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.

This is the second time I've used congressional help, and the first time there was a decision on my claim by the time I recieved a response back from the congressman. 18 months is a long time if you take in to account everyones wait time. Now there are some that can say wow 18 months isn't a long time. But if you think the majority of claims are over 18 months then post a link or some sort of statistics. Yes a large amount are over 125 days does not mean 540 days theres a big difference. My claim is not special to where it should be in Prep for decision for 7 months. Its ridiculous and if you don't think you should contact your congressman or senator then how will the VA ever take your complaints serious. Who else is looking out for you. I'd invite you to tell Senator Patty Murray that no one cares, I'm sure she would disagree with you. Out of site out of mind is exactly what the VA lives by.

-Claim started October 2010 went to prep for decision September 2011. -March 16, 2012 Sent Congressman inquiry, VA has been prepping a response since April 17. -Faxed financial hardship request with evidence of eviction on April 16, 2012. Little over 18 months and still waiting. - April 24, 2012 Called the VA 1-800 number and verified they had recieved everything and they did. Talked with a nice lady there and she said Congressman inquiries do help and she gave first hand knowledge of how the RO's do take such inquiries serious and it does get them asking questions of why its taking so long. Just an update of whats happening with me so crossing my fingers with the eviction notice and congressmans inquiry that some movement will take place soon. PTSD- 50% Right shoulder dislocations- 20% L4-L5, L5-S1 - Buldging disks- 10% Neurologic involvement lefter lower extremity- 10% Hiatel hernia- 10% 70% Total

Put your ratings into this calculator and it will give your combined rating. http://www.hadit.com..._calculator.php

Just plug your ratings in and it will tell you. 4 and below they round down 5 and above they round up. http://www.hadit.com/service_connected_disabilities_rating_calculator.php/

IRIS message. Thank you for your inquiry to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) dated April 5, 2012. Please accept this response as an answer to your inquiries # 120412-002051 and # 120410-000701. We received your claim on October 6, 2010. Your claim 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 on average in 70 days. Your claim’s Decision Phase began September 23, 2011. 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. 203 days 3 times the so called average. Im starting to get angry

Congrats!! Which VARO and when did you submit your claim?

Read this on VAwatchdogtoday.org: Has Your Claim Been Delayed? Would You Share The Story? Your Vawatchdog is working with a journalist from a major news reporting source about the backlog of claims at the VA. This is your opportunity to tell your story to a nationally known news source. Has the delay hurt your family? Harmed your credit? Has it left your angry and frustratd? Is the VA helping you by expediting your claim? Email me at jim912@gmail.com and lets talk. I'm going to tell my story and I ask if you feel comfortable to do so also. This may be an opportunity to take our gripes national and bring maybe a little attention to the problem.

Welcome The most important thing you can do at this point is start preparing for the worse and hope for the best. Make sure you have copies of everything in your medical record because once you get out it takes to much time to request copies. If I were you I would start looking for a Veteran service officer and explain your situation to them. They will be more than happy to guide you through the process and better explain all the benefits you will be entitled to. You will also find very good people here to help try and answer your questions. I was surprised on how big of a support group is out there for us and alot of them have had similar experiences. Your not alone. Just remember no one will care about your claim as much as you do. Try to keep the frustration to a minimum. It seems to always work out in the end. PTSD- 50% Right shoulder dislocations- 20% L4-L5, L5-S1 - Buldging disks- 10% Neurologic involvement right lower extremity- 10% Hiatel hernia- 10% 70% Total

What regional office was your claim at?

Sent a form in support of claim stating all evidence was submitted and ready to be rated. That was sent 2 months ago. DAV is my POA and didn't hear anything from them till today when I called them. They told me it was assigned to a rater but had no date of when that happened. 18 months and counting.