blazer1996

I think Meg is right...We tend to paint with a pretty wide brush with some of this criticism. Good VSOs should be applauded for their work. Having said that, I'll tell you my story. Filed my original claim for heart disease in 2010 and got 60%. I was happy. Over the past 18 months my condition has worsened considerably, so I decided to file for an increase. I called the local AL office that had processed my original claim and was told that I was lucky to have 60% and that I would be risking a decrease if I filed another claim. I filed anyway. on my own. So, one evening I'm having a cocktail with some acquaintances when the subject of the VA comes up. One of the ladies at the table said that she was a volunteer VSO for DAV. I'll cut to the chase...She provided me with invaluable advice and an occasional push in the right direction. But, I decided that no one knew more about my claim that I did. My volunteer friend was great, but had absolutely no impact on my claim. She would tell you that herself. The local DAV office was even more negative than the AL knucklehead I talked to in the first place. I visited their office twice and both trips were a waste of gasoline. I got the award that I asked for because I personally hand-carried every piece of evidence that I needed...I made the trips to the doctor offices and to the hospitals to pick up records...I won because I knew more about ischemic cardiomyopothy than either the VA or DAV will ever know. If I had lost there would be no one to blame but me. If your claim is important to you and I'm sure that it is, you have to make it happen. No one else is hurt if you are denied but you and your family. As you can see from all the other posts, finding a good VSO is not easy. Don't use that as an excuse for not doing your own homework.

OK, got my BBE yesterday, only it was white, not brown. Good thing I didn't throw it away. I got 100% and I am obviously very happy...Thanks for all the advice and encouragement I got from fellow vets. HOWEVER, I am pretty sure they "hosed" me when they figured my retro. I'm almost afraid to ask... Do I have to file a NOD to get that fixed?

Its always something...My rating decision was made on the 4th. I am pretty sure that I even know what it is...But now I have to wait for all those protectors of my findamental rights at the VA to come back to work to get the official word. That's OK, its been 13 months, another couple of days (or weeks) won't hurt, much.

I have worked with a local, unpaid volunteer VSO who has been great. She has given me good advice, shown real concern and is generally someone I can trust. The paid VSOs at the local DAV office have been totally useless. I am controlling and very impulsive by nature, so I have done 95% of the work on my claim myself. Its unfortunate, but if you are relying on ANYONE else to make it happen for you, you are in danger of being left at the gate. YOU have to be YOUR advocate. Think about it this way...When the BBE hits the mailbox and the check hits your bank account, you are the hero, because you knew your claim better than anyone else. That's the way it should be. Good luck... OK, so now I have a question...Will the VA recognize anyone other than the service orgs as rep for a claimant? My guess is NO, but I don't know for sure. Thanks.

I agree free_spirit, dead is the ultimate disability. A big part of my case was a "near death" experience in May of last year. It not only damn near killed me, but it exacerbated my condition to the point where my claim became a no-brainer. And, it still took more than a year to get a decision.

It is also appropriate for me to disclose that my SC is ischemic heart disease. Its pretty cut and dried. You either have it or you don't. I very obviously have it and I have it badly enough that it is disabling. So, my problem was not a disagreement about my condition, it was more about getting someone to get off their bureaucratic ass and process my claim. I have real empathy for claimants who are in a "contest" with VBA about the nature or the source of their disability. I don't have that problem.

There is a BIG difference between having a number of legitimate ailments for which one is seeking compensation, and just listing everything you can think of, throwing it against the wall, and hoping something will stick. That is where "BE RIGHT" comes in. Its about credibility. If your claim is not credible, neither are you. Do a little homework...try to objectively look at your own claim in the same way that others will look at it. On another topic...I love your sig...THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!

Plenty of good advice here, but if I have come away with one thing it would be this. Asknod is soooo right. If you can find any way to get INVOLVED in your claim, you should do it. Yes, stick your face in there and make something happen. I know that everyone in the system does whatever they can to keep you out of the process, but you have to persist. If you have a VSO who couldn't pick you out of a line-up and thinks that PTSD means pass the sugar donuts...GET A NEW VSO. The recent backlog and acompanying excuses for poor service have made it too easy for SO's to just parrot the "party line". "Be patient", they will tell you. I was patient for 364 days with my claim. On day 365 I did something radical. It may have had absolutely no impact whatsoever on my claim, but it sure as hell made me feel better. It made me feel that I was involved in MY CLAIM. And, It got someone's attention. Four days after I took personal responsibility for my claim I was contacted by VBA in DC. Four days after that, I had a decision. (Yes, I can document what I just said) My method will not work for everyone. And, there is nothing at all to make me think that my "contact" with VBA was of any help at all in influencing the final decision I got. But, I felt better. I felt like I was "in the game", not sitting on the sidelines. I agree with Asknod that there is little chance that anyone is going to throw your C-File in a dumpster just because you ask for a copy of it. Do what you can to make them get it right the first time. I'm 67 years old and in poor health...I don't have time to let them fart around for another year trying to get it right. One more piece of free advice (that means you get what you pay for). BE RIGHT. If you are one of those folks who has 14 claims pending and little chance of proving any of them, I wish you nothing but good luck, but YOU are your worst enemy. Don't be a crackpot, because unfortunately, they also, IMO get "someone's attention". Special thanks to the three "elders" on this site who told me I needed my head examined for contacting VBA the way I did concerning my claim. Please send me an email address and I will send you a dated copy of my rating decision. Sometimes, desperate times call for desperate measures. And, Yes I did read the book.

My status on ebenefits changed today from "Preparing to Screw You" to "You're Screwed, Just Waiting For Someone to sign off on it". THAT IS PROGRESS! I'll keep you posted.

Good question...What is explorer? and, where do we find it? Glad to hear the PHX office is still open...My clain got farmed out to Wichita...They don't even have Sundays in Kansas.

Thanks Berta...sounds like good advice. The "they" in my post is the Administrator of the VA Hospital where the C&P was done. The MD who did the exam is a cardiologist...That is the part that makes me wonder what is happening. We'll start tomorrow lining up our ducks for the skirmish to come...

Got my letter back this week...Appeal denied. Tech who did the test estimated EF at 30-35. Cardiologist viewed results of the same test and estimated EF at 24. Guess which opinion they decided to believe? They did invite me to appeal to the Counsel General's Office in DC. How thoughtful of them...

Had a C&P exam at a VA hospital in connection with a request for increase based on worsening condition. (Heart Disease) The doctor took all of about 15 minutes to do the "exam" and appears to have based most of his findings on evidence provided by two cardiologists that have treated me in the past. Most significant evidence is a echocardiogram done by my MD that reports that I have an ejection fraction in the low 20's. C&P doc had that report and quoted from it using the date of the report and my doctor's name. Then he said that my e-fraction was in the 30-35 range. I went to the RO a spoke to them as soon as I saw the report. They were less than helpful. The VSO at the DAV was useless and just mouthed the company line about how long "things" are taking, please be patient, etc. Patient advocate at the VA hospital was also less than helpful and passed my inquiry to the FOIA officer. FOIA sent me a letter explaining that my request for a correction has been "forwarded". All that happened in June and July...Its August 15 now. Anything else I can do? I'm looking for advice. Thanks