deville905

Out!

Out!

SUCCESS!

Today I received an email from the Houston RO advising me that my claim was now complete. And as such I would be receiving $XXXX in retroactive pay and that my rating was adjusted up to XX%. Suffice to say I was an emotional wreck upon receiving this, but that was a two-fold reaction. First and foremost I was elated to know my case was finished. But I unfortunately had it stuck in my head that my rating was going to be back dated much further, thus garnering a much higher retroactive amount. And this is when my fingers kicked in before my brain had time to double check my math.

I quickly responded with an email (which cc'd Allison and a few other people) asking the Houston RO to check their math and to include bilateral computations in their formula. I was polite in my request but in my haste I included some erroneous data.

About ten minutes later I noticed my error in my response and sent a second email correcting that mistake. Again I was polite, but stuck in my head was this retroactive amount that I thought was correct.

I then started to look at my stack of documents and doing the math one last time...and I should have done this first. The VA math was correct! Argghhh...so here I had sent off two emails asking them to double check their work and they were correct all along.

So off goes my THIRD email in about two hours...telling them that they were correct in their math and I fully agreed with their findings. Suffice to say I feel like an ass. After all this time and now with Allison's support I was given an answer. But instead of simply accepting what they provided me (which was correct) I allowed my emotions to control the situation...damn PTSD and my impulse control! So now instead of looking like a grateful vet who was appreciative of what Allison did for me, I may have come across as an unappreciative ass. I apologized profusely in my last email, but still can't shake this feeling of appearing both stupid and ungrateful for her support.

In the end, my email to Allison worked. It took less than one month from initial contact to resolution. For me this ending is bittersweet though. While my rating is finally corrected after three years and I am receiving the correct amount of retroactive pay, I suddenly find myself feeling guilty for how I came across in two hastily sent emails. I wasn't rude at all...in fact my tone was rather professional. But I still feel as though I could have handled this ending to my three year wait much better.

So for those that are thinking of contact Allison...you need to do it! She really does care about us and will help you get the right answer.

Your right everyone. One point to add that my SRO (American Legion rep) has still to this date never contacted me to give me an update on my claim or anything. No help what-so-ever!!! Point raised, that if you want your claim to suceed, you have to do the leg work and keep up on things or it will fall to the wayside.

Thanks,
Eric

Deville905, I say keep it short. One sentence. No evidence. She's not going to review your case, you just want to make her aware that you have been waiting x y z days long. Basically, "Hi, I'm a 10 year veteran, my va claim has been held up since 2009, with no movement in ebenefits since jan 2014, I would love to get a status update - please help! Something like that. :)

Good luck to you!

I'm preparing my email tonight and I figure I need to catch her or him in the first two sentences of a minimum of three or four paragraphs. I even thought of sending attachment of my evidence, but that may be too much time and involved on their end. Any suggestions?

Out

Out

Out

UPDATE: after emailing Ms. HICKEY I received a letter 2 days later from the head of the oakland ro stating she'd have her experts look into my claim and expedite it and roughly an hour later I checked ebennies which now reflects my 100% rating will be receiving my retro in a matter of days.

Wow Allison Strikes again!!! Great news!! Congrats!!

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I originally talked with a lawyer and was told that I should try to get IMOs to support my claims. They instructed me to file an NOD with DRO review. If the DRO denies my claims, then they would assist on the BVA appeal route. The NOD/DRO route was my last chance to try to get my case resolved prior to going into the vacuum of the BVA.

I submitted an NOD and requested a DRO review that included rock solid IMO's from specialist doctors. It took a little less than 2 years for me to get my DRO appointment in 2013. I actually had a really good DRO and was surprised when they said that the previous denials should have never happened because the raters made stupid decisions. The DRO found in my favor on all claims. There is not a guarantee that a DRO will grant all claims, but they are supposed to apply a new set of eyes on the evidence.