Hi everyone, I've been gone for awhile. I just maxed out on facing this stuff after 20 years, and just received two Board decisions yesterday for my husband that immediately jarred me back into it. Anyway, I thought I'd share this with anyone who's interested. In late 2010 or early 2011, I filed a claim with the VARO for my husband who is rated 100% schedular, P & T, with one of his ratings being 60%, another being 50%, plus the others that make up the difference to 100% schedular per the combined ratings table, plus above that, he's got a 50% rating for sleep apnea and a 30% rating for bilateral cataracts (=70%). Almost a year later, I received a VCAA notice from the VARO that basically said they refused to process the claim because my husband is not TDIU. No reasons and bases, no evidence list -- nothing -- and yes, they did it via a VCAA notice. I wrote back stating that this was an improper use of the VCAA notice, but that we were interpreting that as a formal denial, and were filing an NOD with evidence, and a Form 9 for the Board appeal. I asked for an SOC and never got one.
Fast forward to yesterday. We received two separate Board decisions dealing with other claims. In one decision, the Board referenced the SMC(s) claim, stating that the VARO still had it since March 2012, and was unclear as to why the VARO had not yet certified the claim to the Board. Considering the fact that the VARO tried to shut it down via a VCAA notice without evidence or discussion of reasons and bases, I doubt very much they're trying to "develop" the claim. But, it's only been a year and a half, so I figure I'll wait until March of 2014 at the latest, sooner than that if I get the urge to do something else. Is that a reasonable approach? Of course, I can always do a writ petition, but would that be enough time to let pass before the situation becomes unreasonable?
Also -- please remind me, can I submit an IMO to the Board with a request for reconsideration? It would be new evidence. Are reconsiderations at that level running more than 120 days lately? (I've always gone directly to the Court, thought I'd consider a BVA recon for once). That's the most time I'd have after a recon request till I'd have to take it to the Court, anyway, correct?.
If any of you remember me, you may recall I was fighting for 100% schedular from 90% schedular for my husband covering the first ten years of his medical retirement. We've gotten as far back as early 1997, still plugging away for the three years before that. Never give up, never give up!