mistercee32

Hello all, I have a few question that I am trying to get some answers on. First, has anyone have any dealings with Salt Lake City RO? and are they good about getting your claim out in decent time as well as giving you a fair rating? The reason I am asking about them is that upon me preparing for my retirement I did a (quick claim) at my last duty station (FT. Hood, TX) and the WACO RO sent my claims packet to SLC RO to be processed since it was a (quick claim). I transitioned back to my home town in ATL, GA and was wondering how all of this is going to play out. Will they transfer my claims packet to ATL once they complete it or will SLC RO be my office of contact? Second, I am trying to figure out how they will compute my claim with my retirement pay. I took the CSB Redux and it reduced my retirement pay, I am looking at getting between 70% - 90% for my disability. If I get a rating between those %'s, then my claim would be more than my ret pay, and I was wondering how the CDRP would come into play, I retired with 20 yrs active service. Third, I was hospitalized before I retired and after my claim was submitted, how do I go about filling for my hospital surgery after my claim was submitted? Do I file as a new claim or file as an increase to what ever rating I receive? Also, I am currently seeing a private doctor for my medical problems and not being seen by VA, should I apply to the VA medical center here in ATL to be under heir medical care while I await for my claim to be processed? Lastly, can some one take a look at my conditions and give me a rough estimate on what they think I would be rated as. I know this is just an guess, but just trying to see what range of percentage I am . Listed below are my conditions: Sleep Apnea w/CPAP Chronic Sinusitis ED Bi-Lateral Elbow surgery Bi-Lateral Toe surgery Bi-Lateral Knee Strain Bi-Lateral Shoulder Pain Lumbar Spine Hypertension Headaches Right Hip Bone Spur Allergic Rhinitis These are the ones that I have already filed a claim on, I have a few more conditions that needs to be file. If anyone can take a look at those conditions and tell what do they think about them for percentage ratings. I really do appreciate it very much. Here is my timeline from start to now: C&P Exam - 12 Dec 2011 Claim Received - 1 Jun 2012 Terminal Leave from army - 22 Feb 2012 Effective Retirement date - 1 Jun 2012 Ebenifits received DD214 - 31 Jul 2012 21-0820 vocrehab memo rating - 17 Sept 2012 Estimated claim completion date - 09/28/2012 to 01/14/2013 Thanks All.

At first they told me that I couldnt do it until I get a rating from VA, but they also told me since I was doing a quick claim prior to my retiriment (YEAH, RIGHT..QUICK MY BUTT) that all that I would need is a memo of rating if I have a SC condition that is rated 20% or higher. Well one of my conditions is sleep apnea w/CPAP as well as various other painful conditions. They have already done the memo of rating, but I dont know what the rating is. It shows up under my Ebenefits as documents recieved. Since SLC RO has done the memo, I am thinking that I need to file for VOC Rehab thru them. PEGGY from the 800# told me to send it to SLC RO. But like I said how am I to meet with an counselor in SLC if I am APPROVED when I am currently living in ATL, Ga? that is why I am asking should I send the form to ATL RO and have them look it up in the system and work the approval. Thanks, Mistercee32 "Getting close to the end...whenever it comes! Hopefully soon."

