Doc_Sinned

So two weeks based on them wanting c&p that was canceled to three months if we go by when I was approved for financial hardship.

Below is my timeline based on eBenefits changes and phone calls. I'm not sure when my financial hardship was actually approved since I used congressman to prod the line a bit. Not only that, but because of a screw up at my RO, the BVA Ombudsman dropped the ball (as soon as RO received case file back from BVA they sent it back to BVA with no work done) and gave me the direct phone number and email to the appeals department working my claim (the one in charge of my appeal), which is rare. Anyways, here's the time line, results may vary. 10/10/2016 Filed for Financial Hardship 12/23/2016 Contacted Local Congressman 01/27/2017 With Veterans Law Judge 01/29/2017 With Veterans Law Judge 02/06/2017 With Veterans Law Judge 02/21/2017 With Veterans Law Judge 02/22/2017 With Veterans Law Judge 02/23/2017 Pending Case Dispatch 02/27/2017 Pending Case Dispatch 02/27/2017 Remanded Appeal 02/28/2017 RO Received Appeal 03/01/2017 VLJ Letter Sent (BBE) 03/04/2017 Received VLJ Decision in Mail 03/13/2017 Remanded Appeal 03/27/2017 Remanded Appeal 03/29/2017 Received Call from RO* 03/30/2017 RO Called - Need C&P for OSA 04/03/2017 RO Called - C&P for OSA Cancelled 04/05/2017 Dependent Showing on eBenefits 04/10/2017 Approvals with Finance Department 04/17/2017 eBenefits Showing 70% Disability 04/19/2017 Attorney Faxed Stressor Letters to RO 04/20/2017 Retro Deposited in Account (Direct Deposit) This doesn't help you now but stick with it, after all was said and done I'm now at 100% P&T. When my appeal finished I filed for all the joint pain I have pushing me from 90% to 100%.

Thanks. Yeah, Navy Fed is actually pretty great, especially compared to Bank of America. After being 60 days overdue on an auto loan, repo process will start. I called them up on day 61 and told them what was happening and that I should have my money by the end of that week. So we made a verbal agreement that I would pay it by that Friday. So yes, I kept the car and paid it off completely. Downside is, that my checking account and open credit line were frozen due to lateness, and when that happens if closes the account from being used again. So when I paid my line of credit off, it closed the account, which messed up my average age for my credit. I got a copy of my credit report from the three agencies and contact sky blue (credit repair), so hopefully Ill be able to fix things soon.

Thanks for the quick and informative reply Hamslice. I'll put my right shoulder in as secondary to my left. As for the feet, ankles, and knees, I'll file them based on instability with pain. Can you file for limited rom at the same time as you apply for arthritis, or would it be better to file limited rom after sc for arthritis and instability? My last two remands are for hearing loss and PTSD. so probably won't get anything for hearing loss, but ptsd I fall under the 50-70% range so that would increase my current rating to 80% or 90%. I'm moving back to oklahoma in august where I'll get an IMO from the Ellis Clinic to try and increase my chances. So I might be done with the remands by the time I get seen by doctor ellis, either way, I'll put the claim in afterwards. I kind of rambled on there, but thanks again for the info.

I've been wanting to put a claim in for arthritis that I've developed after my discharge, however, I was told I should wait after my appeal was completed or it could hold up the process. I have two remanded items left which my RO estimates will be completed in 6-9 months. What I'm wondering is, is it too late to file? I EASd back in September 2012. In my medical records from service I had complaints of knee and ankle instability. After a couple of years I started having a lot of pain in my feet, ankles, and knees. When I went to the doctor they said I had degenerative arthritis in my feet and ankles, and the beginning signs of arthritis in my knees. I've already been service connected for arthritis in my left shoulder and right thumb. I'm currently 28 years old. I've also started having the same pain in my right shoulder as my left. Is it too late to put in a claim for these? Would they even relate it to military service since I've been out for 5 years? I feel like I'd be too young to develop arthritis based on my age. Could I use the instability from my time in service as a link to my current arthritis? For my right shoulder, could I claim it secondary to my left shoulder (overuse due to compensating for left shoulder pain and weakness)? I realize it would be based on current medical evidence, medical evidence in service, and and nexus relating it, just wondering of likelihood of being approved.

