zeelarry

Mark, That's where I found mine, under Blue Button. If I remember correctly, I went to my VA health records section [i do not use VA for any medical treatment]. Within that section, there's a place to download your records. I just clicked on ALL, but make sure you also have the dates typed in correctly. Larry

You will receive an immediate confirmation with a confirmation #. Additionally, when you come upon the UNSOLICITED DOCUMENTS section, you'll see what documents they have received and the date they received them. As for the UNSOLICITED DOCUMENTS section, I found mine under All Uploaded Documents After you log into eBenefits, go to your DASHBOARD and click on MANAGE Then, you will see this on the left side of the screen, along with other choices: Claims Work in Process Historical Claims Click on Work in Process if you currently have a claim pending. If not, click on the Historical Claims Once you get to the list of claims, click on any date listed under the Date Submitted column. That will take you to the claim info where you will find the following choices: Needed from You Needed from Others All Uploaded Documents Click on the All Uploaded Documents At the bottom of the page, you will see this: Don't see a document listed? Check our Unsolicited Items page to see if it was received by VA. When you click on the Check our Unsolicited Items page, it should take you to this page: What We Have Received from You (unsolicited) You submitted the following unsolicited items that may or may not be required to expedite the processing of your claim. Description Received

I filed a FDclaim, on-line, in mid May 2015. Had my C&P this past Monday, and was granted & rated on Friday. It took less than 90 days from start to finish. The claim was a secondary condition, so that might have made a difference.

Buck, eBenefits is a wealth of information, once you figure it out. I still have not figured it all out. I have learned where things are by playing around in it. I don't think we can mess anything up in, because I think most of the information is read only. So, when the grand kidos are not around, you should just go & play with it. Once you have figured it, just remember that VA will change it! Have fun......... ..........Larry

I know nothing, Zero, 0, about the back & its connective parts. However, you had stated 'The doc said in her report that some of my foot issues could possibly be related to the back issues that the MRI revealed.' My question is the wording of could possibly be. Are they the actual words, as stated in her report? If so, you'll probably need to get her to state that the foot issues are more likely than not related to the back issues. The key words being: more likely than not.

Buck, The two centers simply scan the paper documents into the new, electronic C-file system. Even if the local RO receives documents from us directly, they in turn, are sent out to one of the two centers. However, I have no idea what they do with x-ray, ct scans, and etc images. As to when your RO will complete your claims, is anybody's guess. I use the Little Rock RO, who is both backed up & screwed up just like all of the other ones. It just took them 1 year to complete my NOD, and that was after 8 years of an appeal & several REMANDS [requesting that the Little Rock RO provide further explanations and NOT SUBJECTIVE C&Ps]. Anyway, last year, I filed for my ED [sMC-K] and it took them about 4 months. This past May 2015, I filed a Renal (Kidney) Dysfunction claim, secondary to my Diabetes. I just checked eBenefits today and my claim has already been approved [80%], as well as awarding me SMC-S, in less then 90 days. I even had a C&P during the 90 days. Totally unbelievable. Meanwhile, in May 2015 I also filed an appeal on two items from their NOD, with a request for a face-to-face conference with the DRO. Have not heard anything from the RO yet! So, for me, the above simply proves that the VA can turn-around our claims in a timely manner, if they want to....

Appreciate the input & suggested letter. Looked at eBenefits tonight and my claim is already at: Step 7: Preparation for Notification [with an estimated completion date of August 11-15, 2015] Let's just see if they award me the correct percentage along with SMC-S!!!!!!!!!! Not too bad for the turn around time. I filed via the paperless claim on May 18, 2015. That's less than 90 days. A lot better than my initial claims filed back in 2006. All claims [except for 2 that are in the appeal process again - for EED & percentage] were finally granted in 2014....8 years of back & forth REMANDS from BVA, until the BVA finally gave up with the local RO, and ordered their own IMO. and BINGO, the BVA's IMO [from the RO in Wilkes-Barre, PA, totally agreeing with Dr. Bash's IMO.

Well, I went to my Kidney C&P this past Tuesday. The C&P Exam was posted on eBenefits today, with no surprises. As usual, I took all of my Lab Tests and Private Doc's write ups, that were pertinent to the kidney disease [which were already part of my C-file]. The C&P thanked me & said that it saved him time looking for the info. NOW, FIGURE THIS ONE OUT- in reading over the whole C&P Exam, the Doc also did a write up on my Diabetes, GERDS, and ED. I just had the C&P done on these ratings back in March 2015, and claims were granted!!!! The last section of the C&P Form is titled Remarks, if any: It appears that the Doc is given an opportunity to add any additional comments. In all 3, he wrote INCREASE. However, I do remember discussing some of the information that answered the questions, but NOT IN DETAIL. However, some of the critical ones were not discussed and are incorrectly stated on the Exam Form. In particular, the DM Exam Form asks about Regulation of Activities, and he answered NO. I just went through a NOD [Jan 2015] with VA about this, and based on my private doc's letter I was granted a higher rating due to restrictions of activities in April 2015. I feel that this is a backdoor approach that VA pulled off, in an attempt to lower my ratings. This is absolute BS, especially if they go back & lower my DM %, back to pre-NOD!!!!!!!!!

