charbs

ammodad: you didn't ask the wrong question and the person you were talking to wasn't blowing you off. It is against VA policy to verbally tell a veteran the outcome of a decision BEFORE he/she recieves his award letter because something may change in the rating decision after the vet was told. I found out the hard way after I told one of my vets about the favorable decision. Three days later he called me screaming what the hell is going on? YOu told me a got the s/c but I just got a letter saying I was denied!" After I had talked to the Coach of the rating board and the RVSR who rated the claim, contradictory evidence was discovered in a second signiture review. which resulted in a denial. So we can't tell the veteran what the decision was; the vet must be formally notified via the letter first.

sbrewer, the only common denominator between disability ratings issued by a veteran's branch of service and the VA are the medical diagnositic codes used to identify the disability. As to who gives the higher percentage, Today it is very rare for VA do grant a lower percentage than the branch of service. However considering that the claim goes back 26 years it is possible. Have him file for an increase now w/ his VSO and then file a separate claim for CUE. Wait to get the increase first however because all work will stop on it so action can be taken on the CUE.