rodin57

Thank you for your assistance, Capt. C. Please understand that I am not ignoring anyone's advice here. I am, however, getting advice from several sources, not just Hadit. I am "climbing the ladder"... rung by rung. Some think it was important to get an inspection and analysis from the Postal professionals as to the condition of the package I received. I thought I would probably get some voicemail from the USPS and I was extremely pleased to receive their written statement. Finally, rest assurred that I will not quit. I will continue to post my progress here, so that others who experience this type of situation will have an idea of how one veteran handled the issue. I will post more as I get it!

Just received a response from the Post Office. They have verified that my C-File copy was mailed (by the VARO) in an unsealed USPS Priority Box. At least the USPS acknowledges their error for not following their own procedures when dealing with open/unsealed packages. Attached is a copy of the USPS letter for those who may experience the same thing. Now I will be filing a complaint with the VARO. I will keep you posted!

Thanks for you kind words, Capt. C. I have just finished a second examination of my C-File. I have concluded that it is completely out-of-order. Since the file was opened at some point in the mailing, I think it's possible that it spilled-out during handling, and whoever was handling it just scooped the papers up and put them back in. Now, I have never had my C-File before, so maybe the C-File copies never come in order. I don't know. I do know that there are notes and reports missing, as I went back one year to my copies I got from each visit to the VA hospital, and they are not in the C-File that was sent to me. It does make me feel a little nervous to have other peoples social security numbers, too. I hope this snowball doesn't turn into an avalanche! I am now trying to put my file into chronological order.

Still going thru the C-File sent to me by Phoenix VARO. I have now found documents from another veteran's congressional inquiry & complaint. I am enclosing a copy of the Congressional Inquiry (identifying info blacked-out) so you can see for yourself. I feel so bad for these other veterans, if the documentation is missing from their files. I think this kind of buffoonery has earned the Phoenix VARO a giant bitch-slap. Still, does anyone know how the average VARO copy procedures work? Do I have the other veterans original copies in my original C-File? Or is this just a copy-job gone bad?

Just so I understand about the other veteran's medical and financial info that I received as a part of my C-File: 1. Does this mean that my C-File actually contains the original documents for these other veterans? OR 2. Was this just a large VA copying & printing job where the sorting just got mixed-up? (In other words, my C-File does not actually contain any original documents of other Vets, just copies.) I only ask this because I think if #1 is true, it is a worst-case senario. Either way, I see an unplanned trip to Phoenix for myself.

Okay, I just did a quick & dirty exam of my C-File. It contains a few of the medical records of another veteran from Tucson. (If I wasn't honest and I had this guys mother's maiden name, I could probably get a home loan in his name.) It also contains financial information from three other veterans. I see from reading the forum that this is not a rare thing. What do most people do with the other records in their C-File? Should I just shred them? Should I try to contact the other veterans? This is just unbelievable incompetence on the part of the VA. (I will not be attaching a scan of their records for this post.) Now for my real concern: Does some other veteran have copies (that I am missing) of my C-File mixed into their records? If I knew who did this at the RO, I would beat their ass.

Philip Rogers wrote: I would've taken it to the postmaster, as soon as I received it, opened. jmo... Me too, except it was after 1800 when the package was received. Our postoffice closes at 1700. Best I could do was take it in first thing in the morning.

71M10 wrote: I will try to keep my BS off of any of your threads in the future. I will believe it when I... don't see it! 71M10 wrote: I sure hope you don't have a question or problem that I have the answer to... Great! A closing "threat". Another internet bully. And now I will make a legal statement: 71M10, STOP interacting with me in any way.

71M10 wrote: Wow accused of mis-reading someones comments. My question still stands. How is this situation worthy of a VA Inspector General Report? Here we go. Show me where ANY of my previous comments state anything about a "VA Inspector General Report". First you are mis-reading my post, then you are adding words to my post that I NEVER used. Go post your BS on some other thread. Respectfully, Rodin57!

Commander Bob wrote: How long did it take for you to receive your c-file after you requested it? I mailed my request on November 1, 2011. I received my C-File on February 29, 2012. I see that my time-lag was nearly 4 months.

For those who are interested, attached is a copy of the complaint letter I hand-delivered to my Postmaster today. I will begin to check for identity-theft today as well.

71M10 wrote: I am curious as to why you think it is appropriate to file a VA IG complaint? The "such as VA IG" means as an example- not that I am filing a VA IG complaint. If you look at what I wrote, you will see that I filed a complaint with the Post Office today. The "such as" refers to after a Postal investigation. If the Postal Investigation shows they had nothing to do with the opened package, then what? This is where the "such as" comes into play. 71M10, have you actually encountered this type of problem? If yes, how did you deal with it? If no, I thank you for mis-reading my comments.

Well, it's been a while since I last posted. I finally received a copy of my C-File today at my PO Box. It was sent from the Phoenix RO and the box it was mailed in had the end open. (See photo) There was no Postal notice addressing the opened mail. Of course, I will file a complaint with the Post Office tomorrow. The C-File contains many of my VA Medical Records, which I am sure have been compromised. I am sharing this for two reasons- 1. So the members will be aware this type of problem exists, and 2- To determine if there are any further actions I should take (such as VA IG Complaint?).

Hi Berta! Thanks for all your help! The Air Force does not have an MOS. They have what is called an Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC). I was a Nuke guy, and not a Personnel guy. In my 10 years in the Air Force, I never heard of one single classified AFSC. Many AFSC's use classified information & materials. When you are retired or discharged, the Air Force has a classified type of "gag order" that you have to sign. It doesn't say they will kill you if you talk, but the legal-ese wording sure seems to imply it! I'm just sayin'.