Understand your thoughts about VA doing what VA wants to do. But when you get into the SMC-s, you're talking about a mandate for the money. If you have no use for the back pay and $300.00+ monthly increase, you can send it to me....LOL We are not stupid VETS, unless you ask VA about us. Forums like this one helps us in keeping VA in place. Bottomline, Just Do IT

I always took my documents to the C&P exam, to show the Doc. Even though they are in your VA Claim File & VA Medical File, you will simply bring those documents to the Doc's immediate attention & thoughts. Every time I carried in my documents, the C&P Doc was thankful. BUT, just remember that the documents cannot be new evidence or not already in your VA Files. The Doc cannot & will not add any documents to your file. They will [or should] hand the documents back to you at the end of the C&P exam. just MHO

congrats & I know that putting it all together took time, lots of time. I hope the newbies find your info here & use it. Research and more research is what is needed, and unfortunately, not all have the ability of know how to find what they need. This is something that the VETS on this forum understand, and I have greatly appreciated their input also. Bottomline........never give up. VA will cause frustration, aggravation, and depression. But remember, we all signed that blank check....but it is our turn to cash that check....one last item, NEVER LIE on anything while dealing with VA.

freedomisntfree I noticed that you're 90%. Since you're being let go by your company, due to your service connected disabilities, did you file for TDIU with VA? Also, since your situation deals with your company's disability insurance, you need to look into Social Security Disability Insurance [sSDI]. When I was put on permanent disability from my Federal Job, I had to file for SSDI. So I do receive VA, Federal employees permanent disability, and SSDI.

Congrats on getting the 100% & SMC.

thanks all for the info. as ASKNOD says, one needs to build it first.

I've saw how this was done when I was on active duty. The process and all of the scanning was done by Contractors, who of course, are the lowest bidder & pay their scanners minimum wages. It was a massive undertaking, and yes, many mis-filed documents. Quality Assurance can only go so far!!!!! I wonder, will we ever have access to our scanned documents, or get a disc copy of the files?

Bobbo5Toe - please update us on how you were paid Chuck, I agree and when finished will all of my claims, I will file a complaint. The bashing of Dr. Bash was to no avail, I won all my claims at the BVA level, based on the BVA's own IMO agreeing with Dr. Bash. Just fighting with the DRO on the ratings - go figure.

THANKS J, So I guess that after 'S', unless a Veteran is A&A, lost limbs or whatever, there's no reason to fight for higher ratings, even though one believes that VA screwed up.

Thanks FAT & BUCK, I agree on what FAT has stated and his good example. Also, as FAT stated: I think both terms are interrelated as it relates to VA disability. And that is my contention/problem with the rating. In my case, and I'm sure there are others, VA is using their own definitions as they wish to, without statutory or regulatory references. If so, CAVC has stated time after time, that plain language/dictionary definitions will be used as to the meaning of words and phrases. Also, as stated, VA evaluated & rated the residuals [0%] of the gallbladder removal, while referring to other disabilities. Meanwhile, they never addressed nor rated the gallbladder removal with severe SYMPTOMS. They only addressed the RESIDUALS [under other Disability Codes] and rolled them all together for their low ball, 0% rating, of gallbladder removal with severe SYMPTOMS. Kind of mixing oranges & apples. I feel that VA did this mixed-matched wording, of the RESIDUALS ratings, to gloss over the fact that they did not rate the SYMPTOMS for the gallbladder removal.

Thanks Berta, Going through, what seems to be the usual these days, with an EED. Original claims in 2006, which included Type 1 Diabetes. After the usual process of denials & BVA's REMANDS [3], the BVA obtained their own IMO that agreed with Dr. Bash's IMO in 2014- go figure!!! Anyway, RO finally rated & lowballed with 20% rating, with the correct effective date. Filed a NOD within a month of which the RO granted me the 40% based on a letter that was in my file, from my Primary Care Manager. However, they gave me an effective date for the 40% in 2014, stating that a C&P in 2008 did not mention any physical activity restrictions and that the first time the restrictions of physical activities were brought up was in 2014. DUH!!!!! They granted the 40% based on my doctor's letter which also stated that I've been on physical activity restrictions. The restricted physical activity date stated in my doctor's letter, was before I filed my claim. So again, another VA Form 9 was filed for the EED & low ball rating on my gallbladder removal. I did request a face to face conference before forwarding to BVA. My request was typed, in bold, right on the VA Form 9. When the face to face conference happens, your reference will assist me even more. So again, THANKS

