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lawrencebe

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  1. Yes you are 100% correct!! I’m guessing that the emails of these VA folks are first.last@va.gov? I was also gonna email other congressman but I don’t know if I could only really tech out to my District Rep or can I can I reach others?
  2. Stop the madness sir!! Lol! You and I both know it’s gotta be more involved than just that lol!!
  3. I’ve read about this and I know there’s a few different forum posts about this but I would need help in figuring out how to write this up where to send this to. For some reason though it seems like that Writ is for people who are at the BVA level waiting to see a judge.
  4. Tomorrow will mark 7 years that I’ve been waiting for the VA to make a decision on my original claim. Currently I’ve been waiting 6 years for a DRO review to be completed, since August 2013, and while things were moving earlier this year with exams, it seems as if my claim has stalled since July of this year. I’m currently Hardship flagged and hopefully waiting for something soon but I’m just seeing if there’s ANYTHING I can do to get this thing moving. I have a current White House VA case pending, I’ve contacted lawyers who can’t help until I get an SSOC, my VSO can only give me the “hang in there” speech and my congressman hasn’t replied to my email for assistance. IRIS gives me the same statement that the 800# gives and I can’t opt into any AMA lanes until I get an SSOC. The RO in Oakland has no answers either and after tomorrow I believe it will be time I move on from this VA circus and focus on something else. I just need to know is there anything else I can do? If I’ve done all I can and need to wait then that’s ok. I feel like I’ve given this a good fight since last April to at least get this far but if there’s anything I can do can you guys let me know? Thanks for your guys help...
  5. Update: 7/17/2019 Finally got scheduled for my last C&P exam Monday for flat feet. It’s kinda surreal after fighting this process for almost 7 years it’s almost over. I’ve been freaking out as this part is the appeal process that’s going to have the biggest back pay to it...life changing back pay that I need. Just a question for those who have been through a DRO review, how long after your final exam did you get your decision? My last decision on my reopen took 2 about months so I’m wondering should I expect the same time line? I’m aware everyone’s timeline is different depending In the RO but I’m just trying to see if it took people months, like 6 or more, to get a decision and receive back pay so I can be mentally ready.
  6. Ok I understand and I will definitely be doing that asap. I really appreciate that and it helps to know that because I wonder how many people haven’t gotten their fair pay when the form 9 was still around. Thanks a lot for that!!
  7. Did you file a CUE claim for this? I would love, as well as current and future members who read this, to know what you did to accomplish this!
  8. Update 6/30/2019 Made it to my appointments yesterday for razor bumps, back, knees, and ankles. Luckily I had the EXACT SAME examiner from last year who remembered me. While I understand updating about appointments isn’t exciting I want to point this out to those who will be reading this later. IF YOU ARE APPEALING YOUR DECISIONS MAKE SURE EVERY SINGLE CLAIM THAT WAS DENIED IS ON THAT APPEAL. What do I mean? If you were denied for certain parts of your claim, and you choose to appeal (I suggest you research other options before appealing), please ensure you have everything on that appeal form that was denied. When I mean everything I mean everything. Let me tell you why... My appointment yesterday was literally done for a second time because my VSO failed to properly fill out my paperwork. He only put 5 out of my 10 claims on appeal. My decision that was won earlier this month took 6 years because of incompetence on that VSO and my ignorance not researching what to do on my own. I was also screwed out of an earlier effective date because 5 of my claims were a “Reopen” instead of being on appeal. While winning is great I want you to calculate, let say, $440x81. That’s a lot of money right? Your back pay is the major reason why double checking your paperwork is important. I lost possibly over $25K due to inaccuracies in paperwork and fighting what you signed in a legal document, in the form of a CUE claim, will be next to impossible. The VA will overturn errors on their end but things you fail to do, like filing the wrong paperwork or not paying attention to what is written on/in that paperwork that you turn in or someone else does for you, does NOT qualify as Clear and Unmistakable Errors. Until next time... peace
  9. Update; 6/23/2019 My appeal is still going through and I had to retake my psychological exam. One thing you guys need to make sure you do, if you’re claiming some kind of “adjustment disorder”, if it’s not debilitating and causing you to be unemployable, is to clarify that clearly and concisely. What does that mean? In your psych evaluation make sure that your statements aren’t going to mess up you nexus. For me I had anxiety that brought on paranoia, when I had my first set of attacks. If your psych hears that they will almost automatically mark you down as having psychosis. You need to be clear and make sure that when you’re explaining the type of paranoia you had, it’s in the realm of “I walked past a group of people and they laughed and I felt as though they were laughing at me cause (insert reason)” so your psych will know it’s not you being schizophrenic. Delusions, hallucionations, , talking to yourself, isolating, hearing voices, paranoia, etc etc, if not stated clearly, will almost trigger a 100% rating because they’re symptoms of psychotic behaviors. You must be clear and make sure that you explain, if your claiming depression or anxiety, that your initial onset and thereafter on triggered brought/will bring those type of stressors on. I have another appointment 6/29/2019 so I will be updating after that as well. Stay strong my friends..