Yeah, mine was definitely fast compared to others. Even before filing for financial hardship I had a fast nod turnaround, right up until it got to the Awaiting Place on Docket I was moving faster than others somehow. Then I resumed normal time frames, but after awhile things took a turn for the worse for me and I fell into extreme financial hardship. I had to keep pressing on my end to keep it moving after the vlj finished with it. Them messing up my appeal (retured to bva from RO on accident) turned out to be the best thing that could of happened for me. Through that happening I gained direct access to the one in charge of my appeal at the RO. The gentleman turned out to be an angel in disguise, at least I think so. He pushed for my contentions being rated as soon as possible. I was awaiting the final signature to approve my contentions when my vehicle was about to be repossessed. So I contacted the appeals office and the guy emailed the supervisors assistant to see if they could approve my appeal. Within 30 min I was awarded my 70% and yesterday I got my retro. Even my attorney said it was rare for a VSO, let alone the veteran, to have access to the help I was getting at the RO. The guy is still helping me out. He said once he reviewed my stressors for ptsd he'd call me to let me know and that he would file for the C&P as soon as the stressors were confirmed. He told me that the remands at the Muskogee Regional Office usually only take 6-9 months to be completed. He said he'll call me on the first to give me an update. The retro has been life changing already. I was able to pay off my auto loan as well as repay all of my debts. I have paid everything off. Now I start the process of rebuilding my credit and hopefully in a year from now I'll be ready to buy my first home and finally start moving forward with my life. Good luck to you during your appeals process, I hope it goes fast for you.

RO called today. Said I should have my money in two to three business days. EBenefits updated showing 70%. Gotta call navy fed tomorrow to see if they'll hold off by a day or two for repo.

Thanks for the tips ^_^ I use navy federal for my auto loan and told them a few weeks ago that I should have my pay soon. They annotated it in my account and it was good for a bit. Now they left a message saying how things are to proceed. I think the biggest relief I'll take from getting the retro is that I'll be able to answer my phone again without anxiety, wondering if it's a debt collector or not. Anyways, thanks again for the advice. Hopefully the retro will come before the deadline before repo starts, but never know with the VA.

Not sure if this should go here since I haven't received my retro yet or BBE. I will post my time line though, with an added question at the end. Timeline of AppealDate of Progress10/26/2012 Initial Claim Filed (Muskogee, OK RO)10/18/2013 Local VA Office Decision 03/18/2014 Notice of Disagreement (NOD) 04/15/2014 Appeal Pending 09/19/2014 Statement of the Case (SOC) 10/31/2014 Substantive Appeal (Form 9) 01/27/2015 Certification of Appeal 02/19/2015 Received by BVA 02/19/2015 Administrative Case Processing03/20/2015 With Veterans Law Judge03/21/2015 Awaiting Place on Docket10/10/2016 Filed for Financial Hardship12/23/2016 Contacted Local Congressman01/27/2017 With Veterans Law Judge01/29/2017 With Veterans Law Judge02/06/2017 With Veterans Law Judge02/21/2017 With Veterans Law Judge02/22/2017 With Veterans Law Judge 02/23/2017 Pending Case Dispatch02/27/2017 Pending Case Dispatch02/27/2017 Remanded Appeal02/28/2017 RO Received Appeal03/01/2017 VLJ Letter Sent (BBE)03/04/2017 Received VLJ Decision in Mail03/13/2017 Remanded Appeal03/27/2017 Remanded Appeal03/29/2017 Received Call from RO*03/30/2017 RO Called - Need C&P for OSA04/03/2017 RO Called - C&P for OSA Cancelled04/05/2017 Dependent Showing on eBenefits 04/10/2017 Approvals with Finance Department I was told on the phone by my RO that I was approved for 70%. Ive been at 10% since October 2012. Retro from October 2012 at 30% then from November 2013 at 70%. Currently waiting on my retro payment, so here is my question. My approved contentions have all the required signatures needed and my attorney's fee has already been worked out, what else is there left to do from here? It's currently with the finance department at my RO. I'm not a retiree. Is there an average time frame or date that retro is payed? Really need the money since my car is about to be processed for repo. I was told I'll be getting $45k and my attorney will get $12k, totalling at $57k in retro.

BVA Ombudsman Phone: 1-800-923-8387 Fax: (202) 343-1889 Email: BVAOmbudsman@mail.va.gov

Update, C&P was cancelled since they already had enough evidence. The retro was $10k less than what I was expecting since my effective date for sleep apnea was set for when I had my sleep study instead of when I filed, it's still a nice sum though. I'll be getting $45k and my attorney will get $12k. So it was $57k in total. I'm rated at 70% now. I still have two remands left; one for hearing loss and the other for PTSD. My regional office said I should expect retro by this Wednesday or next Wednesday at the latest. It's currently waiting on finance before they send the payment out.

Looked at my appointments on ebenefits. The RO requested a C&P exam on 03/29/17. I know it takes months for C&Ps usually. However, I'm not sure if that's because of the wait from the RO requesting one or if it's the wait on a slot opening up in the C&P examiner's schedule. Can't find anything on "the google" about it. Any ideas? After the C&P is completed, I'll wait a month probably before calling the guy at the RO again. He did get my appeal looked at the same day so I'm wondering if he's making up for my file being sent back to the BVA for a month due to the mistake. Also, does financial hardship help expedite the C&P process or does that only effect the RO?

