sophia

Folks:

I was notified that my "intent to file" paperwork cannot be located so I've got to send it in again? Also, would someone please provide the link to download the 5103 Waiver Form? I think the lack of this 5103 waiver is holding up the process for me so I want to get it filled out and sent in today... At this point, I think everything else is done. It;'s interesting that the claims backlog is dropping fairly quickly now, so I wonder what the impacts are on claims quality?

Just found this: VA Training Letter on SCI. Originally posted by allan on 3/5/07

July 10, 2003

Director 211A
All VBA Regional Offices and Centers Training Letter 03-04




SUBJECT: Training letter on spinal cord injuries and potential complications

1. This training material was written in cooperation with Dr. Barry Goldstein, Assistant Chief Consultant, Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Strategic Healthcare Group, Seattle, Washington. It includes primarily medical information on spinal cord injuries and complications from spinal cord injuries. The intent of this letter is to increase rater sensitivity to the catastrophic nature of these types of injuries. This letter is not intended to make policy.

2. If you have any questions or comments about the content of this letter, or note any errors, please check the appropriate calendar pages at: http://152.124.238.193/bl/21/publicat/Letters/TrngLtrs.htm




/S/

Ronald J. Henke
Director, Compensation and Pension Service




Enclosure


An injury or disease that affects the spinal cord may profoundly change one

Carlie I go to the Minneapolis VA and there is no such thing as Priority Groups anymore, I'm 60% and waited 4 months for back surgery, not because there's that many disabled vets up here that need surgery it's just first come first served, it's the same way at the Saint Cloud MN. VA... been that way for years.

The Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School filed a lawsuit Monday on behalf of a Marine Corps veteran and thousands of other veterans seeking to compel the Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs to decide initial disability compensation appeals that have been pending more than one year. The lawsuit specifically involves cases in which veterans are facing a medical or financial hardship.



http://www.law.yale.edu/news/19493.htm

I have completed over 400 fully developed claims this past year. All have been adjuicated with 90 days. The only exception is those military members that are retiring that have been awarded 50% or greater. Their claims are taking approx. 30 days longer because, DFAS has to compute the pay.

Saw your shout T and figured I'd give feedback here.

Hadit is chock full of helpful information but can be overwhelming for new visitors.

When giving driving directions to someone I try to think as if I was driving there for the first time: what would be helpful for me to know, use as landmarks etc.

1. "Where To Start" at the top for newbies who are walking into the VA labyrinth for the first time. Can have brief synopsis of The Process, what is 1st priority like deciding whether to use a VSO (pros and cons), ...
2. Claims and Medical Issues could be separate sections with their own flow
3. 2 columns of info instead of 3
4. Smaller chunks for each topic "Aid and Attendance Veterans Benefit" etc but keep the topic print large. So more topics may be seen on each page without scrolling.
I'm guessing the borders with a Red House and Blue House on left are placeholders for other info - I'd delete them if not being used so more info is on 1st page. On Hadit forum the first 2 pages are occupied so you have to go down to 3rd page to start getting to relevant information; I'd like to see what's relevant to me on 1st page.
5. Smaller Share buttons for Twitter etc. Everyone knows what those are - I use none of them and would like less emphasis on them.
6. PLEASE ignore the trend to put a pop up when people first reach the site - I Always ignore those and they are a turn off.

Thanks for all you do!

Wow - good stuff - Thanks!

Please folks tell me something, I won my CUE with the BVA as of last Monday.. Got my earlier effective date of May 7 ,1969.. Now what happens when the VA has to pay retro back to that date.. I do not understand how this works. And how they make a determination of how much they owe me. The records say 70% from BVA decision in 08 and BVA decision in 2010 set to 100% IU retro active to 04.. The claim has no been sent back to the RO..
Now what happens?.. Please respond..

RSG

"November 29, 2011
Director (00/21) In Reply Refer To:
All VA Regional Offices Training Letter 11-03 (Revised)
SUBJ: Processing Disability Claims Based on Exposure to Contaminated Drinking
Water at Camp Lejeune
This updated training letter incorporates multiple recommendations provided by other
interested organizations, including the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, and
Office of Management and Budget. It also reflects the Environmental Protection Agency's
revised assessment of trichloroethylene (TCE), now characterized as "carcinogenic to
humans" by all routes of exposure.
Purpose
Veterans who served at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, were
potentially exposed to contaminants present in the base water supply prior to 1987. The
chemical compounds involved have been associated by various scientific organizations
with the possible development of certain chronic diseases. However, many unanswered
questions remain regarding the extent of base water contamination, the type and duration
of exposure experienced by base personnel, and the likelihood that contaminant levels in
the water supply were high enough to result in a particular disease.
While these issues are being studied, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has
determined that disability claims from Veterans who served at Camp Lejeune during this
period deserve special handling to ensure fairness and consistency in claims processing.
As a result, adjudication of these claims has been centralized at the Louisville, Kentucky,
Regional Office with tracking measures initiated. Technical aspects related to processing
these claims are outlined in Fast Letter 11-03, Consolidation and Processing of Disability
Claims Based on Exposure to Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune, North
Carolina.
This training letter was developed to provide additional background information on the
Camp Lejeune situation, as well as to provide specific guidance for issues related to
claims development and adjudication. The current guidance supersedes the initial release
and the Camp Lejeune section of Training Letter 10-03, Environmental Hazards in Iraq,
Afghanistan, and Other Military Installations."

Courtesy of my friend Bob Walsh , veteran's attorney- who just got this new training letter.

The 10-03 Environmental Hazard Training letter should be in our training letter forum.

The FAst letter they refer to is here:

http://agentorangezone.blogspot.com/2011/01/disability-claims-based-on-exposure-to.html


2

I vote to keep it! now that its on the side!