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RMEvet08

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RMEvet08 last won the day on November 27 2018

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  1. Congrats. Hopefully not long. Mine took about 90 days but could be possible it went so fast because I had a buddy who worked at VBA who made my case ready for decision a week after the BVA grant showed in their system. I’ve heard the average is 4-6 months.
  2. The average time as told by the BVA for appeals to be processed is 4-6 months depending on the backlog. Depending on the given caseload at the RO where you claim is they could send it to another VARO for processing. Depending on how much back pay you are entitled to there will be a pay audit conducted which in some cases if you retro is over 25k will require 3 signatures which also take some time. The BVA grant to RO rating decision can be a while depending on the complexity of the claim but overall the BVA says the average time is 4-6 months. My situation was s full grant for one service-connected claim so it wasn't as difficult to process BVA Grant- 8/15/18 VARO Rating Decision- 8/27/18 Ebenefits Updated-11/11/18 Still waiting on the letter but the RO said I should receive it soon days/week maybe definitely before Dec 1st disability payment since Ebenefits already reflects the new rating so its safe to assume the letter is being sent as well as processing of the retro payment.
  3. BVA Grant- 8/15/18 VARO Rating Decision- 8/27/18 Ebenefits Updated-11/11/18 Still waiting on the letter but the RO said I should receive it soon days/week maybe definitely before Dec 1st disability payment since Ebenefits already reflects the new rating so its safe to assume the letter is being sent as well as processing of the retro payment.
  4. Greetings, just wanted to update the group on my status, since 11/11 (Veteran's Day) my Ebenefits shows the updated claim for service-connection for PTSD. My appeal is now finalized and awaiting the letter along with retro pay. This is the very last step in the entire process and can honestly say the relief of not having to constantly check Ebenefits or call the VA is like a huge weight off of my shoulders. To all of you still waiting, be strong and hang in there the end is near and to those just getting started fight for what you deserve and don't give up.
  5. Its more than terrible how jacked up the system is and truly feel like how can it ever be fixed at this point. The 4-6 months is a way for them to cover the "125 days" its supposed to take. Prayers to your case I hope they speed it up 14 years is madness. I'm to the point where I'm just tired of the VA i don't even want anything to do with them after they give me my award.
  6. Tried that and it takes 21 days for the inquiry to be answered by the VBA and I got the response which was vague and generic stating the average time for BVA appeals implementation is 4-6 months.
  7. 14 years is way too long and I hope you get every penny they owe you!!! In my case I’m looking at 8 years back pay at %100 so you can see how that can make the RO slow down and triple check to make sure everything is right before they send me an award letter showing how much I’m entitled to. It is mind boggling that it takes that time after the BVA but the best way someone put it to is the line doesn’t end just because you get a grant there are still veterans ahead of you with grants waiting on rating decisions smh.
  8. Thank you and yes I know i was very fortunate to know someone there it was honestly by faith because he only started working at VBA 6 months ago and this Friday is his last day as he has decided to move onto a better opportunity. Sorry to hears its been 8 months for you I know depending on the complexity of the grant it can take anywhere from 4-6 months but were there issues the RO still had to decide on or was it clear cut? Also, just thinking maybe the grant has already been issued a rating along with an effective date but the RO will not update ebennies or disclose that when you call the VA as I've experienced. Was this appeal connected to a retirement benefits as well I heard that can really prolong the pay audit since a DFAS and VA audits will need to be completed. How far back is the original claim date which determines the effective date maybe you are due some serious money and they have to do some major auditing.
  9. Just wanted to share my process for those of you who may be in the legacy appeals phase or those who are just starting the process. Fight for what you deserve and never give up! If you don't have the means to fight find a VSO that will. I've been in the appeals process since 2011 and honestly there were times when I gave up only to save my sanity despite all the madness going on with the VA and records mismanagement I found it easier to completely forget about my case rather than vigilante means of justice i.e. trolling the VA in writing, contacting my congressman(woman) or media outlets. I feel like there are so many veterans who share my experience that I must shed light just to give others hope. So here we go... Claim filed 10/2010 (PTSD) Claim denied 04/2011 (PTSD) NOD/VA Form 9 (took place during the required time frame) 2012 Waiting... (called the VA, no concrete answer) 2013 Waiting... (called the VA, no concrete answer) 2014 Waiting... C&P exam. VA doctor failed to give indication as to whether or not claim is service connected (user error) 2015 Waiting... (letter received certifying my case to the board) 2016 Waiting... (called the VA, no concrete answer) 2017 (letter received for board hearing 05/2017) May, 2017 (board hearing held) 2018 Waiting... (transcribe stage then off to sit in room waiting for judges decision) Aug 2018 (BVA grant letter in the mail dated 08/15/2018) Still waiting... Since my BVA grant thanks to an inside source at the VBA my case was made ready a week after the VARO received the BVA grant decision in which it only took the VARO an additional week to grant 100% PTSD effective 04/2011. Strangely my inside source has sent me pictures of my rating decision yet the VA reps tell me when I call there is no update as of yet. Anyway I am blessed to have won my case. Just looking to see how long the process has taken for others following a BVA grant. I do understand that my situation is unique considering my source at the VBA was able to push the button so to speak to speed up the process but I'm told for normal situations it can usually take 4-6 months for the VARO to implement a grant or even longer. The back pay amount definitely makes a difference in the timeline from what I'm told anything over 25k needs 3 signatures and a pay audit completed prior to payout.