  10. Update - 5/19/2019 All of my requests have beeen closed for my October 2018 “Repoen” and my DRO decision is still pending. I will continue to update this thread whenever I get some traction for those who will read this in the future. I know it’s gona be tough, I know the anxiety is going to kill you, but just keep going. If you’re like me you’ve already contacted the White House Hotline cause yo weee fed up. Some things Im doing to keep sane during this process: 1. Went to every apppont I had and responded to all VA correspondence PROMPTLY. 2. Had a 3-n-1 printer (with fax) in my home. Faxing is almost $2.00 at places like FedEx Kinkos so this little investment will pay off. 3. Had a binder oganized and ready to go at ALL times. C-File, VA appointments, C&P exams, originals of faxes, military records all the way down to the Memorandums I had from different units. I also made sure 4. I STOPPED contacting my VSOs unless I had an update or wanted to check in. 5. I regularly check VA.gov (2x a week Tuesday’s and Thursday’s) to check my status. Checking everyday stresses me out but not checking made it worse so 2x a week was a good balance. 6. I called the hotline once a month. Listen you’re gonna get the usual VA when someone answers the phone. And last but not least Lived life I’m in my Sophomore year of college on the VAs dime, getting my monthly stipend. I work, spend time with family and friends, I do cardio 5x a week, whether it’s walking or the treadmill or or riding the stationary bike, and just live normally as best as I can. This process can be hard and lengthy but at this point I’m living so VA money or not I’m going to keep pushing. I also read and post in this forum, not to find pittt or wallow in self doubt, but to keep hope alive and see the many who have fought and won. So until my next update ✌✌✌
  11. UPDATE: So I’ve seen over the past few weeks a couple of you guys have had there NODs finally processing after a long wait. My current timeline is long so please bare with me. Here is what’s been going on this far— October 2012 Orginial Claim February 2013 Denied on all claims August 2013 NOD filed for DRO Review (de novo) April 2018 Reopened Original Claim August 2018 VA receives 2013 NOD November - December 2018 C&P Exams for April 2018 Reopen January 2019 Notified that some issues that were on April 2018 Reopen could not be reclaimed due to pending Appeal Called White House VA to file complaint February 2019 Received call from Houston VARO that WH VA Compaint was received and my appeal was a legacy appeal that is now “being worked”. March 2019 Vets.gov shows I have Reopened claims from October 2018 (April 2018 Reopen) and my NOD is at DRO Review for other claims from August 2013 Received letter requesting approval to obtain medicial records from several different places. April 2019 C&P Exam As of 4/5/2019 Evidence, Review and Gathering phase for April 2018 Reopen (showing up as October 2018 Reopen). DRO is reviewing documents for April 2013 NOD Has anyone else experienced going through a Reopen Claim while an Appeal is processing at the same time? I’m just curious cause this seems like a lot of moving parts and I was told my April 2018 Reopen couldn’t be closed until my Appeal was done. Does the same person doing the Appeal handle the Reopen at the same time during the DRO process? My most recent C&P exam (4/4/2019) was for my April 2018 Reopen so this is kinda confusing the hell out of me lol!! Thanks for the feedback!
  12. Called them today and they’re only looking for 100% Disability cases where vets are unemployed. They sent my situation to one of there other partner firms. It’s a definit start!
  13. I just got off the phone with a law firm. They couldn’t help at the moment and I may run into an issue with finding a lawyer to help my appeal because it’s still pending and there hasn’t been a DRO decision made. At this point all I can do is inquire as to where I am in the appeals process and if January 15, 2019 is the start then I have awhile to go. She suggested that I may need write my congressman and see if that helps as Oakland VA is one of the two worst VAs in the US. May have to try that route but at this point it seems liken I gotta wait for a DRO decision to come down. No telling how long that will be but hey at least I know where I’m at with all this mess. Hopefully by this time next year I’ll hear something back.
  14. That’s a great idea you guys have suggested. Do you guys have any recommendations on a lawyer or firm in particular?
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