LILS

Good idea for donating to HadIt. They gave me peace of mind for years!

I received my retro pay from DFAS on Jan 21 & my VA retro just came from the VA today! VA only took 2 DAYSfrom receiving my DFAS retro! Between both of them, I received $61K! Thanks everyone for your help!

Well,I'm absolutely shocked, but I just received my retro pay from the VA today, just 2 DAYS from receiving my DFAS retro! Between both of them, I received $61K. Thanks for everyone's help!

Just received an increased percentage rate from 40% to 70% w/ spouse 1 child, due to a CUE claim. I am owed VA retroactive pay from Sep 2011-present. My questions are: What is the average time to receive retroactive pay from the VA AFTER DFAS has paid you their portion? I received $15K today from them. I already received the VA letter stating how much I was entitled to & how much I actually received for those years mentioned above. Any idea? Just want to know if I'll be waiting years for the back pay now. Thanks!

THANKS AGAIN!

Thanks, everyone. georgiapapa, I had no idea about that. Thanks so much! I was trying to find if I get ANY type of new benefits, tax breaks, or whatever with the new increase. Not sure where to look.

Hi. I just received an increased percentage rate from 40% to 70% w/ spouse 1 child, due to a CUE claim. I am owed retroactive pay from Sep 2011-present. My questions are: What is the average time to receive this back pay & approx how much should I be expecting or how do I figure it out? I received a deposit for $88 from DFAS the other day, & the deposit comment says: RETSPCL. I have no idea what that means & why I'm getting a deposit. I read somewhere that military pay has to do an audit before the VA releases back pay. Could that deposit be something the military owed me from whatever audit they're supposed to be doing? I just received my very first 70% monthly retirement & VA checks this month & those were correct. I just want to know if I'll be waiting years for the back pay now. Thanks, gurus!

Discussion Thread What does "We are in the process of brokering your appeal to the Appeals Management Center to be reviewed" mean? Is this just a "blow off" statement? Nothing in eBenefits, as far as the status has changed from Sep 2012. It still says at the local office. I sent a certified letter stating I wanted to file a CUE, due to the fact that the VA completely forgot to rate my Total Hysterectomy & bilat ovary removal. They rated my scar, but not the surgery! They claim they never received the letter, but someone signed for it! Does anyone know the proper way to file a CUE & to make sure it's actually on record? And can someone answer the questions below I sent to the VA, since they can't seem to? Is there a 3rd party I should be getting involved, like a DAV representative or someone? Any help is appreciated! Below is what I asked the VA & their response is right below that. It doesn't answer my questions. They didn't even include my questions in the thread; like they didn't get them: Hello, Since I was told my certified letter is not in the system, I would like to know if there is another way to get my letter to the Winston Salem office? Can it be faxed? Or, since this has gone on so long, considering it's a clear error by the VA, can I go to the Winston Salem office IN PERSON & file the Clear and Unmistakeable Error? Or is there someone I can talk to at that office? Response via Email (Department of Veterans Affairs) 05/01/2014 03:45 PM Mrs. , Thank you for your inquiry to the Department of Veterans Affairs. We are in the process of brokering your appeal to the Appeals Management Center to be reviewed. Winston Salem, as other Regional Offices, are backlogged in cases, as well as, receiving hundreds per day. Continue to keep in touch with your Veterans Service Organization regarding your appeal. We cannot anticipate completion dates or give out timeframe's for actions to be taken. Response via Email (Dept of Veterans Affairs) 04/29/2014 07:49 AM Thank you for your inquiry to the Department of Veterans Affairs. We are in the process of brokering your appeal to the Appeals Management Center to be reviewed. Winston Salem, as other Regional Offices, are backlogged in cases, as well as, receiving hundreds per day. Continue to keep in touch with your Veterans Service Organization regarding your appeal. We cannot anticipate completion dates or give out timeframe's for actions to be taken. Response via Email (Dept of Veterans Affairs) 04/28/2014 02:05 PM Dear Mrs. : This is in response to your inquiry to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) dated April 25, 2014. The response below from the VA is the same standard response I've already received before. I would like to specifically know if my certified letter was received & has it been added to my claim? I do not want to wait to be told it wasn't received. I was told it would be scanned into EBenefits & I don't see anything. Thank you! Hello, I am requesting the status of my NOD claim, which was filed 9/12/12. I sent a certified letter, stating there was a Clear and Unmistakeable Error in my claim. Sending the certified letter is what I was told to do by the VA, after they received my email below. It was received by the VA (Michael Lee Brandon) on Jan 27, 2014 @ 11:31am. I have not heard anything about it. Please let me know what needs to be done. Thanks a lot! As we stated previously, we received your notice of disagreement (NOD) on September 12, 2012. You elected a review by a Decision Review Officer (DRO). Right now, your appeal is awaiting that review. If we need additional information, we will notify you. If we do not need any additional information, the DRO will render a decision, and you will receive written notification. The processing of a NOD average’s about 291, days. The length of time it takes to process your NOD depends on the specifics of your case and VA’s pending workload. We do not show receiving information from you on or about January 27, 2014. Generally speaking, it may take up to 75 days for our electronic system to be updated due to the volume of mail received. Since the 75 day timeframe has passed, we have forwarded a request for information to the Winston-Salem Regional Office (RO). They will research this issue further and respond to you directly regarding their findings. We apologize we are unable to provide you with an immediate answer to your question, and appreciate your patience as we research this matter. Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below. Sincerely yours, C. Boyd National IRIS Response Center Manager jes Cc: Disabled American Veterans How to Contact VA: On line: www.va.gov www.ebenefits.va.gov By phone: (800) 827-1000 Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) 711 By fax: (336) 714-0511 By letter: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Winston-Salem VA Regional Office Federal Bldg. 251 N. Main St. Winston-Salem, NC 27155 Response via Email (Dept of Veterans Affairs) 04/25/2014 06:48 PM Dear Mrs. : This is in response to your inquiry to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) dated April 21, 2014. Thank you for your service to our country. We received your notice of disagreement (NOD) on September 12, 2012. You elected a review by a Decision Review Officer (DRO). Right now, your appeal is awaiting that review. If we need additional information, we will notify you. If we do not need any additional information, the DRO will render a decision, and you will receive written notification. The processing of a NOD average’s about 291, days. The length of time it takes to process your NOD depends on the specifics of your case and VA’s pending workload. We are currently processing a large volume of appeals, and are doing our best to process each appeal as quickly as possible. Due to the volume of appeals in process, it is taking more time than expected to complete the various phases of the appeals process. We recognize the appeals process can be lengthy, and we apologize for the delay. Your continued patience is appreciated. Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below. Sincerely yours, C. Boyd National IRIS Response Center Manager jes How to Contact VA: On line: www.va.gov www.ebenefits.va.gov By phone: (800) 827-1000 Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) 711 By fax: (336) 714-0511 By letter: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Winston-Salem VA Regional Office Federal Bldg. 251 N. Main St. Winston-Salem, NC 27155

