paulstrgn

Ms. Berta -- As I said I was being cynical -- I hope the VA is firing the correct people.

I am cynical enough to think the 4,300 employees removed were the ones trying to help vets or approved too many claims. JMO

Buck I will call them today and ask if they can transfer me. Thanks Buck for the advice

Buck that is great advice, I don't want to show up and they tell me they are only seeing appointments or there is a super long line waiting to be helped. I will call and see if they take appointments or if not when is the best day to show up.Now he trick is finding a phone number to the office. The VA website for Roanoke does not list a phone number...they are not very customer service oriented...surprise surprise!

Buck sounds good. It would be nice if there was an easier way to get a copy though.

Buck do they do it the same day you go to the office? I ask because my RO is Roanoke, VA which is 4 hours away. Also I do not currently have a VSO and really do not want one (don't want a middle person, I had one before and they did not assist me and it was always hard to get them on the phone). Yes waiting for the C-File is a real pain! I did request my C-File and I am supposed to get it by the end of January, at least I hope to get it by then.

That is the problem, they are on a production schedule on how much to complete and if all the paperwork in front of the rater has all the right boxes checked and all the right medical files (dishonest people certainly know what is needed and how to submit it) they are probably approved. Dishonest people will always find away to beat the system.

I am currently waiting for a copy of my C-File so I can see what the C&P states, it is the only way I know to get a copy of it. It is a pain having to wait 3-6 months to get a copy of it. I need a copy so I can file a NOD for my knees which they say the doctor was not service connected. I remember at the exam he gave me the impression it was, so I am not sure if the doctor was just blowing smoke or if the examiner just misread the C&P. Unfortunately both are possible. @Buck52 it could be for PTSD you are able to get a copy of the eval right away but for others you can't. It can also be that I am just over looking it on the paperwork, I have done that too many times needless to say.

A dishonest person can always find a way to beat the system. Just like you said Ms. Berta, by buying an old typewriter and now computers allow you to alter so many documents. But I assumed that the VA always verified that the person is a vet, I guess I assumed wrong.

@Buck52 I have always seen contractors (either LHI or QTC) for my C&P, I did not see where it states in the letters where I can request a copy of the exam. Is it only for certain types of exams?

I agree with you Buck52, how does he only get 6 months in prison...it should have been several years at a minimum. It goes to show the dishonest know how to work the system better and faster than we do. I have read so many stories here where vets are fighting to get their claims approved and this fake gets it approved twice. I am glad at least they caught this jerk!!!

It is sad that the VA and VSOs do take advantage of widows like they do, for me when they have widows they should bend over backwards to ensure that they receive all the benefits that they are entitled to. After all a spouse serves just like the vet does. I will read and print out the "Survivor Must read article" in DIC. I have found that what you post and others as well on this site are very helpful.

Sorry for got to ask. Can I assume when she asked for burial benefits that that would also not serve as an EED for DIC? I am assuming no, but I may also be wrong.

I guess the VA also does not assist or suggest widows when they request death benefits to tell them that they may also be eligible for DIC. I really feel that they should, after all most widows are not thinking straight or clearly when they are dealing with the death of the veteran.

Thank you for your suggestions Ms. Berta. He was not in Vietnam (to young), she has all of his service medical files along with his personnel files while in the military. There was no autopsy performed on him. I need to go through his files and see what he has already been approved for, he was at 40% without the prostate claim. I am not able to answer all of the questions since the papers she has does not appear to have all of the VA correspondence. I will have her request her husband C-File so we can see exactly what is in it. She will join this site so she can also ask any questions she might have, even though it has been more than a year since he passed away she is still grieving. I did have her file the 21-534 DIC last night (we faxed it in), I will also have her mail in a copy of the form via express mail just to be sure. I really do appreciate all the information that has been provided to me and I know I will have more as time goes on.

@GeekySquid thanks for the link. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

No worries. We went up to Maryland to pick her and the kids up for Thanksgiving. I will have her request for the C-File through the archives. I will also have here contact both Senators in VA as well as MD. I just want to see her get the back pay plus it needs to be approved in order for her to apply for DIC.

@GeekySquid I agree the WH line is not necessarily going to solve all the problems, it's just that the VA 800 number pissed me off when all I was trying to do (with her next to me) find out what was going on with her case and the VA rep was just being a pain. I will have her contact her Senators (she lives in Maryland), I agree it does not hurt to have the more bothering the VA. I hate seeing her barely make it, as sad as it sounds she can't get WICs or food stamps because she makes too much with SS (which is not enough). Also, how would she go about requesting her husbands C-File? She needs to know what is in it.

Thanks Broncovet...I thought it would probably be the date he filed. I will wait and see if Berta chimes in and follow her advice. She will need to wait then until they approve her husbands claim then before she can file for the DIC. The A&A I did not know for sure (it would only be for two months at most even if she applied). I always appreciate your advice Broncovet. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I am asking for advice for a friend. Her husband had passed away last year from prostate cancer, he was stationed at Camp Lejeune during the contaminated water dates. He filed a claim in August 2017 and passed away in late October 2017 (he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in late 2014). He had been approved for other disabilities for 40%. The claim was transferred to his wife December 2017, the claim is still pending with no expected completion date. Last week she had called eBenefits and was told it was sitting on someones desk for a signature for approval (supposedly - not holding my breath for an approval). She is currently on SS and has two small children (5 and 10). Needless to say she is barely making it from month to month. eBenefits (which I know is not reliable said it should have been completed by 4/11/2018). When she called eBenefits today the person she spoke with (she seemed annoyed that she called) said there is no expected completion date and that it was in the national que. I had her call the White House VA Hotline today and she now needs to wait another 21 business days. My first question is, is there anything else she can do to speed up the process? Depending on if it is approved should the EED be late 2014 or the filing date of 8/2017? Also she was also having to take care of him due to his weaken condition, would she have been eligible for A&A money for the two months before he passed away? Is she entitled to DIC? I am not sure how that works in this case. Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated.

I opted in to RAMP back in May 2018 (it was for a higher level review) and it was decided August 15, 2018. It was denied but it did get processed a lot quicker than the normal process. I am not sure if location matters as far as how quickly it should be processed, I am in Virginia.

I always bring the evidence I have submitted with the claim for my C&P. I just tell them up front that I brought them in case they did not have it. All the examiners for the C&P (except one, who got upset I brought them) was glad I did. They tell me it is easier for them for this way they do not need to shift though the file to determine what they need to look at. I recommend that the vet always bring the evidence they submitted for the current disability being claimed to the C&P. Just my opinion.

I agree with Vetquest, never be afraid to rock the boat. If you didn't you would never get an increase in your ratings. I also saw an thread here about always keep asking for disabilities when they arise even after you reach 100% P&T. @Navyguy2013 I am glad to see that you are keeping up with your PSA readings, even if (which I pray this never happens) the earlier you catch prostate cancer the better the chances for a quick and full recovery.

You can also call the White House Hotline at (855) 948-2311 and ask them to assist. If all else fails I would call the number, they are there 24/7

Thanks Berta I will follow your advice.