Hello all, I have a few question that I am trying to find the answer to. Here goes, I am currently awaiting for my initial disability claim to be processed, started 1 jun 2012. Currently in gathering information stage on Ebenifits. While i am waiting i requested an memo of rating so that I may sign up for Voc Rehab. Upon looking at my ebenifits i noticed that a memo of rating has been done. I havent recieved a copy of this memo though. My question is, if this memo has been done can I request a copy of it? The reason why I am asking this is that I need to know what my rating is so that I can put it on the VA FORM 28-1900. My second question is that my RO is located in Salt lake city and I am currently living in ATL, Ga where would I send the form to? If I send it to salt lake city and is approve for voc rehad how would I meet up with a counselor when I am in GA? Would they transfer the information to GA and I met with a counselor here? or should I send to the RO here in ATL and have them look it up and go from there? I am very confused as to what I need to do at this point. Like I said I am still waiting on my claim to be processed and I dont want to mess myself up on getting it completed quickly. Also I have another question outside of voc rehab. I am currently seeing a private doctor for some of my disability problems that I am claiming. Should I register at the VA hospital to see a doctor under VA so that I can have documentation of seeing a VA doctor for my disabilities? The reason why I am asking this is that If I need to appeal my initial claim or file for an increase they have documentation showing that I have been seeing a VA doctor. Also will tricare pay for me to be seen at the VA hospital? I a retired VET using TRICARE Prime as my medical insurance. These are just a few things I have going on in my mind while I am waiting for my claim to be processed. Do anyone know anything about SLC RO? Are they good about giving a good rating? are they good about processing claims quick? like I said my claim has been in since 1 Jun 2012 and Ebenefits say that it should be done by 14 Jan 2013. Please help with some good promising info on these issues that I have. God bless Mistercee32

Well Dot09. I haven't gotten my rating from VA yet. That is why I requested a memorandum from my RO in Salt Lake City. I am looking at getting anywhere from 70% to 90% (sleep apnea w/cpap, chronic sinusitis, lumbar spine, bilate elbow and foot, and various other disabilities). Ok, I will try and see if I can call my local Voch Rehab here in Atl, GA and make sure that the form is supposed to be sent to them and not Salt Lake City RO where my disibility claim is located. I appreciate your response and help on figuring this thing out. Thanks

Jvretiredvet, you seem like a very wise and intelligent guy. I have a question of my own in regards to CRDP. Right now I am currently waiting on my initial claim to be finished by my RO (Salt Lake City) start date 1 Jun 12. Not really being impatient at all. I know it has to be worked and others are in front of me. I know that I will be rated 50% or more (sleep apnea w/cpap, lumbar spine, bilate elbow and foot surgery and other problems). I am a retired vet with 20yrs active time and is currently receiving retirement pay as of 1 jun 12. My question is if I am getting retired pay and it is less than my disability comp pay how will this effect me in getting CDRP? The reason that I am asking this is that I am looking at getting a rating of about 80% or 90% and either one of those ratings will be more than my retirement pay. what would the math be like in that case? my retired pay is around $1100. If you can help me out on figuring this out I really do appreciate it. Would I be looking at getting both my retire pay and VA Comp pay? Thanks, MIstercee32

Thanks Dot09. You have been most informative. I am gonna try and play it by ear. I just a call from a guy from IRIS on a request that I made for a copy of my c-file and the guy stated that he is going to submit an FOIA to the RO (Salt Lake City) that has my claim and get a copy sent out to me. He then asked me is their anything else that I need and I said hell yeah, lol. I asked him about my memorandum of rating and he stated that the request was sent in to the rater and that it will take a little time. Ok, fair enough I'll give it the time. He then asked me did I fill out a form 28-1900 and I told him no and he said that I should go ahead and fill it out and send the form to the RO that is working my claim and not to the one where I am currently living (Atlanta, GA) because the memorandum will be sent to the salt lake city RO where my claim is at. Do that sound like normal procedure to you? or should I send the 28-1900 to ATL Voch Rehab and tell them to get the memo from salt lake city? Just things on my mind, lol. Thanks

Hey thanks Dot09, I appreciate the response, I think that is the route that I want to take to get an IT degree. Bummer on the not being able to have post 9/11 afterwards. I was hoping that I could use it for an secondary degree in Human Resources. Oh well I guess I cant be greedy, huh. By any chance have you heard anything in regard to a memorandum of rating? like I sated before I spoke to "PEGGY" on the #800 and she knew what I was talking about and was sending a request to my rater while I was on the phone with her. Normally how long does it takes to receive that kind of memo? Just wondering.

