PapaJahn

Well, it finally happened..... I received my rating letter and I can't complain! I do have a question that the VA (800#) refuses to clarify. Background info: 17 April 09: Filed claim May-Aug 09: Butt-load of CP exams 30 June 09: Retired USAF 24 Sep 09: Received check from US treasury...no annotation as to reason (assumed it was VA Comp) 25 Sep 09: Called VA 800# and confirmed check was first VA comp. Woman stated decision letter would soon follow. 28 Sept 09: Received decision letter...100% with SMC added, effective 1 July 09 Here's where I am confused...called 800# a couple of times and have gotten conflicting anwers. The first page has my monthly entitlement amount- $$$$$, followed by the payment start date - Aug 1 2009. The following page states: "Your payment begins the first day of the month following your effective date. You will received a payment covering the intial amount due under this award, minus any withholdings, in approximately 15 days. Payments will then be made at the begining of each month for the prior month. For example, benefits due for May are paid on or about June 1." If logic prevails.....I was entitled to benefits for July, August and now September. Since the first check wasn't cut until 23 Sept it should have been for July and August entitlements....correct??? Well, my first check was equal to one months' benefit....which month it was for wasn't annotated on the check. So, I call the infamous 800# to seek clarification. Woman stated that check cut was for Aug and I wasn't entitled to July because of the "payment start date" wasn't until 1 Aug. After discussing MY interpretation of the letter, she backtracked, agreed, and stated another check had been cut and was in the mail. She stated Oct 1st payments hadn't been processed for anyone yet, so this check must be the other month of retro pay and I that I would receive another check on/about Oct 1st...3 months, 3 checks. Great...issue solved...so I thought. Got another check in the mail today...just as she promised. One small glitch....the check is dated for 1 Oct and is annotated with "09 Va Comp for Sep". So, back to the 800# again, different representative. I repeat the process from the previous conversation. The young man I spoke with didn't have a clue. At first he disagreed with me...then he agreed...then contradicted himself by saying the check received today was both back pay AND October's payment...A complete idiot. I asked if I could have his name and speak to his supervisor he said NO to both and I could just call back to get another representative. I repeated my position and he says "OH!" and agrees, once again. He places me on hold to double check and then someone else gets on the phone and "tells me how it is". I was stunned at her rudeness. She stated the check received today, dated 1 Oct is for my September entitlement. The previous check (dated 23 Sept) was for Augusts' entitlement and that I am not entitled to anything for the month of July, because my payment start date wasn't until Aug 1st. She refused to speak any further and hung up on me. So, i guess their final position is that the start date of Aug 1st IS the same as the effective date and than I am not entitled to any comp for the month of July. Soooo, for any of you patient enough to read through my ramblings...are my assumptions correct or are these VA reps correct? If I am correct what do I have to do to get the rest of my retro pay? I really hope I made myself clear and thank anyone for their input on this issue. PapaJahn