MarkInTexas

The one primary link that Veterans in pending status go to time and again, and also the one that Veterans searching to file new claims on.......and they hide it...... What's wrong with just leaving it on the homepage? I mean I know I have personally completed at least 20 of their online survey questionaires, begging for accurate information, up to the minute status of the C-file and submissions, the ability to upload documents easily without errors, and the ablity to view everything submitted and everything that the C-file contains digitally....... .....but......nope, I never said "Hide the eBenefits link"........ Mark

Well since it's a new year, I thought I might give my American Legion VSO a call at the Houston VARO. He sounded swamped when I talked to him. (Must have been a ton of us curious this week as well.) He was polite though, and looked me up. Basically, he said that from what he could see, my C&p's were done (back in June), and that the VA had everything they felt needed to rate me, and that my file was sitting in the rating section. I asked if it was actually sitting on a rater's desk, and he said that my file was not in the hands of a rater, but in the "waiting" area/section/drawer (whatever they call it) pending somebody picking it up and actually walking over to a desk to review it perhaps. We'll see how long the waiting to wait status lasts. My completion date still shows 09/29/2012. God love 'em. Good luck to everybody, and I'll keep you posted. Mark

Congratulations! And thanks for your service! Mark

Congratulations, Raidertone! That's great news, and I'm glad you cracked through one of the barriers. Thanks for your service, and I hope your health gets better. Have a blessed New Year. Mark

USMC, great to hear from you! Nope, I'm not done either. I'm still in Gathering Dust phase over here. Congratulations on the movement! I hope that you both get some great New Year's news soon. Hope you feel better soon, and stay safe in the New Year! ....and the clock keeps ticking...... Mark

That should be the Houston VARO's new motto! They should put that on all of their posters and doors. "Patience, Persistance & Preparation May Result In Success. Now Please Take A Number And Stand In Line # 485. Thank You. Have A Nice 36 Month Wait." :-)

Perhaps it's a lesson in successful waiting? :-) Mark

Over 2 years and 6 months......still in Gathering Evidence...... Here's a cool site that allows you to see just how bad it really is: http://cironline.org/reports/map-where-veterans-backlog-worst-3792 Tick tock....tick tock.....tick tock.....

Vel, I probably shouldn't copy/quote your response with my copy/quote because it would take 10 minutes to scroll down to read. However, thanks for your response. I had forgotten about this one because I typed it waaaaayyy back around August, and since that time I have been rated 200%. (Just kidding. I'm still in Gathering Evidence stage.) First, I should apologize for the Angry Birds and Facebook comments, and really am astonished at the work conditions you are undergoing with the limited lunch/break times. I don't think I've ever seen a Federal office building without air conditioning, and that just basically makes me more aggravated at the VA for not providing an adequate work environment and resources for employees to perform their duties. I believe we all are aware that the VA is way understaffed, and that it should really take a serious look at increasing personnel in key areas to truthfully push down the backlog. Sometimes, I just feel that the VA is taking it's time with this just in hopes that veterans/family members will either give up or just go ahead and die. When I say the VA, I'm not meaning you, nor your peers, but executive officials that are responsible for budgeting and personnel. I also am disappionted in Congress for not truly addressing the personnel and backlog issue. Although standing at a podium and bashing the VA for an embarrassing backlog makes for great political stump speeches at American Legion, VFW or other veterans organization rallies, or makes for good soundbites on television, it means nothing unless actual bills are passed funding more personnel and imposing true mandates upon the VA to dimiinsh the backlog. I am saddened at the frustrations that you face in trying to perform to standards that the VA has established under the conditions that they provide. I have heard time and time again that raters will tackle smaller claims in order to make a daily quota, and have always hoped that it wasn't true. However, from what you say, it would make sense for a rater who is already under the gun to produce at a certain rate, to go to the easy catches first, and save the bigger stacks or files for later. Although I don't particularly like this way of doing things, I can understand where a person wishing to draw a paycheck would do what it takes. Once again, it comes down to an adequate number of personnel to perform the desired function. A lot of frustration that Veterans, including myself, feel is that we are lost in the shuffle. No word from the VA unless you finally reach the end, or file a Congressional inquiry (and yes, I've learned my lesson on that too...it only delays matters more.) If the VA could open its channels more, including making eBenefits and VONAPP easier to use, with realtime updates on data and the location of a C-File, then perhaps the anxiety might diminish during the wait time, regardless if it involves one claim or thirty. I recently did a refinance on my home to get a lower interest rate. The company pretty much handled everything online, and I was able to upload files that were 10MB or more into their system. Status updates were frequent, and almost everything was handled digitally. The company even has an iPhone app to check status and upload documents/photos/information. Now if a private lending company can do that, certainly the Federal government, and more especially the VA, can create an up to date system that allow for documents to flow easily into a database, and for a Veteran to be able to review up to the minute status, along with realtime required documentation. I know you are not part of this process, but I figure while I'm on my soapbox, I'd address eBenefits a bit. I do want to thank you for your interest in Veterans, and for your participation on this website. And again, I apologize for the Angry Birds comment, but the remainder of it simply, and truthfully, echoes the frustrations of veterans awaiting a final disposition of their cases, whether they're sitting in a waiting line at a VARO, on the street, at a local VSO office or on here. (I may just ramble more than they do.) I also want to admit that I am one of the Veterans that filed multiple claims, and unfortuntately also filed additional information during the waiting process. Some of it was due to my own ignorance of the system. (As I mentioned, we didn't have the Internet back in 1994, and I doubt I even got a pamphlet from the VA). I also dont have a local VSO capable of assisting. (The poor guy is elderly and seriously ill.) I trekked out on this one on my own, and have scraped along for over two and a half years, submitting some things as requested, submitting others when I found something in the attic that looked like it needed to be sent in to the VA. (I did that the other day actually.) I think of a lot of the rationale behind sending in the whole truckload of information is the fear of being denied and having to go through the appeal process, which tacks on several more years to a claim. I know in my own case, I wanted to give everything I had to the VA up front in hope for an affirmative rating based on all of the information available rather than a NOD and the waiting game all over again with information that I had in hand. (I don't know. Maybe my logic was/is flawed. We'll see, I reckon.) OK, I've rambled enough. Thanks again for taking part in this website, and for caring about the VA system and Veterans. I wish there was something that we as Veterans could/can do to assist. If there is, please let me know, and I'll be glad to write or call whoever you reccomend to address the personnel and work environment issues. Thanks again, and I will take your advice and not send in my pediatrician records from when I was two. (I'm just kidding. I couldn't resist.) Have a safe and happy New Year. Mark

