in September 2015 and the VA increased my original rating effective August of 2016. The amount of retroactive pay due based on the date September 2015 original application to date never been received. In April of 2018 after contacting the USCG PPC (RAS) office (by phone) I was informed (by email) that the Audit Error Worksheet (AEW) was completed and sent to the VA Central Office on April 10, 2017 and was told that the VA Central Office is working on the files we sent them in February 2017. The email I received described the following AEW process. "The process works like this: PPC (RAS) automatically sends your Audit Error Worksheet (AEW) to the VA and then the VA also conducts an audit to ensure each agency (Coast Guard and VA) is paying you the correct amount. Once PPC (RAS) has processed your AEW, we will send you a letter notifying you that your AEW was completed and sent to the VA. All AEWs are sent monthly to the VA Central Office for upload to Veterans Benefit Management System (VBMS). The VA Central Office has one person that reviews and uploads all Coast Guard retiree AEWs into the VBMS system. Each file can contain up to 600 AEWs. Then the VA Regional Offices (VARO) are notified that they have new cases to process. Currently the VA Central Office is working on uploading February 2017 AEWs. (As described in the email I received on April 5, 2018.) If you contact the VA asking if they have your AEW that was completed after February 2017 they will tell you they do not have your AEW and to call the Coast Guard. Be advised the VA does have your AEW however, it has not been uploaded in their system yet so the VARO's can't see it. The Coast Guard and the VA are currently working on improving the AEW process from a manual to an electronic process. However, it will take time to get this initiative implemented between the two agencies and will take time to get the backlog caught up. Additionally, be advised that PPC (RAS) does not mail/email/fax a retirees' AEW or provide dollar amounts to a retiree. Also, we do not send AEWs to a VARO office on behalf of a retiree. This is due to the fact that PPC (RAS) does not want to give the retiree incorrect information since the VA has not yet completed their review of your AEW to ensure it is correct." My question is since the USCG (apparently) verified that the AEW (however, it has not been uploaded in their system yet so the VARO's can't see it) it created regarding my VA Claim is within an office within the DVA but that I cannot contact the DVA to ask if they have my AEW that was completed after February 2017 and that I will be told that they do not have my AEW and to call the Coast Guard. I have contacted my federal representative and asked for help but was informed that the VA did not respond to the query. I have written to the USCG RAS regarding the AEW that I never received but have had no response to my letter. I received a retro increase - which was based on the change from the single rate to the married rate made in August 2016 made through my NSO - in early 2019, three years earlier. Is this the (Round Robin) standard that currently exists? Based on my original filing forwarded by the NSO that assisted me in September of 2015, it will be four years since I applied for my increased disability rating and close to three years since I received the described monthly monetary increase, could someone please let me know that I am not the only one this is happening to. Any help or recommendations would be extremely welcome. I just feel like I have been passed over, well actually ignored.... Rob Grant, QM1, USCG (Ret.)

I submitted my claim to the VA in September 2015 and the VA increased my original rating effective August of 2016. The amount of retroactive pay due based on the dates described has not been received. In April of 2018 after contacting the USCG PPC (RAS) office (by phone) I was informed (by email) that the Audit Error Worksheet (AEW) was completed and sent to the VA Central Office on April 10, 2017 and was told that the VA Central Office is working on the files we sent them in February 2017. The email I received described the following AEW process. "The process works like this: PPC (RAS) automatically sends your Audit Error Worksheet (AEW) to the VA and then the VA also conducts an audit to ensure each agency (Coast Guard and VA) is paying you the correct amount. Once PPC (RAS) has processed your AEW, we will send you a letter notifying you that your AEW was completed and sent to the VA. All AEWs are sent monthly to the VA Central Office for upload to Veterans Benefit Management System (VBMS). The VA Central Office has one person that reviews and uploads all Coast Guard retiree AEWs into the VBMS system. Each file can contain up to 600 AEWs. Then the VA Regional Offices (VARO) are notified that they have new cases to process. Currently the VA Central Office is working on uploading February 2017 AEWs. (As described in the email I received on April 5, 2018.) If you contact the VA asking if they have your AEW that was completed after February 2017 they will tell you they do not have your AEW and to call the Coast Guard. Be advised the VA does have your AEW however, it has not been uploaded in their system yet so the VARO's can't see it. The Coast Guard and the VA are currently working on improving the AEW process from a manual to an electronic process. However, it will take time to get this initiative implemented between the two agencies and will take time to get the backlog caught up. Additionally, be advised that PPC (RAS) does not mail/email/fax a retirees' AEW or provide dollar amounts to a retiree. Also, we do not send AEWs to a VARO office on behalf of a retiree. This is due to the fact that PPC (RAS) does not want to give the retiree incorrect information since the VA has not yet completed their review of your AEW to ensure it is correct." My question is since the USCG (apparently) verified that the AEW (however, it has not been uploaded in their system yet so the VARO's can't see it) it created regarding my VA Claim is withIN an office within the DVA but That I cannot contact the DVA to ask if they have my AEW that was completed after February 2017 and that I will be told that they do not have my AEW and to call the Coast Guard. Is this the (Round Robin) standard that currently exists? In September of 2015, it will be three years since I applied for my increased disability rating and close to two years since I received the described monetary increase, could someone please let me know that I am not the only one this is happening to. Rob Grant, QM1, USCG (Ret.)