Sorry to take so long to get back to your request. I've been travelling and didn't have access to my files. Anyway, here is the wording of their decision & my basis for the question: [sORRY for the long post] . . . At the VA Examinations conducted on April 7, 2015, you were diagnosed with GERD, cholecystectomy, 'and pancreatitis. in regards to -.your cholecystectomy and pancreatitis, the examiner stated that there has been no change in symptoms to correlate with these conditions. You do not require any medication for any of these conditions. Your Cholecystectomy postoperative residuals were noted to be asymptomatic at this time. Also, you were noted to have no symptoms associated with your pancreatitis + Laboratory findings noted your alkaline phosphatase was 112 and your SGOT was 24+ both of which are within normal limits. In regards to your GEED, the examiner noted that you currently treat this condition with Nexium and Rolaids. Your symptoms includes pyrosis, reflux, and regurgitation. There was no evidence of considerable impairment of health, material weight loss, hematemesis, melena, or anemia; associated with this condition. Your residuals, cholecystectomy due to gallstones warrants a noncompensable evaluation based on: a. Nonsymptomatic Now, this is what my question pertains to- The VA had addressed and rated my ‘RESIDUALS of the GALLBLADDER REMOVAL’, but has failed to address and rate my service connected disability for ‘Removal of gallbladder with XXXXXX SYMPTOMS’ under DC 7318. [Note: DC 7318 wording and rating percentages have remained unchanged since 1945]. During the timeframe from my initial claim submission in 2006, which included a Cholecystectomy, and the service connected decision and rating in 2014, my claim for a Cholecystectomy under DC 7318, was changed from ‘Removal of Gallbladder with XXXXXX SYMPTOMS’ to ‘RESIDUALS of Cholecystectomy’, without explanation nor reasoning. The use of 'RESIDUALS' and 'SYMPTONS' are used throughout the Federal Code/Schedule independently and without any reference or pertinence to each other. In fact, 'RESIDUALS' and 'SYMPTOMS' are NOT synonymous with each other. Furthermore, neither 'RESIDUALS' or 'SYMPTOMS' are defined in the Federal Code/Schedule, nor are they addressed anywhere in the Code's legislative notes/intentions. Therefor, I refer to the following to establish the meanings of the words: What is SYMPTOM? The subjective or apparent manifestation of a disease or condition or the change of such. See syndrome Law Dictionary: What is SYMPTOM? definition of SYMPTOM (Black's Law Dictionary) What is SYNDROME? A group of symptoms occurring together to indicate a certain disease or condition is present. Law Dictionary: What is SYNDROME? definition of SYNDROME (Black's Law Dictionary) What is RESIDUAL? Relating to the residue; relating to the part remaining. Law Dictionary: What is RESIDUAL? definition of RESIDUAL (Black's Law Dictionary)

I hope that this post is allowed. If not, sorry & please let me know. I just thought it may help answer some questions about VA's attitude and problems with their new claims system. Read this article today and thought I would pass it on to others. Bottomline, the article talks about VA & their new claims filing system. http://www.vetlawyers.com/informal-claims-benefits/

I know that in my claim, eBenefits states that it's waiting for documents with a suspense date. The only item that is needed & requested by VA was my C&P exam. So yes, we have no idea what documents they are looking for, unless they requested something from the veteran.

Congrats......now I need to ask you, have you looked into Social Security Disability? Military retirement and/or VA disability is not held against you. I'm 23 years active duty, military retired; Federal Retirement; 100% P&T VA; and SSDI.

Bottomline, all claim information and additional paperwork has to be scanned at one of the Claims Intake Centers. If something is mailed to the Regional Office, they open the envelopes and mail them to their Intake Center for scanning. If you give anything to a VSO, they may hand carry it to the RO, which in turn gets sent to the the Intake Center for scanning [A DELAY!!!!!] I was told this by the local RO's Rep last year. JUST REMEMBER, to ALWAYS make sure your NAME & C-file # is on ALL PAPERS!!!!!! If you submit forms or paperwork via eBenefits, it goes directly to the Intake Center. [i added a lab test to my claim last night, via eBenefits, and it is shown as being in the system as of today]. If you fax anything to the Intake Center, it appears on eBenefits within a day or two.

I've looked through all kinds of past postings on SMC, to include Asknod's information. However, I could not answer this one question: Do two qualifying SMC-S bump a veteran up to SMC-L? [example- 100% P&T + 60% + 60%, separate body functions] THANKS