Well, just when I thought I submitted EVERYTHING I possibly could submit to the VA to process my claim, in walks the USAF Form 55. My wife had me clean out the attic this past weekend, and in the midst of going through old boxes of junk, I ran into a couple of boxes with my old AF gear from 20+ years ago. Also, I found even more of my old military documents from my personnel file (apparently these were ones that I had collected through the years while on active duty.) What amazed me was that there were several copies of orders to TDY training, weapons qualifications, letters of appreciation, and memos from supervisors with duty rosters, etc. One thing that struck me was this AF Form 55 Employee Safety And Health Record, which was completed by one of my old NCO supervisors. It was just a simple front and back form, but identified "hazards" of my daily duty day, including electrical, deploying in and out of vehicles, weapons and carrying heavy loads. Now this was nowhere to be found in my other documents, nor was the weapons qualifications forms, but I have already prepped a package, and will mail it off Wednesday to the Houston VARO via certified mail, just to make sure that these items are put into my claim, especially considering some of my claims are hearing loss, tinnitus, and back and leg pain and injuries. I also submitted the AF Form 55, via VONAPP this morning, but still don't trust it enough, and I want to make sure that the VA gets this form, along with those firearms, duty and training records. I know it may slow me down a bit....once again, but I want to do this right the first time, at least as much as possible, in hopes of the VA rating me based upon ALL information possible. We'll see how that works out for me. I was wondering if anybody else out there had ever run across an AF Form 55, and had success in using it as evidence of a cause or aggravating factor in a claimed condition. I am now kicking myself for not retrieving every copy of those from every duty station and job description. Everybody have a very Merry Christmas, and a prosperous and healthy New Year. Mark

That's outstanding! Congratulations!!! And thanks for your service to our country. Mark

The VA did pay me for one of my C&P trips using Veterans Evaluation Services. They didn't pay on the other, and when I called to ask about it, the Houston VARO acted like the didn't have a clue that I was even sent. The travel issue might have been due to mishandling by VES. On the occassion when I was paid travel reimbursement, the VES clerk (some office contracted by VES I think) immediately signed and faxed off my travel in front of me, then gave me a copy stamped "Copy" for my own records. The other ones just took my travel and disappeared down the hall with it. Do either of your C&P's say the magic presto open sesame words of "At least as likely as not"? Mark

Yogi, sorry to hear about the disruption and delay. I was also sent to Veterans Evaluation Services contractors for my two C&P's. It amazes me that the VA would pay a contractor to perform examinations and testing, and then disregard their diagnosis and opinions. I wonder why they failed to take these reports into consideration? Mark

Have been with circulating inside the Houston VARO with an initial compensation claim for exactly 2 years and 6 months today. Still in Gathering Evidence stage, even after taking two C&P's back in June, 2012. Tons of medical records provided, but no motion. Houston's VARO may well be a black hole in the VA universe where everything is pulled in, but nothing comes out. Good luck to all of you, and thanks for your service. Mark

errr.....I haven't done it yet, but from what I hear, it might take longer.....anyone?