Gastone, Thank you for taking the time to help me out. Rob

Hello, I am a veteran in Group 1: Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50 percent or more and/or Veterans determined by VA to be unemployable due to service-connected conditions. I am new to the VA Hospital System (60% disability rating) and would like to ask what I should expect when I sign up for with the VA as my healthcare provider? Will the VA be requiring anything specific from me, such as my DD-214, etc., in order to receive continuing care from an assigned physician ? I live in Seattle and will be applying at the VA Hospital located at 1660 S. Columbian Way, Seattle. Rob Grant, QM1 USCG (Ret.)

An updated link for veteran benefits all states as 2009: http://www.dva.wa.gov/sites/default/files/Benefits by State March 2009.pdf. U,S, National Parks and Federal Lands Pass - America the Beautiful Access Pass is a lifetime pass and is available at no charge to veterans with a service-connected disability. URL: https://store.usgs.gov/pass/access.html URL link is credited to Joe Wright - http://hanfordsentinel.com/news/opinion/todays_opinions/veterans-corner-pass-grants-lifetime-access-to-national-parks/article_bc26038a-a2b5-11e0-94d8-001cc4c002e0.html. FEDERAL RECREATION AREAS WHERE INTERAGENCY PASSES ARE ISSUED - URL: https://store.usgs.gov/pass/PassIssuanceList.pdf. For veterans residing in Washington State: Additional Non-Educational Benefits - URL: https://va.wsu.edu/additional-non-educational-benefits/ Washington State Regional Reduced (Transit - Bus, Light Rail, Streetcar [Seattle]) Fare Permit - URL: http://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/orca_rrfp_app.pdf Who is eligible? Any person who presents proof of one of more of the following conditions can obtain a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (the agencies reserve the right to contact your Health Care Provider for verification). Permanent Permit: 1. Is at least 65 years of age. 2. Is currently certified by the Veterans Health Administration at a 40% or greater disability level. I want to add my thanks to V.S.O. Mike Kwaiter - Disabled American Veterans - Seattle Office for providing the greater part of the above information to me and for all his help and guidance with my DVA claim and to my wife for all her support. and advocacy on my behalf.

An updated link for veteran benefits all states as 2009: http://www.dva.wa.gov/sites/default/files/Benefits by State March 2009.pdf. U,S, National Parks and Federal Lands Pass - America the Beautiful Access Pass is a lifetime pass and is available at no charge to veterans with a service-connected disability. URL: https://store.usgs.gov/pass/access.html URL link is credited to Joe Wright - http://hanfordsentinel.com/news/opinion/todays_opinions/veterans-corner-pass-grants-lifetime-access-to-national-parks/article_bc26038a-a2b5-11e0-94d8-001cc4c002e0.html. FEDERAL RECREATION AREAS WHERE INTERAGENCY PASSES ARE ISSUED - URL: https://store.usgs.gov/pass/PassIssuanceList.pdf. For veterans residing in Washington State: Additional Non-Educational Benefits - URL: https://va.wsu.edu/additional-non-educational-benefits/ Washington State Regional Reduced (Transit - Bus, Light Rail, Streetcar [Seattle]) Fare Permit - URL: http://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/orca_rrfp_app.pdf Who is eligible? Any person who presents proof of one of more of the following conditions can obtain a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (the agencies reserve the right to contact your Health Care Provider for verification). Permanent Permit: 1. Is at least 65 years of age. 2. Is currently certified by the Veterans Health Administration at a 40% or greater disability level. I want to add my thanks to V.S.O. Mike Kwaiter - Disabled American Veterans - Seattle Office for providing the greater part of the above information to me and for all his help and guidance with my DVA claim and to my wife for all her support. and advocacy on my behalf.

I am currently rated as 60% disabled by the DVA. The DVA webpage(s) show that based on my current disability rating I am in priority group one. Does this mean that I will not incur any costs if I become an inpatient at a VA Hospital? As an example - say I need surgery for a torn meniscus, my cumulative rating is based on an assigned 20% disability rating (foe hearing loss) after I retired and was recently revised to a 60% disability rating in August of 2016. I am employed and have been described by the doctors and other medical professionals (that I have been seen by) as a highly functioning individual and that I compartmentalize my PSTD, which causes me embarrassment.