Hi all, I have a few questions in regards to Voc Rehab. I am looking to try and apply for voc rehab once my claim is finished being processed. 1. Is it more benificial to do voc rehad or to do post 9/11? 2. If you do voc rehad can you still do post 9/11 after you complete the voc rehab program? 3. I understand that while under the voc rehab program that you are intitled to a monthly stipen, I have heard that their is a new law stating that you can use the post 9/11 stipen amount for your voc rehab stipen, is that true? 4. Also, I have been told that you have to sign up for what ever educational plan the voc counsler choose for you to go into? If so do they have an IT program? because that is the program that I am interested in getting a degree in. This is just a few things that I have on my mind in regards to Voc Rehab, someone please set my mind at ease on this. Oh, I have called VA and requested a memorandun of rating while they work on my claim. Is that possible to recieve? When I spoke to "PEGGY" she knew what I was talking about and sent a request to my rater. (she actually did it while I was on the phone with her). This request was put in last week and I have not gotten anything yet. Is their a certain time line for this type of memo to come to you. Thanks, Mistercee32

Sorry jvretiredvet for the small font. No I didnt request for a VR&E memo rating. I didnt know that you could do that. How do I go about doing that? I am getting kind of bored sitting by the fishing lake all day every day

Well thanks guys, I appreciate the feed back. I am hoping the salt lake RO do me some justice. they told me it takes 11 month from beginning to completion. My claim was submitted back in Dec 2011, but they couldnt start on it until my retirement date, which was 1 jun 2012. Ebenifits has a compltetion date from 8 Dec 2012 to 17 Mar 2013. I'll let it play out and see what happends, until then I am just fishing and trying to find a job. Oh, I know this is a long shot, but do you think they would approve me for VR&E? Just thought I would ask

Hello all, has anyone have any dealings or know of anyone dealing with Salt Lake City RO? My initial claim was initiated through the waco RO when I was preparing for my retirement. I got a letter from WACO RO stating that my claim was transfered to Utah because waco was backlogged. I checked enbenifit and my claim shows that it is in the gathering of evidence phase. It has been in this phase for 3 months. I appreciate any and all information that can be provided if possible. Thanks

Anyone know anything about Salt Lake City, Utah's RO. My claim was transfered to them from WACO, TX. I hope they dont screw me over.

Hello all, I am new to Hadlt.com, so take it easy on me. Here is my story. When I was preparing for my retirement from the service, I was told by a VA rep that was at the retirement breifing that was mandatory for retirees at FT. Hood, TX that I had to attend. They stated that I could do a quick claim for my SC disiabilty and process the claim out of WACO, TX. Well, I scheduled my VA exam with VA medical examiner on base, had the exam and turned in my complete medical file to the VA office on base on 12 DEC 11, they assigned me a VFW Rep as the POA of my claim because I was going to be relocating back to Atlanta, GA as my place of residence. About a week later I recieved a letter from the WACO RO stating that they have recieved my claim and will start processing it. Well in the mean time I signed of for Ebenifits to track my claim. Upon looking at Ebenifits it stated that my claim has been transfered to Salt Lake City, Utah RO. Not understanding what that meant, I contacted my VFW Rep and asked why did my claim get transfered to utah? He stated that waco was backed up and needed to transfer my claim because it was a quick claim and needed to get worked. Thinking that was ok, I statrted to prepare for my terminal Lv on 22 Feb 12 to head back to ATL, Ga. While on my transition Lv I checked Ebenifits and it stated that my claim was in the "Gathering Info Stage" and still is to this date. Also it stated that my claim was recieved on 1 Jun 12 and that the processing time would be from 8 Dec 12 to 7 Mar 13. BUMMER it is a quick claim, why so long? My question is, has anyone ever dealt with the RO in Salt Lake City, Utah? And is those processing time sound about right? Since my claim was recieved by them on 1 Jun 12, would I be expecting retro pay from that date to completion? I am just trying to get some info on Utah's RO and should I be looking to get screwed by them. Sorry for the long post, I am new to this. Thanks to that reply.