FS ROSS

Does anyone know why a claim that goes to the rating board and then goes to a Secondary rating board? I am having trouble finding any info in regards to " secondary rating board".

I have sent two claim status request in the last month via IRIS. But before I sent them I first called the 1800 number a few days before sending the 1st Iris request and got the reply " you claim is Pending". That was rather vague, so I waited a week and sent in the first IRIS claim status request and got this: ***This is in response to your inquiry dated September 5,2009, regarding the status of your PTSD claim. " In researching your file, our records reflect your claim was sent to the rating board and is ready for final decision. Even after a decision has been made, there are several administrative steps that must be completed before we finalize your claim. This process is in place to ensure accuracy. We appreciate your patience and you will receive notification via U.S. mail once your claim has been finalized. Your notification letter will explain our decision in detail." I then waited about 2 more weeks and went to IRIS and requested an update on since the last one I recieved and got this one yesterday: ****This is in response to your inquiry dated September 24, 2009, regarding an update to the status of your PTSD claim. "In researching your file, our records reflect your claim was sent to the rating board and then sent back to the Secondary Rating board effective September 11, 2009. This indicates your claim is thoroughly being reviewed for the highest rating and decision for your disability. Even after a decision is made there are several administrative steps which must be completed before we finalize your claim. We appreciate your patience as we continue to work on your claim." I have never seen the term "Secondary rating board" before. I am already 50% for PTSD from Nam ( Purple Heart/NavAchiev with V/ Combat Action) I have been diagnosed with rather servere Chronic Combat PTSD/ GAF since 2004 has been consistantly 41-50. Its the Secondary rating board I am confused by... Thanks. FS Ross 1970-71 USMC/ Grunt

Several weeks ago I called the 1800 number in regards to the PTSD rating increase my VSO (PVA) put in for me in April. I was wondering how it was going and made the call. The answer I got was...It was pending. The answer was vague so I waited about a week and did a status of my claim request via IRIS. This was about 3 weeks ago. In about 2 days I got this reply: **** This is in response to your inquiry dated September 5,2009, regarding the status of your PTSD claim. "In researching your file, our records reflect your claim was sent to the rating board and is ready for final decision. Even after a decision has been made, there are several administrative steps that must be completed before we finalize your claim. This process is in place to ensure accuracy. We appreciate your patience and you will receive notification via U.S. mail once your claim has been finalized. Your notification letter will explain our decision in detail". I thought that was good...the ball is rolling. I waited about 2 or three weeks more and last Wednesday I requested an up date on the status via IRIS and on Friday I got this message: ***This is in response to your inquiry dated September 24, 2009, regarding an update to the status of your PTSD claim. "In researching your file, our records reflect your claim was sent to the rating board and then sent back to the Secondary Rating board effective September 11, 2009. This indicates your claim is thoroughly being reviewed for the highest rating and decision for your disability. Even after a decision is made there are several administrative steps which must be completed before we finalize your claim. We appreciate your patience as we continue to work on your claim". I am not familar with " back to the Secondary Rating board" and was wondering what this could mean. My claim is for an increase in my PTSD from 50% to 70%. I have been diagnosed with " Rather severe PTSD" with a constant GAF of 41-50 since 2004. I am being seen by a psych. dr. now and the Axis is the same.....Severe Chronic PTSD with a GAF of 50. I feel I should of been upgraded along time ago, but thats another story. I just would like an interpretation of what that last IRIS may mean. As I said....I am not sure why my claim was sent back to the Secondary Rating board. What is the Secondary Rating Board? I am a two time Vietnam Vet/ Purple Heart/ NavAchiev.Medal with V/ Combat Action/ etc/etc. I am 90% overall at the moment with 50% being the highest and is for PTSD. The others ratings go 30/30/20/20/10/10/10/10/10/10/10 (20% AO Diabetes/ 5 of the 10's for shrapnel/ 2-10's for neuopathy feet due to AO diabetes/ etc.) 4 of the 10's are bilats... Anyways...just wondering what that last IRIS may of meant. I was not called in for a C and P for the said mentioned claim. This has never happened either. They did get my latest VA psych eval with I mentioned above. That it....Thanks for your input. FS Ross, Marine Grunt 3/5 and 3/1 .

I have sent two claim status request in the last month. I first called the 1800 number a few days before sending the 1st Iris request and got the reply " you claim is Pending". That was rather vague, so I waited a week and sent in the first IRIS claim status request and got this: ***This is in response to your inquiry dated September 5,2009, regarding the status of your PTSD claim. " In researching your file, our records reflect your claim was sent to the rating board and is ready for final decision. Even after a decision has been made, there are several administrative steps that must be completed before we finalize your claim. This process is in place to ensure accuracy. We appreciate your patience and you will receive notification via U.S. mail once your claim has been finalized. Your notification letter will explain our decision in detail." I then waited about 2 more weeks and went to IRIS and requested an update on since the last one I recieved and got this one yesterday: ****This is in response to your inquiry dated September 24, 2009, regarding an update to the status of your PTSD claim. "In researching your file, our records reflect your claim was sent to the rating board and then sent back to the Secondary Rating board effective September 11, 2009. This indicates your claim is thoroughly being reviewed for the highest rating and decision for your disability. Even after a decision is made there are several administrative steps which must be completed before we finalize your claim. We appreciate your patience as we continue to work on your claim." I have never seen the term "Secondary rating board" before. I am already 50% for PTSD from Nam ( Purple Heart/NavAchiev with V/ Combat Action) I have been diagnosed with rather servere Chronic Combat PTSD/ GAF since 2004 has been consistantly 41-50. Its the Secondary rating board I am confused by... Thanks. FS Ross 1970-71 USMC/ Grunt