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR COMMENTS!

Does anyone know what "Appeal is Possible" means, besides the fact that they're saying an appeal is possible? Lol. This is from eBenefits. I keep seeing this message, but the dates keep getting pushed back, so my letters have not arrived, so I keep waiting. "Decision Notification Sent" has said that for a a couple of months. I'm just curious if this means my NOD is going to a BVA now? When I click on View Board of Veteran's Appeals status, it just shows what it always had, that it was "current" and still at the local VA office. The 2 dates on 9/12/12 are for an NOD & Dependency claim. The other date 9/1/11 was when I retired & they deferred a B/P claim on my initial claim letter. Isn't an appeal always possible before it goes to the BVA? Mine is/was just in the NOD phase currently. Thanks for any help! Compensation and Pension Claim Status Open Claims Open Claims information is not available at this time. Historical Claims Please be advised that Historical Claims will show claims that were closed on or after January 1, 2008. If you have a question concerning a claim that was closed prior to this date, please contact our toll free number at 1-800-827-1000. Date/Type of Claim Date Closed Updates Action 09/12/2012 Administrative Review 12/28/2012 Appeal is Possible Decision Notification Sent View Board of Veterans’ Appeals Status 09/12/2012 Dependency 12/27/2012 Appeal is Possible Decision Notification Sent View Board of Veterans’ Appeals Status 09/01/2011 Compensation 12/27/2012 Appeal is Possible Decision Notification Sent View Board of Veterans’ Appeals Status

I think I may have posted this in the wrong forum. Going to post in eBenefits...Sorry

Does anyone know what "Appeal is Possible" means, besides the fact that they're saying an appeal is possible? Lol. This is from eBenefits. I keep seeing this message, but the dates keep getting pushed back, so my letters have not arrived, so I keep waiting. "Decision Notification Sent" has said that for a a couple of months. I'm just curious if this means my NOD is going to a BVA now? When I click on View Board of Veteran's Appeals status, it just shows what it always had, that it was "current" and still at the local VA office. The 2 dates on 9/12/12 are for an NOD & Dependency claim. The other date 9/1/11 was when I retired & they deferred a B/P claim on my initial claim letter. Isn't an appeal always possible before it goes to the BVA? Mine is/was just in the NOD phase currently. Thanks for any help! Compensation and Pension Claim Status Open Claims Open Claims information is not available at this time. Historical Claims Please be advised that Historical Claims will show claims that were closed on or after January 1, 2008. If you have a question concerning a claim that was closed prior to this date, please contact our toll free number at 1-800-827-1000. Date/Type of Claim Date Closed Updates Action 09/12/2012 Administrative Review 12/28/2012 Appeal is Possible Decision Notification Sent View Board of Veterans’ Appeals Status 09/12/2012 Dependency 12/27/2012 Appeal is Possible Decision Notification Sent View Board of Veterans’ Appeals Status 09/01/2011 Compensation 12/27/2012 Appeal is Possible Decision Notification Sent View Board of Veterans’ Appeals Status

So, on the final decision of the BVA?

The NOD was filed 3 months ago.

Yes, it was specifically mentioned in my initial BDD claim, along with the ovaries being removed. There is NO reason it should've been left out, except error on their side. I could see if it was only documented on one piece of paper in my medical records where they could miss it, but it's documented many, many times. There's even a whole inpatient chart on it, as well as pre & post op notes & path report in my outpatient records. So, I sent all that back in... I appreciate all your advice. Now my question would be, was that the only route to take, since it was an obvious error on their part. Especially since they didn't even mention the surgery at all.