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Found a VA blog by VA C & P section. They had an article where they were patting themselves on back for reducing claims. My self and many other vets complained that this was more smoke and mirrors. Do a Google search for VA blog, and select the .gov one. Interesting reading, but b.s. as usual. Does anyone else follow this VA blog?, or is a waste of time? VAvantage Point is name of the blog. Got an email today from the 2 moderators, seems Ms. Hickey read my comments and wanted to hear my story. I responded that I contacted her in Feb. 15, but still on the hamster wheel. Will post the response.

I discovered that eBenefits has a link to DPRIS- Defense Personal Records Information System. You must have level 2 access to get information from this system. What is level 2? This means you have a DS log on with DEERS and have completed the necessary steps to get Premium level 2 access. How do you know if you have this Level 2 access? Log into eBenefit and check the various tool bars. If you see a tiny (p) icon this means you have level 2 access or sometimes called Premium access. Used it to download most of my military records, repeat most as the record is somewhat incomplete in my case due to times in state Reserves. Note the attachment for further info on DEPRIS and the dates that various service branches have uploaded their files to this system. DPRIS.docx

The fact that you were diagnosed with moderate pulmonary htn is a key. Pulmonary htn leads to hypertensive heart disease, which is what the VA rated me on when I file my claim for aggravated htn. I am on my tablet now, but tomorrow I will up load a key email from my cardio doc that connects htn to heart disease. Disregard, you have 100% rating, but you may be entitled to more, did not read your last post entirely. Congrats!!

What is the number to the OIG hotline?

Got a reponse today from IRIS today. DOMA does not mean what we thought. Recently you requested assistance from VA. Below is our response. If you wish to reopen this issue, you may do so within the next 14 days. Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you. Response By Email (Department of Veterans Affairs) (08/05/2015 05:14 PM) Mr. XXX This is in response to your recent inquiry dated 8/3/2015 asking what it means when your file is notated "DOMA". In your case, you submitted VAF 21-4142a on 7/23/2015 via eBenefits. This was your request asking us to obtain records from Baptist Hospital, Dr Jerry Chandler and Dr. Ian Weisberg. A VA contractor, DOMA Technologies, assists numerous VA Regional Offices in obtaining these records from non-VA providers. So in your case, on 8/1/20154, a request was sent to DOMA asking them to request the records you asked us to obtain in support of your claim or appeal. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us at our National Call Center between 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM EST and an agent would be glad to answer them. Thank you for your service. Columbia SC VA National Call Center The bad news is that I sent this form telling the VA that I did not have any more information to submit. Nowhere did I tell the VA to contact these people. This just kicks my case further down the road. Guess I will have to call Peggy again!!

Forgot, I did ask them to query the SC Dept of Military Affairs for my military records as the SCARNG refuses to respond to my certified mail requests! Just never thought of it as DOMA

Got an email today from IRIS: Thank you for your July 11, 2015 inquiry regarding your Notice of Disagreement (NOD) and appeal. The records of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reflect that we received your NOD on April 26, 2015. An appeal has been established and we are still processing your appeal. Currently there are 24,052 appeals pending and 21,198 appeals filed prior to yours. In addition, we continue to process your appeal associated with your October 7, 2013 Notice of Disagreement; this appeal has 5,866 filed prior to yours. Appeals are worked in order based on the date the appeal was received and the processing time may be affected by the time it takes to acquire evidence. Due to our current inventory we cannot provide a timeline as to when the claim may be completed. All appeals are processed as promptly as possible. 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, RO Director VA Regional Office This better than the old 377 days and counting, but outlook is still bleak. At this rate it will be another year before my Appeal/NOD of 7 October will reach the front of the que. I am # 5,867. Wonder about how many appeals does this VARO (St. Petersburg) process each month/year?

Thanks Hamslice, I think this is DMA. Did not think of it that way

My problem is lack of patience. Must learn to be patient with VA, and everyone else!

I would like to comment on the Federal governnment going paperless. I worked for the DoD for 30 years and in last 5 years we were told to not keep any files over 120 days. We had to buy an industrial size shredder to shred all the files. Hope they do not need them in future!! BTW: This was Air Force. Did this save any time or money? Hell no! We had to document everything electronically and upload on servers, which can crash! Maybe in long run will save a few trees, but not save time or manpower. JMHO

Well, I scanned this and uploaded for the DRO review team to see, as they are probably the ones that took this action. Delay, Delay and hope they die. Maybe I should send Ms. Hickey another email. The only thing my 3 emails to her has accomplished is my claim is now further down the road. We know that the VA is a fine upstanding federal organization that does not act in vindictive manner and does not retaliate against Vets for sending Ms. Hickey an email . Wait, they would do this to their own employees, what in hell will they do to the Vets? Answer: Anything they want to as they are omnipotent!!!!! (above the wrath of man!) Back on the hamster wheel.

