ahergott61

Agree, Agree, Agree It is my belief that the VA, as they did with Vietnam veterans, will not act until then numbers die out. That will reduce the VA cost and a very large number of claim decisions will be eliminated. I am into 1000 plus days to get a Decision Review Officer decision. I am being told that the average is 289 days. The VA waited over a year before they assigned a DRO then waited another year to outsource the decision to Newark NJ from Houston Texas. Yesterday the VSO said that they do not know why its been setting on the DRO desk for a decision for so long but reintegrated that the decision will be retroactive. When asked if I die before the decision they said that the Wife will have to reapply for DIC. This is the second VSO that said something similar to this.

Yes - agree on the advice to relax - and wait. DVA told me that a DRO would speed up the process when I filed my NOD but now have decided that, in my case, this only slowed the process. Should of when right to the appeal would be on the same timeline and in 5 to 8 years would have been finished. I now expect a 4 to 8 year decision by the DRO then on the docket for an appeal hearing. Though VSO says its the same timeline, we will have to wait and see. I think the bottom line up front, patience is a virtue and do not get excited for 8 years. Hope you are luckier than me - I expect to be dead before my decision is reached and have programed my wife and lawyer to continue to the appeal to closure.

16 Jun 17 My NOD is still pending and as of 11 June is approaching 1000 days old and was sent to Houston TX VA office requesting a DRO. It took 2 years and 4 months for the Houston office to look at the NOD. As Relayed to me by VSO, Houston VA Office then decide they could not manage in a reasonable time and outsourced claim to Newark, NJ. As I understand, this allows the VA to restart the average processing time (records keeping time). Per VA Houston VSO, the average processing time is 289 days to make a DRO decision. Per VSO again, I was told that all information is on hand and DRO (would not tell me who) is pending decision 26 October 2016. Still no decision. VA current completion date estimate is June 2018 to September 2021. This means a 5 to 8 year decision time for my DRO then the appeal can go forward. I hired Hill and Ponton to assist in November who went out and got a new C-File. No visible or mentionable improvement or assistance at this time. Allen

I have been working on my disability for neurological disorders for the better part of 15 years with very little success. This year I found out about the C-file and requested it but could not get it. I am now using the Attig Law Firm to requests C-Files using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). They have been trying for 90 days without success yet. I understand that VA in Houston just can not easily assemble and send out. MR Attig is reading a multi-action law suit to try and get. Good luck Allen