green

Can I say that I'm actually shocked you were able to get the chat feature to work (you actually chatted with someone instead of getting the "Your inquiry is important to us. If you are trying to reach us within our service hours, we are experiencing a high volume of chats. Please try us again soon" message).

Things have definitely changed. I was admitted to the program in the late 80's, and they paid for a good portion of my college. They were always professional, courteous, and did whatever they could to help. They even helped fund a tutor I needed for one especially difficult class. I was able to secure a job before graduation and have had a good career due to the training I received. It saddens me that they are now playing games with disabled vets who could benefit from the program. Green

It looks good to me, I really appreciate you and this website. I would second Talon II FE's comments. Using Firefox the scrollbar doesn't always load which requires me to leave, clear my history, and come back to the site. Green

Okay, my fully developed claim for 5 secondary conditions was submitted on July 22nd, I know I can't really count on e benefits for accuracy but thought you would all find this interesting. Today e benefits is saying "preparation for decision" with an estimated completion date of 10/08/2015 - 11/14/2015. Green

Okay, thanks everyone. I will ignore the button and see how things progress. Green

Hoping someone with more Ebenefits experience than I have can answer a question. I filed an expedited claim for 5 secondary conditions. According to Ebenefits the status is currently "Under Review". On the Claim Details page there is a block of text with a link or button (don't know for sure because I'm unsure if I should push it) that says: Ask VA to Decide Your Claim You can request to have your claim evaluated as soon as possible, if you have no other documents or evidence to provide VA. VA will evaluate your claim without waiting for additional evidence. I thought this was what I was doing when I submitted the fully developed claim. Am I supposed to click the "Request a Claim Decision" button or link, is the VA waiting to proceed until I click it? I apologize if this is clear to everyone but me. Thank you, Green

According to the Ebenefits website there are three stages of compensation claims. I know better than to count on the data being up-to-date or accurate. According to Ebenefits The 3 phases in the claims process are: Phase Definition Development This is the initial part of the claims process. The claimant is provided information as to what information is needed for the claim and an opportunity to provide or identify any additional evidence to support the claim. All appropriate evidence is gathered and reviewed. Decision All information and evidence are carefully reviewed to ensure we have everything we need to make an informed decision on the claim. If something is missing, the claim returns to the development phase to obtain that missing information. If all the needed evidence is received, a proposed decision will be made. Notification Once the decision is reviewed carefully and approved, a notification letter is sent to the claimant. But apparently this is what you see on Ebenefits: Claim Received Under Review Gathering of Evidence Review of Evidence Preparation for Decision

I believe you Buck, I sent in a request to change my date of award in VA electronic systems as it was saying 2007 instead of 1994. I received a canned response such as those provided above. I immediately sent a message back stating that wasn't acceptable and pointed out that their data was in error. Next thing I know, I got a call. After I explained the situation, the individual gave me his email and I PDF'd him copies of my decision letter and supporting documentation. He later emailed me back and told me the information had been provided to the folks that review such things. I haven't seen a change yet but it has only been a few days since we discussed the issue and I provided the documentation. Green

A couple bills passed in the house today that are interesting. H.R.3236 VA Budget and Choice Improvement Act Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop a plan to consolidate all non-VA provider programs into a new, single Veterans Choice Program to furnish hospital care and medical services at non-VA facilities for veterans in the patient enrollment system. Requires the presidential budget for FY2017 and every ensuing fiscal year to include an appropriations account for non-VA provider programs. Grants the VA temporary authority, until the end of FY2015, to use certain transfers from the Veterans Choice Fund to pay for health care for eligible veterans at non-VA facilities, including pharmaceuticals for treatment of Hepatitis C. Modifies requirements of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to: repeal the 60-day limit on follow-up care; repeal the August 1, 2012, enrollment limitation on the eligibility of veterans in the patient enrollment system; extend provider eligibility to any health care provider meeting VA criteria; and base the 40-mile distance requirement as on distance traveled from a VA medical facility, including one offering primary care for a veteran seeking primary care. Prohibits the use of funds by the VA to expand the dialysis pilot program, or to create any new dialysis capability provided by the VA in a facility that is not an initial facility under the dialysis pilot program, until an independent analysis of the dialysis pilot program is conducted for each such initial facility and 180 days have elapsed since the VA reports on the results. H.R.1994 VA Accountability Act of 2015 This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to remove or demote a VA employee based on performance or misconduct. The VA may also remove such individual from the civil service or demote the individual through a reduction in grade or annual pay rate.

The person I spoke with told me that all scanning is now performed at the Janesville, WI Intake Center and then sent to the appropriate Regional Office, guessing the appropriate RO is where your C-File is located.