Good morning fellow Vets! Just saw this yesterday on my list of disabilities. Clicked on one and saw this message: • Request 2 Due Date: 08/31/2015 Status: Needed From: Not Available DOMA What is DOMA? I know that it means Defense of Marriage Act, in some circles. What in the heck doe this have to do with my claim. It is listed on each of my pending disabilities.

I use one password for eBenefits and there is a folder under manage health care for my health eVet. No separate password needed. You do not need two separate passwords, that is the old way

A simple letter revoking the POA that you gave to this service organization is all that is required. The VA accepted this from me in 2012. The statements this rep made to you are BS in my humble opinion, in desire to keep you as client. I would revoke this VSO immediately, but this is just my opinion. You are your own best advocate, and use Hadit for questions AND help!

Shut down for another "new" update. Hell, they shut the system down most weekends for system maintenance, someone is getting rich off this contract, I.e. weekend work is usually ot.

Thought about this as well. Nashville VARO is much better than my BLACK HOLE I.e. St. PETERSBURG, imho:)

True, if rater does not like the c&p opinion, can ignore it and request another exam, DEVELOP TO DENY is what this is called. Is it legal? No, but we vets are facing a beaucratic nightmare in trying to get our claims fairly rated, just does not happen.

It took me over one year via FOIA and going to OGC to get my c-file, and still was missing key documents.

What about a copy of your points for the year. I know that USAFR has a record of your IDT, AD, and ADT. The points record lists the dates and what type of status you were in, sure that other branches of Reserves have similar records. The challenge is knowing how to get these records. For USAFR, contact HQARPC, Denver, Colorado, check Google for correct address.

Correction, I had not looked at this map in years. It is actually CL 46 (Thailand) and CL 47 (Northern Philippines), and is USAF marked RESTRICTED. Not sure how he got it or why-but my wife is from Phillipines. Wonder if it is valuable? The phrase book is dated 4 April 1966 and is titled "A Pocket Guide to Viet Nam" It is in new condition. This may bring back memories to those who served in Vietnam. I did not, as was still in high school until June 1968, then went to college until drafted in July 1972. My brother served 2 tours as combat medic over there.

I have a silk flyers scarf map of Vietnam, along with new Viet phrase book. These belonged to my wife's ex- who was a Navy pilot. I will try and scan it. Very unusual map.

If you do not get green cardback in one week, take your receipt and go to USPS web site and input number, should tell you when VA received it. Then take your little green receipt to your local post office and ask them to print out who signed for it. Works for me. BTW, Newnan Ga intake center just stamps the green card, no signature, but you can follow as noted above and find out who signed fot the letter/package.

Bluevet, I am not aware of a DRO review process letter. Sounds like another form letter. They should have acknowledged your NOD and request for DRO review, not a letter explaining the process. I have appeal for DRO review since 7 Oct. 2013, so depends on your RO caseload. In my case, St. PETERSBURG VARO only has 20 people assigned to the DRO team, and thousands of claims on appeal. Good Luck. Contact the RO again and ask where you are in review que, if they will tell you.

I got an interim payment of 75% of regular retirement in less than 60 days. Then it took OPM about 7 months b4 got final pay many people complain that they get much less in the interim pay, than they expected. I am CSRS, but FERS retirees can expect same interim pay. Glad I had prepared and had 421 hours of AL to sell back. It is worse than calling VA to reach the toll-free OPM retirement services call center. Good luck on your retirement.

Latest update on my most recent email to Ms. Hickey: Received an email from a Candace Thorpe yesterday. per Linkedin, she is a Senior Claims Examiner with the VACO in D.C. "Allison truly cares about answering your email. She is reading them but has asked her claims team to help expedite your inquiry. We have also included your Regional Office Director. Best Regards, Candace Thorpe" it is truly amazing what you can discover using the Internet. The last time I sent an email to Ms. Hickey, another person on her staff read it. I was intrigued and did a little Internet research. Found out she was Management Analyst with VA and type of car she drives, to include tag number, home address, phone number etc. Wow! So I checked and found out that my personal info is "out" there as well. WTF! All I was trying to find out is who she was and her job title, but the amount of info out there is too much. I surely do not want my personal info available, but it appears that some of this came from DMV.