I need to get all the documentation relating to my most recent claim. I am 4+ hours from the VARO, so it will have to be done by snail mail. I searched the forums, and couldn't locate anything related to requesting claims documentation. If a documentation request is already written, could you point me to the link? If I need to write a request myself, is there a "wording" that is more successful in helping to get the docs?

A funny thing happened to me on my way to the forum... I thought my claim for tinnitus & lung problems was so simple and straightforward! I didn't know what all the fuss was about! I thought I could even track my claim progress on eBenefits. Then karma said "HELLO"! Stupid little things started to happen with my claim (for no apparent reason). Ever discover a problem only to be told that all the documentation was destroyed? I got my denial, and in the denial was a statement that I missed a C&P appointment for a PFT. I thought this BS would be EASY to fix. I had a copy of the PFT test and the doctors report. I'll just get copies of the DAV Van records to prove I went, just to really sew this thing up. Nope. DAV Van records are destroyed after 6 months. New rule for me: Get copies of DAV van records ASAP for all C&P exams. Tinnitus was denied due to no in-service records. Really? I included a copy of an OER, which detailed the accident. Now I am in the process of filing an NOD. Let me pause a second before I dive into the great void that is BVA!

I'm guessing that filing a separate NOD to both the Phoenix & Fort Harrison VAROs would be a bad thing?

I originally filed my claim with Phoenix VARO. It was farmed-out to Fort Harrison, MT VARO (temporary office of jurisdiction). Denial came from Fort Harrison. Which office do I mail the NOD to? Thanx. Oops! Also, I need to get all the VA info (doctors notes, etc) relating to my claim. Is there a VA form for requesting this stuff? Do I send the request for info to both offices? Reall thanx!

justrluk. you've got almost 300 posts on this board. Why haven't you posted your theory before now? (Yeah, I searched your posts.) Heh! Are you seriously interested in trying to provide a workable claims-tracking solution or just trolling for a math debate? We all have our mathematical opinions, and my opinion is that ALL claims data will fit within a normal curve. The reason why ALL claims data fits within a normal curve is because new data will expand the area under the curve. The curve expands and contracts with the amount of data within. Anyway, I don't think this thing will ever get-off-the-ground because there is no one centrally located within the various VA centers who has access to all the real-time claims data and would be paid or willing to just crunch the numbers. So we continue to march blindly into the future....

Thank you Berta. I will wait for the C&P results. Thank God for the internet! When I filed my first claim in 1988, I didn't know anyone else who ever filed a VA claim. I couldn't get (even bad) advice from anyone. I should have filed an NOD in 1989, but when I looked for any additional evidence, and found none on hand, I let it go. It's funny that 20+ years later I can find more evidence that I should have submitted with an NOD for my original claim. One reason I had no info was that we were in transit, and all my files were in long term storage. Another reason why my medical records were mostly empty was due to me not wanting to go to the flight surgeon and get DNIF'ed (duty not involving flying). Too many DNIFs was the kiss of death for a career. Okay, I'll quit babbling now. I appreciate any assistance I can get. Thanks all.

I 'll write the NOD letter, and mail it this week. Do I need to include any additional info with the NOD letter? (I need to do a FOIA and ROI and I don't think it would be a good idea to wait on the NOD if I don't have to.)

The examiner's report, is that what I ask for? When I make my request, who do I ask? Verbally? In writing? Thanks, /noob

Okay, I'll be extra hard on myself. I filed a claim for tinnitus on 04-13-10. Today (10-07-11) I received the manilla colored envelope. The VA continued my other ratings, as well as my pay. The VA denied my claim for tinnitus, due to no mention in my medical records. However, when I filed my claim, I included a copy of my OER which specifically mentioned the incident (2,000 lb battery explosion) which was the main cause of my tinnitus. I was ignorant about the medical aspects of tinnitus in 1985- there was no internet back then- so I never went to the flight surgeon to complain about my tinnitus. I know, I was stupid. The thing that bugs me is the VA seemed to ignore my OER as evidence. I am not inclined to file an NOD, since I have no other evidence. Any advice would be appreciated. Attached is a copy of the VA write-up for my denial. (Also, for all my claims tracking fans out there, if I file an NOD should I start trying to track that too? - just kidding)

Have you guys even looked at the postings on this website? You have entire sections telling vets how to put together their claims for the best possible handling by the VA. You even have sections telling people what type of words an independent doctor should use for a vets claim. And on and on. HOW did this info become known? I willing to bet through tracking hundreds and thousands of veterans claims and noting the VA's response. Then you report what works best on this forum. Does this mean it works in every case? No. Am I saying that developing a system to track claims through eBenefits will work in every case? No. I wonder. Who's world (around here) is gonna "get rocked" if an eBenefit claims tracking system works for most vets? /bucket o' crabs

If your (Carlie & EthansGrandma) claims are tracking outside the established boundaries of the eBenefits phases, that is okay. On a normal distribution curve, your claim(s) may fit in the 5% extreme section of the curve. I'm just suggesting that (perhaps) the claim(s) data that falls within the 66% section of the curve would project a somewhat more reliable tracking effect. Also, I'm pretty skilled in math. We could even set-up separate "ball park" to track the extreme/out-of-phase claims. Obviously, it would require data input from the VA--- which may mean that the data you finally receive would be input after-the-fact. In other words, you may not personally benefit from the results, but given enough time others would!