Loose Cannon

Thanks john999 for the backhanded compliment. Like I said, everyone's experience is different. Not sure how many times I've got to say it but I promise this will be the final time I EVER comment on the DAV :

1) The ONLY assistance they gave me was back in 2005 when they filed my initial claim paperwork...EVER!! Never returned my calls, phone messages, letters, etc.

2) When my claim was decided, NOBODY called from their organization to tell me the good news or if they thought the VA low-balled me on any single condition. I got the news from the VA in their decision packet by mail.

3) Had to educate myself on how to file a FOI request in order to receive a copy of my QTC C&P Exam.

4) The DAV switched my assigned representative out TWICE without even telling me.

5) Joined DAV as lifetime member. Paid in full...check cashed...still no effort to contact me.

6) Over SIX MONTHS I tried by various correspondence to reach the last woman assigned as my representative...NOTHING!!! I'm not talking about demanding that my case be given priority. I WAITED SIX MONTHS FOR THIS PERSON TO CALL ME or at least make contact with me...NOTHING!!!
Who in their right mind is willing to let 6 months go by without wondering WTF is going on???

7) Approx 2 weeks ago I sent their office a fax REVOKING their POA. I mailed them a copy as well. THIS WAS A FOUR SENTENCE FAX and it said:

My Power of Attorney is currently held by the (DAV) Disabled American Veterans.
Effective immediately, I revoke any and all Power of Attorney held by this organization or any individual person from this organization.
I will notify you, in writing, if I choose to give Power of Attorney to another Veterans Service Organization. Until then, I will continue to seek just and fair processing on all aspects of my claims for VA benefits under 38 CFR and the United States Code thru self representation.

In response to my fax...the DAV provided my RO with a letter on DAV letterhead that contained one sentence..."This letter is to confirm Mr. XX is affirming his POA with the DAV."
Guess who signed it? This "mysterious woman" who was assigned as my representative...The same one who NEVER returned my calls, letters, etc. is now sending me this letter AFTER she took it to the RO Intake Processing Center.

So if there is ANYONE who wants to defend the actions I mentioned above or suggest that I overreacted, didn't give them a fair amount of time, or any other BS excuse that's fine. But don't bother wasting my time with it. The woman who wrote and signed that letter, making it a permanent part of my C-File should lose her job. No excuse for misinterpreting my 4 sentence fax for anything other than it was. This is the epitome of incompetence!
This is the opinion and the experience of someone (me!) who has lived through the nightmare of the past EIGHT YEARS as having been represented by the DAV.

This whole thing got started by someone's legitimate question of "Is it time for a new VSO" and I have tried to relate my experience to answer that question in this thread as well as several others. In the midst of this thread, some choose to berate others by saying a lawyer is a must. Maybe. Maybe not. But please don't sit there and tell me I'm a fool for representing myself. After all, it was my research, questions, and learning about the "claim process" that got me to 100% IU P&T.
The DAV had nothing to do with my claims being successful. Remember, they just filed my original paperwork back in 2005. This "fool" is the one who pursued the claims on his own, without a lawyer. Now I sit back and wait as the VA takes the next few weeks, months, or years to decide my remaining 3 "non-rating" claims including over 25k in retro according to DFAS. In the meantime I hope to pass what I know on to other visitors to our site, to be active in fighting for veteran's rights, and to learn as much as I can about PTSD & TBI. No hidden agenda here, and you?

I need a beer or 12 now...this crap is off my chest. Good night to all. I'll try it again after some sleep.
Semper Fidelis,
LC