MarkInTexas

Yep, I used the Ellis Clinic in Okahoma City, Oklahoma. Dr. Ellis' staff are great, courteous and very professional. I received my IME/IMO report for several conditions and I have to say that it looked great! However, I am still in the Land of NOD while my claim is on appeal at the VARO, so I don't know how much it will help until I receive someting back from the VA. I can say that they had denied most of my claims without ever scheduling a C&P, but after I submitted Dr. Ellis' IME/IMO report, they scheduled me for a C&P for most of the conditions within a month or so of receiving the report. It must have shook something loose. Hope it helps! Good luck! Mark

Congratulations! Thanks for your service to our great nation!

Buck, Usually the NPRC doesn't take too long to fulfill requests. It can be delayed if they have to retrieve something from the VA or one of your military posts, but even then, I've only waited around three months or so. They seem more effecient at records retrieval and accountability than the VA. Mark

I forgot to mention the tons of documentation lost or placed in other veterans' files. I myself have had over 100 pages of medical and psychological records of other veterans that were in my C-File, as well sent to me in error inside envelopes with VA correspondence. I also still have two pages of medical records from a female veteran still stuck in my C-File. (These showed up in the second C-File request after the others were purged.) Once again, these veterans sent in documentation thinking it would be safely stored in their own files to be reviewed by the VA, but instead it was thrown haphazardly into other veterans' files. Pretty disgraceful. Mark

They make a lot of good statements about shredding being wrong, but for the veterans out there waiting, not sure if all or a portion of their own records were destroyed, it's not much consolation. I wonder how many veterans out there were wrongfully denied based upon lack of evidence, when the evidence was actually in the hands of the VA, but ended up in a shred bin. Many have died wondering what they did wrong, or given up in frustration, never knowing what really happened. The VA is like an addict admitting they have a problem, but one who runs right out the door to get its next fix without an apology or regret. Just my pont of view. Mark

Congratulations! Thanks for your service to our Nation! Mark

eBenefits is the Bermuda Triangle of VA claims and information......

Sounds like something may have triggered a need to do a C&P, which sounds positive. They are taking something serious, and need to confirm it. Might be a de novo review of you claim. Just a thought. Mark

Probably just down. And I agree that it is very untrustworthy during the waiting process. It's usually only a good information tool for after the dust settles a bit and a claim is decided. Outside of that, it pretty much a Kentucky windage thing on the whole claims process status bar. Good luck and have a great weekend! Mark

Good luck! Mark

And the clock just keeps on ticking.............. Mark

One more: 20% - Fuddrucker's. Show your military ID or VA ID Card and they immediately apply a 20% discount! Mark

This has probably been posted before, but I was thinking about starting a thread on businesses that are pro-military and veteran friendly. I have run into a couple of them so far, and will try to post when I find others. Ok, here we go: 10% - Lowe's (hardware, lumber, plants, outdoors, appliances, etc.) Awesome service, and very friendly. They provide a 10% military or veteran discount when presented a VA ID card. The location I was at had one of their attendants run out and load my truck for me, and then he thanked me for my service. (I've tried Lowe's about 3 times so far, and they always grant the 10% discount with pleasure.) A+ 10% - Raising Cane's restaurant chain. Quick service, and gave a 10% veteran discount immediately when presented with my VA ID Card at the drive-thru window. A+ Ok, hope this helps, and looking forward to hearing from anybody else who has had good experiences with military or veteran friendly establishments. Have a great week! Mark

When you get your denial, maybe consider getting an audiologist to do an IME/IMO for you, then file a NOD. You could go ahead and file the NOD first, but you have a year and I don't think that it takes much time to schedule an examination in most areas. Then you can file it all together. Just a thought. Good luck! Mark

I'm still amazed that you saw your C&P results so fast. I went through VES on mine back in July and can't see anything on the "Blue Button". Am I looking in the wrong spot? Mark

I save them as a PDF file on my computer so I can view them when I want. Not much on mine yet, and nothing on the my C&P's just that an RN signed off on something on July 27th, and that I need a cholesterol screening and some old data about my service dates on active duty and reserves. Lot of blank pages otherwise in a 39 page PDF document. Mark

This topic got strangely silent. I'm still wondering about any past experiences, good or bad, on the Ellis Clinic in Oklahoma City. Mark

Buck, I like the "upload documents" feature. It's handy to get paperwork to the VA quickly, although I'm still paranoid and send it certified mail just in case. But at least I feel that the VA is getting it a couple or three days ahead of the mail room at the Houston VARO, where many envelopes go in, and some are never seen again. I really wish they had a realtime C-File component to eBenefits though, so that a veteran could actually review his/her C-File whenever they wanted with no wait or drive, and could see what is really there and what isn't. Have a great weekend! Mark

I'd say that you're right. Sounds like they are on the brink, and feel that a buddy letter or two might push the wall down. Good luck! Mark

Maybe back up a minute and go get a good IME/IMO, then take a run back at them with the new data, plus citing the rating errors. That might break things loose for you. Good luck and don't give up! Mark

Thanks!

Still has that fresh "new medal smell". Mark

Final update and I'll quit pestering y'all about this! My Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster and an "N" Device arrived in the mail today from the AFPC at Randolph AFB here in Texas. Peace out! Mark

Going on 5 years and 2 months......the clock keeps on ticking..... but it's ticked a lot longer for many other veterans out there, so I bide my time by making sure I tie off all loose lines with my claims. Btw....mine has been sitting at "Pending Decision Approval" since they blocked the Appeals page on eBenefits while under construction. I chalk it up to the eBenefits gremlins, and don't take much as fact on there. Therefore, I'll just stand by.....to stand by..... Mark

If you chose to allow your local VARO to review your case, it'll be there and take a good year or so probably. If you opted to waive local review, it'll run up the chain to the BVA I think. You might want to get a copy of your most updated C-File and then hit the NPRC up for all the records that they have as well to make sure you have all the documentation possible. Then maybe get a good IME/IMO done to backup your condition claims and get the report to the VA as soon as possible. Good luck! Mark