Mine says my claim was completed on 09/29/2012.....of course, it hasn't in reality, and I'm still waiting in Gathering Evidence stage. When I call my AL representative at the Houston VARO, he says I'm still in Gathering Evidence, but sent to Special Ops (For multiple and complex claims). I've done two C&P's, both back in June, and waiting for 2.5 years on my initial claim. The Houston VARO has become a beast of its own, and really only does what it wants when it wants. Carlie's right, none of us will know for sure until we get something in the mail.....or something in the bank. I still check eBenefits from time to time, and try to call and check in once a month just to see if somebody at least blew the dust off my file. IRIS hasn't been a help, unless you like getting a generic canned reply. I wish you good luck, and hope that you claim is successful with a satisfactory rating and/or increase. Thanks for your service. Mark

Congratulations to both of you on the ratings. I hope you both receive the retro pay you deserve soon. Thanks for your service, and Merry Christmas! Mark

Congratulations! Whew! I'm glad it worked out. Papa, good luck to you and your health. Thanks again for your service. Mark

Congratulations on your claim being completed....at least thus far. As Carlie says, you'll know for certain when you receive something in the U.S. Mail, or your bank account gets a deposit. I hope you received the ratings you wanted. Good luck, and thanks for your service. Mark

Congratulations, Wvserver! I hope that you and your family enjoy a good life. Thanks for your service to our great nation. Y'all have a great weekend. Mark

Cham, You're right. There's a megaton of stuff to be depressed about in this process. The VA plays under their own house rules, and they own every card dealer, but I guess because it's still my initial claim, I keep holding out that there is a light at the end of this tunnel. I've been frustrated at the VARO's, ePeggy, Peggy, the VSO's, the system itself, and even the U.S. Air Force and the VA for failing to let veterans know back in the day about the importance of filing claims early. (I had to learn about what to do from an old AF supervisor of mine, who retired as a SMSgt and went to work for the VA himself.....which was many years after I had separated.) Carlie, that photo is definitely scary. I don't why the VA doesn't just hire a bunch of temps, train them, and put them next to scanners and computers and scan those tons of files into the system until caught up. I wish all good luck on their claims process, and still going to keep my fingers crossed that I see an outcome before my Gathering Dust status becomes Is Dust. Peace out. Mark

Thanks for the information and updates, all! I hate to sound optimistic, which I know will probably just jinx me, but it looks like the VA is taking a good approach towards handling this backlog. Looks kind of like the Wal-Mart approach, except that in Wal-Mart's express lane, they handle 20 items or less. (Sorry, couldn't help myself.) In my own case, moving to Special Ops may be from any one of the mentioned reasons, I'm in a case over two years old, my own claims are complex, and I do have multiple conditions claimed. We'll see how far this goes. But it is a good feeling knowing.....or assuming....that a rater who is trained on these types of cases may...hopefully...maybe....actually be working on my case. (I'm still gunshy and trying not to jinx myself all over again.) Thanks again to all! Mark

Veldrina, thanks for the quick response, and for the update on what Special Ops is. That puts my mind at ease, knowing that they have split the case files for better accuracy and effeciency. Good luck and I hope all is back in operation at your office, including the heater. Thanks again for everything. Mark

Veldrina, You might know what "Special Ops" is. I am part of the group waiting over 2 years for my initial claim to be processed. The other day, I was speaking to my American Legion representative and when he pulled me up on the computer (Houston VARO btw), he said that it showed that my file had been moved to Special Ops on October 29th. Any idea what this means? I'm assuming the VA has a task force or something to draw down the older claims, but not 100% certain. Any input would be deeply appreciated. Thanks again. Mark

Aggie, Yeah, I use my American Legion representative as my Peggy contact. I never have luck with the 1-800 number, and usually sit on hold for over an hour (if I'm lucky). So I use the AL as a quicker way to reach a human being, and they pull up the same information that a VA call center worker does. Honestly, I often have to call several times because I get voicemail "A LOT", but sooner or later I reach a real live person. We'll see how this whole "Special Ops" thing plays out. Happy Veterans Day! Mark