  10. Greetings Berta, I've seen your posts all over the veteran online forum community and I must say its pretty cool to see you respond to my post. You are very active in the veteran community and for that I and We thank you! To answer your questions, yes I have received my BVA grant letter back in Aug and my case has made some pretty good progress since then thanks to my buddy at the VBA and I've been told its only a matter of time before its signed off by the 3rd signature required and paid out. My rating decision by the VARO was on 8/27/2018 so I'm coming up on 90 days this month since my grant was implemented by the VA. I believe what held it up since then is the pay audit and the 3 signatures required for such a large backpay award.
  11. Just wanted to share my process for those of you who may be in the legacy appeals phase or those who are just starting the process. Fight for what you deserve and never give up! If you don't have the means to fight find a VSO that will. I've been in the appeals process since 2011 and honestly there were times when i gave up only to save my sanity despite all the madness going on with the VA and records mismanagement i found it easier to completely forget about my case rather than vigilante means of justice i.e. (trolling the VA in writing, contacting my congressman(woman) or media outlets. I feel like there are so many veterans who share my experience that I must shed light just to give others hope. So here we go... Claim filed 10/2010 (PTSD) Claim denied 04/2011 (PTSD) NOD/VA Form 9 (took place during the required time frame) 2012 Waiting... (called the VA, no concrete answer) 2013 Waiting... (called the VA, no concrete answer) 2014 Waiting... C&P exam. VA doctor failed to give indication as to whether or not claim is service connected (user error) 2015 Waiting... (letter received certifying my case to the board) 2016 Waiting... (called the VA, no concrete answer) 2017 (letter received for board hearing 05/2017) May, 2017 (board hearing held) 2018 Waiting... (transcribe stage then off to sit in room waiting for judges decision) Aug 2018 (BVA grant letter in the mail dated 08/15/2018) Still waiting... Since my BVA grant thank to an inside source at the VBA my case was made ready a week after the VARO received the BVA grant decision in which it only took the VARO an additional week to grant 100% PTSD effective 04/2011. Strangely my inside source has sent me pictures of my rating yet the VA reps tell me when I call there is no update as of yet. Anyway I am blessed to have won my case. Just looking to see how long the process has taken for other following a BVA grant. I do understand that my situation is unique considering my source at the VBA was able to push the button so to speak to speed up the process but im told for normal situations it can usually take 4-6 months for the VARO to implement a grant or even longer. The back pay amount definately makes a difference in the timeline from what im told anything over 25k needs 3 signatures and a pay audit completed prior to payout. Thoughts? Comments? Concerns?
  12. Congrats on your "Grant" by the board! I can honestly say the feeling is amazing my grant came in the mail 8/15 just a month before yours. The question is how will the VARO implement the grant (effective date and rating) like broncovet mentioned. If your just getting a BVA decision that means your in the legacy process like myself and I can honestly say what a terrible journey it has been. My appeal was granted by the board from a claim filed 04/2011 and as you know the convoluted process with legacy appeals is a mess. I can shed some light on what to expect next but honestly each case can vary and in my case I was blessed enough to know someone working at VBA who made my case ready for decision one week after the BVA grant otherwise from what my source tells me cases just sit unfortunately. The VARO does have a legal obligation to notify the BVA within 60 days of the grant but the specifics I'm unsure of. I've looked high and low for answers to what follows a BVA grant and have neither VSO's or VA reps can shed light but my source has done some digging for me and sad to say you would think following the long wait up to the BVA grant that there's some short que for whats to follow but the painful wait just doesn't end that quickly. So now the VARO has to implement your grant which may take some months just because they want to get it right and there's no specific time frame and even after they issue you an effective date and rating it will takes some time after that depending on the back-pay amount. From what ive been told anything over 25k gets audited and three different signature levels are required on top of the calculations that have to be done with regards to COLA changes every year since your effective date and any dependents. I even tried the new VA White House hotline to help veterans get answers and all i got was a generic response from the VBA stating most appeals implementation take anywhere from 4-6 months again broncovet's 125 days sounds fair. This is a stage that can be frustrating because now the VARO has the option to rate your claim which leaves room for error meaning another NOD process possibly being initiated. Lets hope all goes in your favor and you get what you deserve based upon your condition and the law. Even more interesting is my fellow veteran at the VBA who actually went to high school with me has shown and sent me pictures of my file which indicate on 8/27 less than two weeks from the BVA grant and one week from the date he made it ready for a decision i was awarded 100% for PTSD with an effective date of 04/2011 yet every time I call the VA to ask about my claim status I get the same generic response "there isnt an update at this time". So imagine all the time they say that to veterans knowing in fact the screen they are looking at shows differently and they wonder why the veterans are so sick of the VA. So my point of that was to highlight that even someone like me in a very rare circumstance where I knew someone who pushed the button for me so to speak to get things done faster I'm still waiting from that brown envelope to say how much they owe me. Supposedly I have 2 of the 3 signatures required for the payout and its only a matter of days/weeks or even a month or so who knows. I am beyond thankful things went in my favor but just when you think the wait is over it just never ends. To make things even worse I was told that the raters are so inconsistent that you have veterans getting 100% without total and permanent with a re-examination date 3 years following the rating decision date but then other raters just give the total and permanent to some vets with 100% so much for a standard. My source has only been with VBA for 6 months and has learned and done more for veterans than some ppl who have been there years just getting a check while we sit and wait years for our benefits. unfortunately he has decided to move on from the VBA after the 9th otherwise I would ask him to assist in getting you some answers. Congrats again on the huge win i truly know how you feel and love to see other veterans getting what they deserve.
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