traveler

Sounds good to me.....let's get this thing going! :)

UPDATE: 3 days ago my claim went to "Review of Evidence". It was in "Gathering Evidence" 33 days. Strange that they pushed it to the review stage without doing a C+P. I have heard that sometimes they will process a claim without a C+P if they believe the documentation is sufficient. About 2 weeks ago, I went in and talked to my VSO, and asked them if they could look into the status of my FDC. She made a call right there on the spot, and told me it was still being worked. About 2 days later I got a letter from VA Compensation stating sorry for the delay, your file is actively being worked, then a week after that I was pushed forward, as I stated, to the Review Phase. Now, I understand they can move it back, and possibly will, when they see a C+P(s) haven't been done, but who knows?

Gastone..... OSA 2 years before retirement......I have SEVERE OSA, VA did sleep study and titration same night....woke me up at midnight and put mask on, 37 episodes an hour!!!!....I am reliant on CPAP.....supposed to be 50% just for that. Ok so RO is regional office....what is " RI" ??

what is an "RO" ? If it is in my records, and I have the condition, I don't see how they can say "no it isn't there".

my quotes for completion range from 106 days to 10 months. A FDC is "supposed" to be fast....

I hear ya.......I claimed 10 items, one is knee, another is PTSD and GAD, the other "biggie" is sleep apnea, diagnosed at a VA hospital...then I have some other stuff...but everything is DOCUMENTED and it is plainly clear I was in the service at that time.

yeah, I'm just venting.....I get it now. Thanks for your service, hope you feel better....at least you have money coming in.......appointments are just an inconvenience for you now....for me, I need the money to live, quite frankly.

I get it. It's hurry up and wait time again :) That said, I did a FDC and went to great lengths so the pot bellied fella at the VA in his cubicle didn't have to get up and do anything....I did all the work for them! Therefore my claim should be easy as pie. I wish I could go get him a cup of coffee or something to get on his good side to get this darn thing done! C+P in my situation is frankly a waste of time.....it is in my records, and anyone with a brain KNOWS I'm not going to go in there and tell them it miraculously went away! "does your knee still hurt?" ..."yes"..."ok thanks for coming in". The raters are required to do so many records, and it is tracked....Hell, I made it easy for the guy!

thanks again

I claimed 10 issues. Every one is clearly recorded in my service medical records. I reviewed the VA checklist to ensure that I made note of the "key words" found in the VA's checklists. I am trying to remain positive, the few people I know that went through the process here it went through easily, but took TIME. In fact my sleep study, titration study and subsequent CPAP use for OSA was all done by the VA.

Berta, yes my VSO is my POA

Okay tanks again. I have a complete copy of my medical records, and everything I have claimed is in the records, so the only way the rater won't see it, is if they don't REALLY look for it....if they just quickly skim through them, I could see where they might miss something, but even then, I think the 10 items I have claimed should be suitably documented. I'll feel much better once the C+P visits are over. I have talked to a few guys that filed here in South Dakota and their claims went through without issue. I went with a FDC because I was told by my VSO the B.D.D. claims weren't working as planned. Thanks again.

thanks. Oh yeah, my medical records and the records from the VA hospital, which I made sure were in my medical records state "Severe Sleep Apnea"...and 37 events per hour on the sleep study performed. That said, I don't easily trust anyone. irritating that the County VSO would say the average is 106 days start to finish, then the State rep would say no, a lot longer. What the hell?

thanks. Yeah, I called the VA hospital and talked to the ladies who set up the C+P appts and they have "nothing" on me....so what does THAT mean?

Thanks, guys. I am due to send my SD chip from my CPAP in to the VA hospital for them to do their annual adjustment. I also have a Dr. appointment with the VA clinic. I just don't understand how some are getting denied, if they have it I ntheir records.....maybe they don't, as we only hear the part of the story that we're told, huh? FDC's are supposed to be fast as, I the vet, am essentially stating "this is all I have", or so my VSO told me. So, why the holdup?

I recently retired from the Air Force after 22 years. First 11 in the Army, second 11 in the Air Force. 3X combat vet, 12 deployments..45 years old and worn out. I have already sent in my FDC, it was received on 8 August and, according to EBenefits it is "gathering evidence". so my questions are: How can I keep my claim from being denied? I have OSA (sleep apnea) and have had it since 2012......it was done at a VA hospital and they did both the sleep study and the 2nd part where they put the mask on and up the pressure until I stopped having symptoms....sent me home with a resmed S9 and things got really good! No more falling asleep at 1300 hours. I have been told since I am reliant on a CPAP, I'll get 50%...but then I read about some guys getting denied! I've lost 30+ pounds since retirement, but my CPAP is still registering me needing it, so I would THINK they won't order another sleep study.... Can I expect that my C+P Doctor (my C+P's will be at the VA hospital) will try to trick me and try to negate everything I have claimed? everything I have claimed is in my medical records..... I have been counting on this disability as part of my retirement income, but I am so stressed about it, I'm thinking I should just not count on getting anything. Problem is.....I deserve the compensation! I did a FDC with 10 items, and all are documented in my medical records....so if they reject my claim, I guess the only thing to do is appeal and hire an attorney which will put me in debt for who knows how long. Any of you guys that have been through this and can tell me about it, I would really appreciate it. Having GAD and PTSD, all this extra crap to worry about is turning me into a shaking, nervous wreck! Not to mention dealing with a system where the VA staffers seem to be in no hurry at all to do anything. Really sucks.

Thanks. By the way, what is a "WAG" ??

I retired 1 August. MY FDC was received by VA 8 August. My county VSO told me that here in South Dakota, FDC are being finished within 106 days. SO, I am on vacation, and waiting for a call for a C+P. I called Hot Springs, which is where they said my C+P would be conducted, and they told me they have NOTHING on me. So, I called and talked to h State VSO, and she told me it would be a LONG,LONG time before all is said and done, and that my C+P's could be out as far as January or February !! Lastly, I go on to e-benefits, and my claim is under "gathering evidence". Why would they need to gather evidence, if I sent in a FULLY DEVELOPED claim ???? 10 items, and every single one is plain as day in my Military medical records If I don't get a C+P before January, I think I may have to get a congressman involved. Opinions?

I'm being told my C+P will be conducted at Hot Springs, SD VA Hospital. Has anyone here been there for their C+P???? if so, how did it go? Thanks,