#1Cavtrooper

@westcoastlv...what stage were you in and how long in that stage before the ebenefits screw-up?

I don't know whether to believe Peggy or ebenefits!?!? I called the 1800# and was told my claim was still in the developement phase but on ebenefits it's showing "Preparation for Notification" still. If I was to put Peggy and ebenefits in the same bag I wonder which one would fall out first???

@ Mark... Lol Well, In the meantime I guess I'll do the ole' check my mail/ check my bank account thing.

Well, Saturday I could not access ebenefits, so I figured something was going on because the site was to be down on Sunday not Saturday. And sure enough my claim went from Gathering of Evidence on Friday (the last time I could check it) to "Preparation for Notification" this evening. But........ I have two Estimated Claim Completion Dates: One on October 9, 2012 and the other in November...... so now I am really nervous. And more confused........ sigh....

@ComputerGeek46>Thank you very much!

Good Read, Thnx

Update: My Estimated Claim completion date changed to October 31, 2012

Congratulations!

In a way I hate that I posted the Washington D.C. #. As was said, it was meant to help only vets in dire situations ie; hardship cases, homelessness etc. And Washington did help me that first time.

Even though your claim may say "closed" doesn't always mean that they are completely through with your claim. And it doesn't necessarily mean that you will have an AB8 letter. The IU may be deferred pending exam. Now, I haven't followed your claim, but did you have an IU exam? Case in point; my claim closed but I had 4 deferred items...Back, Cervical spine, Headaches and IU. I was awarded with payment on June 1, 2012. I then had C/P exams on July 20, 2012 for back, cervical spine and headaches, And on July 30 I had an IU exam. After this portion of my claim is complete I should see my AB8 letters. On ebenefits it is showing "Gathering of Evidence." I hope this info gives you some hope and relieves some stress. Good Luck!

Last Wednesday, August 22, 2012, I stopped by the Houston VARO after my physical therapy appointment at the VAMC, I checked in, got my "#" and waited my turn to submit some paperwork. Afterwards I went to see my DAV vso. This morning at 7:40 I was surprised to get a response to an inquiry I submitted through "peggy" that was done a week ago. Later I checked ebenefits and to my surprise under items received was a list of what I had taken to the VARO! It only took Houston three and one-half days to post to ebenefits. But since it was related to a hardship request, that could be the reason.......

I hope that you can get some answers. Btw, I like your avatar. I, too, was a WAC ( Women's Army Corps), I enlisted in April 1974.

I agree.... Lol

I filed for IU when I filed my original claim on 1/23/2011. I was awarded on my claim on 5/16/12 and the IU was one of 4 contentions deferred pending exams, which I had on 7/31/12. So what I'm getting at is....... If you fit the criteria for IU, you should file ASAP!

Congrats!

You know what mark, I've even parked at the VARO and took the little va shuttle to the Vamc a few times! Lol Then after the appt catch the shuttle back to my pickup. Btw, If you ever saw the movie " Charlie Wilson's War", the Lufkin Va Outpatient Clinic was named for him. And he helped acquire that big motor coach for Lufkin.

@Papa It's called the Texas Veterans Land Board.

Speaking of Houston....... I have a 10:00 a.m. appt at the Michael E. DeBakey VAMC on Tuesday Aug. 22, 2012 at physical therapy. I was politely asked by the physical therapist what time I wanted my appt for in the morning or afternoon and of course I chose the morning. Its best for me to get there early and avoid the evening rush hour. It takes me 2 1/2 hours to drive to Houston. I was going there twice a week from Aug. 2011 to Nov. 2011 for TRP (Trauma Recovery Program). Therefore I got a pretty good idea of how to deal with the parking problem. The employee shift changes at 0800 so therefore a lot of parking spaces are freed up in the parking lot across the street from the VAMC. If I ever was running late for any reason, they have valet parking which I have used once. There also is a VA motor coach that leaves from the Charles Wilson VA Outpatient Clinic and stops at Walmart in Livingston, Tx. to pick up more veterans. I'm fortunate that I've been treated very well by the Va. I found out on Thursday that QTC has gotten my two C&P exams back from the July 20th and July 30th appts and forwarded to the Va. Ebenefits is showing my completion date to be Sept. 21, 2012. These are the deferred items on my original claim and they have me flagged as hardship. So I am "patiently" waiting. To serve 759,739 veterans in 90 southern Texas counties and to include the Carribean, Central and South America and Mexico to say the Houston VA Regional office has their hands full is an understatement.....

@ Papa... Lol in reference to hobbies. Hang in there!

Just checked ebenefits and my "estimated" completion date is September 21, 2012. I believe it used to say February 2013. I had my two C&P's on the deferred items on 7/20/2012 and on 7/30/2012. I guess I am still listed as "hardship" status so we'll see....

I have a physical therapy appointment on Aug 22, 2012. After this early appt. I hope that I will be able to pick up copies of my latest C&P exams. I am not able to down load any letters because of deferred issues. The anticipation and stress was somewhat alleviated when I was awarded in May but has returned.

E N J O Y!!! AND R E L A X!!!

Are you by any chance going to Audiological Services in lufkin? I only live about 18 miles from there.

They are just making sure that they dotted the i's and crossed the t's. Mine did the same thing.

Good Luck!