Carpool

Tbird, thanks for jumping my behind and sending me somewhere else to fit in. Beautiful. Man, you guys really misjudged this and missed the context. Broncovet moved my post from being a comment on a previous post(Broncovet's first statement) to establishing it as a new post. I can see where someone would question a stand-alone post like that as it seems out of place. Why not just ask how to help or 'what's going on'? I would have answered and it would have cleared things up VERY QUICKLY. When I came on this site, a comment to this post ( ) was at the top of the list. Someone had added to it, resurrecting the original post. I read it and added my take, hoping to help others understand that things are not as they seem most times. When I added to it, I even mentioned that it had been resurrected (it's from 2018). I just went back and re-read the thread. Only a handful of comments were visible when I initially read it and commented, most of the comments were about addiction and not so much about judging by outward appearances. I wasn't venting, ranting, or anything of the sort, just pointing out that: 1. I wouldn't harm another Veteran in any way, 2. Misjudgements and misperceptions by those around us are harmful. I've been the subject of misperceptions the whole time since injury(read benefits, entitlements, and injuries). I see a parents friend misrepresent his benefits to make it seem like he gets a big check for minor injuries when he really has cancer. I see a cousin in-law a few times removed suffer misjudgements and can't say much because it might inadvertently betray her situation and privacy, 3. It's easy to figure out what rating a person should have by using the VARSD. That not every injury is or should be a 100%er, 4. There are Veterans that game the system and I feel sorry that they do that, 5. A person can't know the Veteran's whole situation unless they are part of it, and 6. Just remember that we are Veterans together, bound by something you have to experience to understand. I responded to this because I care. If that's not understandable, just delete the whole thread. My post was never intended as a stand-alone post anyway. I don't need help with my claim. Shrekthetank1 and Broncovet answered my question in my very first post about the order of documents generated by the VA.

Old posts, but it's been resurrected now. hahaha I do not support harming another Veteran. However, I also do not support those who lie to get ratings. When I was injured, my parents listened to a older friend who was 100%. He kept telling them I was getting a big check from the VA when in reality I was only awarded two 10% ratings, carried over from the Medical Board. That carry-over mistake prevented me from applying for TDIU and started the decade-long fight. I knew my spinal injury was not a 100% injury, but it sure wasn't a 10% either. Finally about 8 years into the VA appeal process, I had it with all the crap from people around me who assumed I was getting all this money from the VA. People only saw me on good days, because on bad days I couldn't move, much less get out and visit. My parents were stunned when I told them that what I get from the VA is deducted from my retirement. But that's not really any of their business anyway. That their friend's check (rating) was more likely based on him having cancer, not cause he sprained an ankle and arm in a chopper landing and had a few other minor old-age things. They really got the point when I mentioned that he worked in construction for 30 years AFTER that landing, so his ankle and arm must have been ok. My aunt was one of the worst, saying how a in-law niece gets this and that and there's nothing wrong with the niece, not so much as a stubbed toe. I couldn't say that her thing may have been sexual trauma.....that's her story to tell or not. I just felt bad that she has to listen to all the jabs and maybe doesn't want everyone to know her situation. My point is that everyone's story is different. And how that story affects us may be different. You don't know til you live with the person and see them on goods days and bad. I'm crippled with a spinal injury, walk with a cane, facing a wheelchair due to nerve damage, have about 14 other injuries from on duty, in the MTRs (not football games or MC accidents) and am still fighting for FAIR ratings after 10 years. Spinal injury should be a 40-60%. Some are a FAIR 20%, 10%, or even 0%, but should be SC'd. How do I know this? The VASRD. It is very easy to understand where you rate. Work is out unless I can employ myself and work at my pace and limitations, but it will never amount to making a living. Shoot, even SSA job vocational specialist could not place me in a position and immediately approved SSDI. I just keep trying to get the VA to recognize that for consideration. But that doesn't mean I need to turn in the guys who twirling a cane like Fred Astaire walking through the VA parking lot then hobbling when he nears the door, asking for a wheel chair. I feel sorry for them, lacking the conscious to be honest and honorable. Just remember that we have a common interest that those who didn't serve can't understand. Yes, that includes the majority of the VA employees..... who think they understand. hahaha again

My claim started a little over 10 years ago, so it's Legacy. I don't recall choosing the AMA route or that being an option. Not to say it wasn't there. Scrambling to get back up to speed every year or so is tough. Thanks for the advice. I'll check online for the download.

Thanks shrekthetank1. You're correct, that I just got done with a step in the Appeal process. It was at the CAVC level. I had grants, remands, & denials. The denials were expected as the conditions were resolved over time or were injuries with no real impact in the past or currently. CAVC sent the instructions to the Regional Office. I received the RO's SoC generated from the CAVC remand. It confirmed the CAVC grants and added 3 denials. Again, those were expected and accepted as fair. The SoC skipped over some of the remands and didn't even address them. My goal in addition to what's been granted is 1 increase and 2 awards, one being just a fair 0% for connection so I don't have to fight that in a few years when the condition worsens. I was under the impression the SoC should have mentioned every item either with a conclusion or that it was still in-work. You can bet your behind that I won't miss that due date. I'll give it a little while to get a Decision letter before starting a response to the SoC. Again, thanks for the help. You confirming that there should be a Decision coming keeps me straight.

I'm trying to figure out the order of paperwork as a claim and appeals progress. I think I'm missing a set of paperwork, but don't know for sure. Specifically, a Decision letter from the Regional Office that fits between #7 and 8 in the below list. Shouldn't I get a Decision letter with rating info before getting a Statement of Case? This is what I have so far: Claimant - Claim for compensation VA - Decision Claimant - Notice of Disagreement VA - Statement of Case Claimant - Appeal DRO/BVA/CAVC mess (Decision Review Officer/Board of Veterans Appeals/US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims) VA - Decision by judge. Awarding some claims and remanding some. VA - Statement of Case. Denied 3 items. No mention of others. Any help is appreciated because I am confused. I have 2 options right now with the 60-day deadline to answer the SoC: Do it now, and address everything in the claim NOT addressed in the SoC -OR- wait a little longer hoping a Decision letter comes (if there's supposed to be one) to explain the missing items.