Copy Of C-file Request - Any Way To Speed Things Up?

[tssnave]

I want to get a copy of my C-file for my doc to review prior to writing his IMO.

What is the best and QUICKEST way to get a copy of my C-file?

Any particular wording I need to use that may speed it up?

Thanks,

ts

[carlie]

ts,

Filing a FOIA request will probably slow things down instead of speed them up and it is not necessary to fill out a FOIA request to get a copy of your c-file.

If you do request a copy of your c-file now, they are going to pull your file from where it is, to make the copies and the chances of it going directly back to where it was prior to your request --- are slim, it will probably go further back in the line from where your claim is now.

Hope this helps a vet.

jmho,

carlie

[tssnave]

Carlie,

My claim was decided Feb 23 so it's not pending.

I am getting an IMO to request an increase based on new and material evidence. I want to make sure that the IMO doc has the entire C-file to review so the VA won't have any reason to disregard his IMO.

What is the quickest way to get a copy of the C-file if making a FOIA request is not? Do I just make a written request and send it through my POA? Any special wording I need to use? I don't want to go to the RO.

Thanks,

ts

[carlie]

ts,

If you don't want to go to the RO then you would probably go thru your POA or see if it's possible to request it in an iris inquiry.

Something else ringing a bell in my head is.... if your going for an increase based on new and material evidence, of something already service connected then what's needed now for your IMO doc to review, is your treatment records from the time of the last rating up until now. Those can be had much quicker than a copy of your c-file. But I feel all vets do need a complete copy of their c-file and would always get a copy even if they don't have any claim with VA.

Hope this helps a vet.

jmho,

carlie

[LarryJ]

Something interesting that I just found out when I was talking with a young lady at the Waco RO.

I had been concerned when my C-file went from Waco to the BVA, because I wanted to file another claim and was afraid to send it in to the Waco RO, knowing that my C-file was in Washington at the BVA/AMC.

Well, just found out that your local RO keeps a "temporary C-file" when your real/original C-file is somewhere other than your local RO. They can work new claims, hearings, DRO work, etc., just as if they had your real, honest-to-gosh C-file. Then, when your real, honest-to-gosh C-file returns to the nest, they just add the work that they have been doing with the "temporary C-file" into the real, honest-to-gosh C-file.

Just something I found out......maybe y'all knew this....but it was "News To Me".

[carlie]

St. Pete, Fl. has my dummy file, it's less than 25 pages.

BVA has my c-file, it's 2 volumes.

carlie

[Hoppy]

TS,

Your C-file has information about every claim you have ever filed. My C-file is three volumes and when stacked on top of each other is about a foot high. I think it would be best to have the IMO read only the documents that were reviewed by the RO as they are listed on the original decision when the low ball award was made. Have the IMO provide a list of documents read that matches the RO's listing of the documents they reviewed on the low ball decision. Any document not listed on the decision could wind up being new and material in any event if in fact it is material.

I Can not remember specifically what disability you were SC'd for. The questions I have are whether or not you really need to get the c-file and does the IMO really want to read it. You might get the IMO report quicker from the doctor if he based his report on his own current observations. Getting the report into the VA could be to your advantage. Don't they use the date the new and material evidence is recieved by the RO as the effective date of the upgrade? Seeking an upgrade on new and material is different than appealing a low ball rating based on a rating error.