Mr Anxiety

Hi all. I had an exam last June - left knee, left shin. It came back not in my favor due to nexus. Opened another claim, nexus proven, but VA unable to approve because I didn’t “appeal” through the right channels. Back in February, I finally got a VSO. They submitted December’s exam (done by a VA doctor), with an MRI from my private care doctor, alone with my supplemental appeal. Today, I found out they want ANOTHER exam, and that’s the holdup. What’s the deal here? Anyone know? Three exams for one thing - even for the VA - seems to be overkill. I asked my VSO, but have not yet heard back. I feel like this should be something that can be ‘squashed’ so to speak. Thanks!

Hey Bronco, I asked them directly when I called.

Good day all, I hope you are all staying well during these *interesting* times. I filed a supplemental claim in early February, and VA.gov still says, "we don't know your status" - they have my signed 5103 and all evidence. I called Peggy, and she says they're waiting on "an internal document." Does anyone have any idea what that might be? Thanks! Update: For what it's worth, the VA is still up & running claims, just with most regionals on telework.

Hi! Thanks for you reply, you steered me toward the answer I needed. You can't upload evidence to support an appeal, which is what I'm doing. I have to have my VSO do it. Thanks again.

Hi all, I have my signed 5103 and the evidence I want to upload with it, but I do not see an area to upload because I do not have a pending disabilities - since it's a supplemental claim. Is there a workaround or do I have to go through my VSO? Thanks!

Hi Berta, Thanks for your response. I will definitely resubmit the DBQ and my MRI results from private care as soon as the 5103 arrives (hopefully this week). As for the "Betty" comment - I was making fun of myself, I called her Betty instead of Peggy in the original post. Too little sleep.

Excellent, thank you. I will do that then, better safe than sorry. I'm still trying to figure out who Betty is LOL. Whoops.

Hello all, I spoke with Betty this morning, and found out my supplemental claim has auto-generated a 5103 request - which means they're asking me for additional evidence, even though I already supplied everything. Below are some questions I sent my VSO, but thought I might get an answer faster here: Good morning! My supplemental claim now appears on VA.gov, with a receive date of 2/10. I called the VA this morning, to see if they needed anything from me, and now I (of course) have questions. 1) They said they sent out a 5103, which is apparently a request for info not in my file. However, I know that was provided to them already, so is the 5103 necessary? 2) I notice now we're appealing the decision for my left knee & shin, nexus my right knee. That is concerning to me because when I reopened the claim, it was against my lower back and left ankle sprain - which are both SCD. The latter claim received a positive DBQ, while the former did not. 3) Do I need to submit the positive DBQ when I receive the 5103? 4) The Rep at the VA informed me that in December there was a DBQ addendum, which apparently is because there was a disagreement between the two DBQs. This concerns me because if they use the "right knee" nexus, that DBQ is less likely than not while the lower back and left ankle DBQ is at least as likely. Thanks!

Were your results positive (in your favor)?

Hi all, My VSO submitted my supplemental claim form on Feb 7, 2020. I called Peggy, she says form received February 10, in the upload cue. While it's awaiting upload, are they also reviewing it? Or does review begin AFTER the upload is complete? I submitted it with all appropriate evidence (new and relevant, of course) which should be cut and dry - a positive DBQ from a VA facility, and an MRI reading from my private care doc. I know Google says 125 days (as does VA, obviously) but I've seen some people say as little as 10 working days. I don't even see the appeal on eBennies or VA.gov yet - is that normal? Thank you!

Hi! Thanks for the reply. I called the 800 number, and they told me it's in the cue - as you suggested. When it's awaiting upload, does that mean they're also reviewing it for completion? Or does it get uploaded, THEN get reviewed for decision? Thanks again!

Wow, an internet tough guy. So much for “one team, one fight” huh? I clearly asked how I could go about checking the status. I also clearly said she (the VSO) already submitted it. honestly, if you had no help to provide me, you could’ve just move along.

Afternoon, fellow vets and those who have "had it." I filed a secondary claim in May of last year for my left knee, nexus was denied due to a bad C&P. After receiving my decision, I opened another claim, adding shin splints (also left leg) and a phantom groin condition - that was in November. I waited a few weeks, and was called to another C&P - which was favorable for all three conditions (groin / left knee / shin splints), and after a few months I got my BBE. The BBE denied the groin (no diagnosis, that's fine). But denied left knee and left shin because I didn't use the appropriate form (20-0995). I enlisted the help of a VSO, and they got to me quickly, and submitted my 20-0995 supplemental claim, citing the updated DBQ as evidence, as well as an MRI I got of my left knee that proves I have some serious issues (sprained ACL, severely bruised MCL, missing cartilage below my kneecap). The VSO submitted it on February 7th, and 827-1000 says they have it, but it has "not been uploaded to the system." What does this mean for me? How do I go about checking the status if I can't see it on VA.com or eBennies? Thanks!

Thanks Bronco. That all makes a lot of sense - also never thought about the "inverse accountability" (as I'll call it). A part of me definitely understands that, since I'm 91% (compensable 90, obviously), that a bilateral 20% pushes me to 100. Therefore, I kind of assumed the fight would be long and arduous although I will admit today felt like a big defeat when I saw the rating. Once I get my letter in a couple days, I'll redact the PII and post here. I have reached out to a VSO, although I cannot meet with him until January 8th. I'll admit I'm not the most patient person, but I do want to do this right. I'm not "looking for 100" like I know some are, I just want them to rate me appropriately for a knee caused by a service connected disability.

Hi all, New to submitting, but have been a passer by for quite some time. I got out of the Navy in 2010, with SCD disabilities for many things. What I'd like to talk about here is my lower back (surgically repaired and rated 20%), and my right knee (rated 10% and 10%). Back in January of this year, I submitted a claim for my left knee, which was made worse by my RIGHT knee. The VA Doc gave me a "less than likely" for nexus, so claim was denied. I then opened a new secondary claim in October of this year, saying my left knee condition was caused by my lower back. In either case, right knee or lower back, it's an accurate statement. My gait has been altered and it has dramatically and significantly affected my right knee. At the second C&P, the results were positive. "At least as likely as not" which if I understand correctly is the terminology necessary for rating, as like in baseball, the tie goes to the runner (vet). Along with this left knee claim, I claimed my left groin and shin splits in my left leg. By the way, my left leg IS service connected for sciatica due to my back trauma. They denied the groin & shin splints, which isn't a huge surprise to me (even though "at least as likely as not" was used there, also). The big, irritating, frustrating surprise to me is they denied service connection on my knee. I do NOT understand what I am doing incorrectly. I have the used the correct forms. I have a positive DBQ from a VA doctor. I have private health records proving my knee is an issue, I have x-rays, I have shown nexus on two different occasions, and I even have buddy lay statements. Yet, the VA still says no. I need help. Thanks, Frustrated Veteran