*Update* I submitted a request for information using IRIS. I received an email telling me "You can contact the VA Benefits Office at 1-800-827-1000, options 1,0,4 and a representative can assist you", which I did. After multiple calls I finally got a person on the line who directed me to write a letter asking for the VSO to be removed and told me to send it to the following address: Department of Veterans Administration Claims Intake Center P.O. Box 5235 Janesville, WI, 53547 Or FAX to 1-844-822-5246 I hope this will help others who have come to the same conclusion. I plan on sending the mail signed receipt required. Hopefully I'll have better luck than Notorious Kelly. Green

You have to appreciate asknod's straight to the point response. I for one appreciate people being direct and he always is.

This is unacceptable.... hopefully this news will go out far and wide and result in changes. For those who want to believe the Veterans Administration truly wants to help veterans this simply proves it isn't true. I would hope people would be demoted or lose their job if they have anything to do with building or maintaining this culture.

I ran into that and kept logging in until it finally worked. Hope it works for you as well. Green

I submitted my claim on July 22nd, yesterday I received a letter from the VA basically explaining that they received my claim for secondary conditions but are really busy and it will most likely take them a long time for them to review my claims (form letter I'm guessing). I'm currently living in AZ but the letter came from Montana (lived there 4 years ago and it is apparently the location of my C-File). I'm guessing this is nothing strange or unusual. Green

Congrats on the quick (and apparently very thorough) rating. Wish you the best.

So I asked the question in IRIS and this is what they sent me back: July 27, 2015 Dear Mr. Green, Thank you for your inquiry of July 17, 2015. In reviewing of our records we show that you received you 60% disability for Diabetes Mellitus as of December 1, 2007. The ratings itself was backdated for monetary purposes to the effective date of July 1, 2005. Please let us know if you have any further questions. Sincerely, DIRECTOR, PHOENIX REGIONAL OFFICE Of course the information is incorrect as I was rated and have been receiving this since December 1994. Absolutely stupid

Coastie, they send my insulin in an insulated container with frozen packets to keep it cool. I have received it from three different states and it has always been shipped this way. Seems like your pharmacy didn't follow VA protocol Green

I'm thinking about changing the POA to an attorney I spoke with prior to submitting my claims for secondary conditions. They really can't represent me until the claims are decided/rated but I believe this election would be of more benefit than the DAV. P.S. jbasser, I really appreciate the podcasts, thank you for moderating.

So I assume given the response from jbasser and chuck that the DAV rep information is not true. Is there a mechanism in Ebenefits to deselect a representative without selecting another? I doesn't seem to allow you to make that election.

I went to talk to the local DAV rep yesterday as I wanted to know how best to address the award date errors in the VA electronic systems. I explained to him that after calling the DAV 5 times and never receiving a call back I decided to pursue an expedited claim myself and submit it through Ebenefits. This guy told me a few things I wanted to run past the community to find out if they are true or BS. First he told me that I shouldn't have used Ebenefits but should have rather brought the claim to him so that he could put it in a DAV envelope and sent it to the Regional Office via courier. He said that anything the DAV submits is considered an expedited claim and will go through the system as fast as a veteran using Ebenefits. He said that as the DAV is checked as my service organization the first thing the Regional Office will do is send my claim file to the DAV for review which they will do and then send it back to the Regional Office (he said this will take extra time and slow down the process and that had I brought my file to them first the time delay would not be an issue). Is any of this true? Thank you, Green

Hi Buck, That is exactly what I have done. We will see if it makes a difference.

Anytime I've had tests done or been seen by an outside provider per the VA's request I've simply asked the outside provider for copies of the chart notes or test results. I've never been turned down. It's really stupid that the VA doesn't want you to have access to data derived from tests they performed on your body.

So, as the rating was December of 1994 a NOD is an inappropriate instrument. In reading the purpose of a CUE doesn't really seem to be the correct tool for a simple administrative error. I had the VA hospital pull my HINQ report this afternoon and the effective date is missing on that form, then the tech logged into the system and again it was missing there as well. If this was a common sense sort of deal I would think I could write a letter explaining the error, include copies of the 1994 award, and the VA would then make the appropriate changes in all electronic systems. I know common sense doesn't apply when dealing with the VA. Keep in mind I have been receiving the correct compensation for over 20 years and the system does show the correct rating, the issue is the award date....depending on the system it either has no date or an incorrect date of the award. BTW, I requested copies of my C-File last December, still haven't seen it.

zeelarry, are you saying there is an offset to the overall FERS retirement or an offset to the "social security offset" portion of the FERS retirement that Feds receive until age 62?