UsmcSGTVet

I personally had a success using my congressman. As soon as I wrote him I was facing eviction and extreme financial hardship my claim was flagged congressional inquiry within 1 week. I also sent supporting documents. My claim was at the 18 month mark with it being in prep for decision for 7 months of that time. They had no intention of deciding it any time soon. Once they received the evidence along with the congressional letter my claim was sent to St. Louis to be expedited. Within 1 month I had a decision and retro pay. My success is not the standard, but it did work for me. Its your claim no one elses keep on them and don't settle for the scripted responses they give. Demand answers use every resource available to you. Contact a Vet Rep. Contact your congressman again.

I was going crazy waiting for my claim. Checking ebenefits to much, sending IRIS messages just living my life all for my claim. So I started fishing. It took my mind off of it and focused my energy getting ready to fish and reading whatever I could about the type of fish I wanted to catch and type of lures to use. I went and scouted locations to fish and talked to people about how they were catching them. The next thing I knew I hadn't checked into my claim for almost a month. Just sitting on the dock fishing and BSing with other fisherman I became friends with 2 other VETS. I think having that in common with them made it more comfortable. The best part for me is the old timers talking about the old days. Go fish tell your stories to the young guys I bet they would like to hear about your experiences. Maybe fishing isn't your thing but give it a shot you might find it relaxing. It worked for me and now I'm catching dinner and making new friends in the process.

DVET, There really isn't a time frame. Some get done in 12 months some could take 3 years. Depends on what your claim consists of and whos doing it. I waited about 18 months then asked for congressional help. When you asked for an expedite did you send evidence supporting your financial hardship? Eviction, bankruptcy, homelessness ect...? I'm not saying all that will work for you because I don't know the specifics of your claim but it did work for me. Do you have a rep? I also contacted the wounded worrior regiment and they gave me a No BS assesment. There active duty marines and its probably the best information I received.

Carlie, It was flagged congressional then sent to St.louis RO from Pittsburgh to be expedited. Pittsburgh had no intention of settling it anytime soon. Not until I asked my congressman to get involved was it the then handled faster.

A decision has been made after 19 months. Checked AB8 100% combined rating. Couldn't have come at a better time, I was down to my last $35 till the first of June. I'm a firm believer of using the congressman. He made an inquiry April 2, 2012 then my claim was tagged congressional and was pushed through. Also requested hardship with evidence of eviction on April 18, 2012. Wish claims moved this fast in the first place.

Go to your local VA hospital release of information office. Ask them for all your progress notes from certain date to certain date, treatment records and so on. I've done it a couple times and it takes like a week to get them. That's my experience.

If the exam doc told me that I'd ask for another doc or for them to show me a regulation. I'd probably laugh a little also.

Sleeper, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/24/health/policy/24veterans.html?pagewanted=all

You can file for tdiu at any time. The wait times are different for everyone. It could be 6 months or 3 years. Depends on the VARO and what there workload is. Simply having 70% does not mean you will get tdiu. For whatever service connected disabilities you have the comp exam doctor needs to state you are unemployable. The fact your employed at this time sure wont help you. There going to see you can maintain gainful employment. I wouldn't count on getting a tdiu rating your first go around and quit your job. Many have waited years for there benefits. Mine has been going since October 6, 2010. This is just my experience and I'm sure you will get more info from the people here. PTSD 50% Disks 20% Shoulder dislocation 10% Left lower extremity neurological involvement. 10% hiatel hernia 10%

Ya ebenefits is not always up to date and peggy usually never has the right information. Since your letter generator says you were awarded 40% it seems to me a little win. You will have to wait till they send you there reasoning for such decision then you may need to file a NOD if you don't agree with it.

What was your service connected percentage before Jan 24, 2011? Do you have a Rep? Dav, VFW, American legion?

Update: Recieved this IRIS April 25, 2012: Thank you for your inquiry to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) dated April 5, 2012. The information you have requested is not available through our electronic system, as the Congressman’s correspondence is Special Controlled Correspondence. We do not know what the Congressman requested. We do show, however, that your claim, received on October 6, 2010 is currently awaiting a decision by our rating activity. A rating specialist will review it to make sure we have everything we need. If we determine additional information is needed, we will contact you. If we have everything we need, we will prepare a decision on your claim. The Decision Phase is completed on most claims onaverage in 70 days. Your claim’s Decision Phase began April 24, 2012. The length of time it takes to complete the Decision Phase depends on several factors, such as the type of claim filed, the number of disabilities you claimed, and VA’s pending workload. A claim may take longer in this phase based on the specifics of your claim. Your claim file was sent to St Louis Regional Office for completion. Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below. Sincerely yours, Donovan W. Thompson National IRIS Response Center Manager ogm Temporary Office of Jurisdiction: St. Louis In an effort to expedite the processing of your claim, we have temporarily sent your folder to a different Regional Office that will have authority over this specific claim only. Does anyone one have any input on this change of events? How is the St. Louis RO on getting claims through in a timely matter? Does sending my claim from Pittsburgh RO to St. Louis mean bad things or are they actually trying to decide this claim?

Update: Recieved this IRIS April 25, 2012: Thank you for your inquiry to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) dated April 5, 2012. The information you have requested is not available through our electronic system, as the Congressman’s correspondence is Special Controlled Correspondence. We do not know what the Congressman requested. We do show, however, that your claim, received on October 6, 2010 is currently awaiting a decision by our rating activity. A rating specialist will review it to make sure we have everything we need. If we determine additional information is needed, we will contact you. If we have everything we need, we will prepare a decision on your claim. The Decision Phase is completed on most claims onaverage in 70 days. Your claim’s Decision Phase began April 24, 2012. The length of time it takes to complete the Decision Phase depends on several factors, such as the type of claim filed, the number of disabilities you claimed, and VA’s pending workload. A claim may take longer in this phase based on the specifics of your claim. Your claim file was sent to St Louis Regional Office for completion. Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below. Sincerely yours, Donovan W. Thompson National IRIS Response Center Manager ogm Does anyone one have any input on this change of events? How is the St. Louis RO on getting claims through in a timely matter? Does sending my claim from Pittsburgh RO to St. Louis mean bad things or are they actually trying to decide this claim?

Ya its terrible there isn't 1 size fits all for these RO's. If you look at the monday morning report some are doing well and others just fall short. You'd think the bad ones would take pointers from the good ones. To many kings and not enough soldiers. http://www.vba.va.gov/REPORTS/mmwr/index.asp

John, Yes Im going for TDIU. My comp exams in March 2011 went very well. Shrink says TDIU makes me unempoyable both physical and sedentary. Along with my shoulder dislocation, right lower extremity neurological involvement and bulging disks are "as at least likey as not" render me unemployable both physical and sedentary work. My claim is well documented and plenty of complaining to the docs about wait times. Most the time it falls on a deaf ear but nothing much you can do about that. DAV wasn't any help I'm switching to MOPH once the form takes 6 months to process.