And yeah, attorney will be getting 20% but my take home will be around $59k now that it's been pushed back another month.

Thank you all for the replies. Saw them earuler but was dealing with more VA stuff ^_^ I now have direct contact with the person working my appeal. He talked to me today. The rating specialist looked at my approvals and I need a C&P for my sleep apnea. Not sure what else they are looking for. The VLJ service connected it and granted the claim based of an IMO and in service records of sleep issues, plus current diagnosis of sleep apnea with cpap. Should I brace myself for them still screwing me? Anyways he said my local VAMC will contact me in around two weeks, if they don't I should call my local VAMC to ask about it. He said after that it'll probably be a month until I get my updated rating.

Got word back from the BVA ombudsman and the RO called me this morning. Turns out they made a mistake and sent my appeal back to the BVA. I talked to the RO this morning and he apologized and stated that they have my partial grants and he'll ask the raters to look at it today. He also said he sent out a letter yesterday to follow up on my remand (ptsd stressors), once I return those he'll set up my C&P.

I got a reply back from the BVA ombudsman. My main issue was that when I asked through IRIS the first time they said my appeal was back at the BVA, but they never acted on the judge's orders. This is why I've been hounding them. I realize it may take some time (hopefully a couple months or less) but I was getting frus rated because it sounded like they sent the whole thing back, grants and all. Anyways, heres his reply: Unfortunately, the Board of Veterans Appeals and Regional Offices use different systems to track claims. I am only able to comment on the issues before the Board. I am copying the Muskogee Regional Office for direct reply to you concerning those issues not before the Board. I will note that the decision granting Sleep Apnea, Tinnitus, and Right Thumb disability was written only a month ago and they may just need more time. Hopefully the Muskogee Regional Office will be able to tell you where those three issues stand at the moment.

Docket Number 14-39 139 Service connection for Sleep Apnea is granted. Service Connection for Tinnitus is granted. A rating in excess of 10% for a left shoulder disability is denied. A 10% rating for the right thumb is granted, subject to the laws and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits. IRIS Response This is in response to your inquiry to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) dated March 26, 2017. VA is grateful to all Veterans for the service and individual sacrifice they made to our nation. The Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) has ordered that additional action is needed on your appeal before making a final decision. At this time, our records do not indicate any pertinent actions have recently occurred on your remand. When all the required actions are completed, your file will be reviewed. If any further action or development is needed, we will contact you. If not, you will be provided a supplemental decision or Supplemental Statement of the Case, prior to returning your appeal to the BVA for a decision. We are unable to provide any timeframe on how long it will take to complete your appeal once it is certified to the BVA, as it is no longer within your local office's jurisdiction and we do not have any control over BVA. Please know; a claim and/or appeal, that has been flashed for hardship, will still require being processed in the order received. We are processing each, as fast and efficiently, as possible. You may attempt to contact the Ombudsman with the Board of Veterans Appeals, for any possible additional information - Contact information is listed below: Phone: 1-800-923-8387 Fax: (202) 343-1889 Email: BVAOmbudsman@mail.va.gov The National Resource Directory (NRD), http://www.nrd.gov/misc/about_us, is a resource website that connects wounded warriors, Service Members, Veterans, their families, and caregivers to programs and services that support them. Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below. Sincerely yours, C. Boyd National IRIS Response Center Manager tpI I stated that I wanted to know what was happening with my partial grants and mentioned the fast letter. They didn't say anything about my grants, just the remanded portion. So I replied with the actual copy of the fast letter and told them I didnt want to know about the remand, I wanted to know about the approved grants. I also sent an email to the BVA ombudsman.

I've been a lurker on here for a little bit, I have been able to find most of my questions answered on here through a quick search, but I'm having trouble finding anything related to my current question. I had a partial grant last month from the BVA; two approvals, one increase, one denial, and two remands. I'm currently waiting on my RO in Muskogee, OK to promulgate my rating. They received my file on February 28th, 2017, and so far nothing has changed in ebenefits, and iris inquiries have left me with more questions than answers. I'm also in an expedited status due to extreme financial hardship. Is a case that's been flagged for hardship treated more expeditiously than a normal BVA grant? I ask because VLJ already stated that it should be treated in an expedited matter because it's an Appeal (everyone is expedited after BVA = no one is expedited, lol). I left a complaint on IRIS to my RO about how that the BVA has the FL 10-02 going over this exact circumstance and that I'm also flagged under hardship status. What else can I do from here? Running out of time...