Appeals Management Center Backlog

[Josephine]

I can't move forward, so I am creating a backlog.If the AMC would not loose all the records, there probably would not be a back log.


How can the Claims Adjustor and the Development Team check a file for completeness and when it arrives at the " Rating Specialist", papers be missing, causing you  to start all over again.

I sent this letter to the Inspector General's Office, and Senator Warner's. I spoke with Senator Warner's office yesterday.

I am assuming they will have to remove my file from the filing cabinet to answer his question.

I was remanded to the AMC April 2006. I immediately responded to the

request per the remand. I secured the letter needed April 2006, by Dr. M Payne and the Letter by Pastor B. O Burch, Did I file in 1978 and a letter about "Doris".

I contacted the St. Louis Archives for my Personnel Records and any

additional medical records in their possession. I received the Personnel Records May 2006 and immediately faxed these to Pearl at the AMC.

The Personnel Records were mentioned to me again by Pearl, June 2006 and I again immediately contacted the St. Louis Archives for another copy.

In turn, I faxed the complete set to Pearl, and was in turn told by her that they were logged into my claims file.

September 2006, my Claims file made it to the Rater and was sent to the two Psychiatrists per the remand for a new opinion. They responded, but did not comply to the remand.

The rater requested the Personnel Records as they were missing.

I spoke with Ms. Dunlap and was told that the AMC had received a letter from the St. Louis Archives my Personnel Records were missing at the Archives.

I told Ms. Dunlap that I would fax another copy to the AMC and she seemed astonished that I had a complete copy. I faxed them to Ms. Dunlap and was told by Lidel J. he would log them into my claims file, which he did.

I sent the AMC a letter to Rate January 1, 2007.

I waited and waited for my claims file to be rated, but was told that the file was in the over-flow.

August of 2007, I faxed a copy of my advancement on the docket to one of the employees by the name of Lucy, Office of the Inspector General.

I appreciate Lucy taking action and assuring me that my claim would go to the rater shortly.

Within two weeks my claim was with the "Rating Specialist". I was told on September 14, 2007, she turned my claim over to her "Supervisor".

The telephone counselors told me for two weeks, they were waiting for

her/his signature.

October 3, 2007, I received a letter, which told me they were securing

more information from Dr. M. Payne. His letter of April 2006 was missing from the file.

I called and spoke to a R. Binder and was told this was a VCAA letter. I ask what to do with the Statement of the Case page to the back of the letter, and was told to fill this out and return. Why a second VCAA Notice? To delay a decision and began again.

I called and spoke to Ms. Dunlap and she assured me that this was not a VCAA Notice and to return it with any information that I felt the AMC may have lost.

My service officer received a letter dated October 6, of my having a

possible C&P dated 2006.

I took what I felt that the AMC may have lost the April 2006 letter by Dr. M. Payne, Pastor B. O Burch and other Statements in Support of Claim,that I felt were important and had the Regional Office, date stamp this information and the U.S Navy Recruiter faxed all information to AMC.

This will be the second time that the same thing has happed to me. Lost records.

I was told Thursday, October 18, 2007, that my claims file was at the

Claims Examiner to place the claims file back in order for the " Rating Specialist" and that my claims file would return back to the " Rating Supervisor".

October 19, 2007, Lidel J called me and I did have some questions

regarding the slander in the last C&P and what the AMC did about this. I ask him, "Has my claims file went back to the "Rating Specialist".

He said "No"! Your claims file is in the file and will be worked in time, as they have a tremendous back log.

I spoke to Ms. Dunlap today by way of Mr. Russo's Office, as I am a

sensitive 6 and no one can open my claim.

She assured me she would secure my claims file from the filing cabinet and take it to the Development Manager for her/him to check the file.

This does not tell me how long my file will stay with the Manager of

Development and if it will be another year before my claims file is

reviewed again.

She did state to me, only when the file is complete does it move

forward and advance. My claims file is in the cabinet and needs to be

rated, before my information is lost.

This is pasted directly from the Remand by the BVA.

"In support of her claim she submitted several service department

documents she obtained from the National Personnel Records Center,

including additional service medical records, which VA had not obtained

previously. "

Is this statement why my records are being lost or destroyed? I have been sent two VCAA notices just to delay my claim. There was no need to send me a second one October 3, 2007 and for my claim to return to development.

The medical records could have been secured by the Rating Supervisor and returned for rating.

I have been discriminated against since my locating my "Psychiatric

Records in the St. Louis Archives where they laid idle and never secured.

It is obvious to me the AMC is waiting for me to die in order to not rate this claim. They are aware that my health is poor and I am age 63 and at times suicide would be the best option for me. I only ask for closure of this claim. I know that there is a backlog, but I have been working with this last claim since December 2001. Filing first in 1978.

I spoke to Ms. Dunlap yesterday and she had not done one thing that she said that she would. My claims file is till in a cabinet.

Always,

Josephine

Edited October 25, 2007 by Josephine

[Josephine]

Josephine,

You're going through the same thing I'm going through now. I send info they ask for and they say they can't accept it from me, they have to send for it. Then it's lost and they have to send for it again. I've been told three times they have all the info they need and a month later they tell me their sending for info they already have. I've been going through this since 2000. I can't talk to my American Leigon rep because he won't return my calls. It's even hard to get a name for my records because no one wants to be involved.

When you write your senators and they inquire on your behalf, the AMC gives them the same lies they feed us so there's really no help. The last info I got a few weeks ago was they have all the info and it should go to the rating board in the next few weeks. We have to face the fact we have no help and are at the mercy of the system. All we can do is support and pray for each other.

Is there anywhere we can find how many claims the AMC process each month? And whos screening these past claims for overpayments? All i know to do is wait and read this board and look for some good news from other members to let me know something is being done.

Take Care and Hopefully things will work out for the best. BIGPAPA92

BIGPAPA92,

As I told Pete, I just got off the telephone with Ms. Dunlap and someone must have done some good, for that file is coming out of the cabinet and moving back to the rater.

All I want is closure. I can accept a denial from the AMC it is just how to get a grant or a denial.

If I wish, then I can at least move forward with the claim.

Yes, we are at their mercy and their lies.

Their lies have just about gotten the best of me, but perhaps I will receive an answer soon.

Mary Flymm told me to call them everyday and they will work your claim.

Have I been doing it. Yes most definitely. I call them about 3 times a day now.

They don't even need to ask for my SS number anymore. They all know it.

I have just about collected every telephone number within the AMC. If you want results you need to badger Russo's secretary.

If you want his number, when husband returns from work, I will give it to you.

Always and Thanks so much for your prayers.

I sure need them now.

[Josephine]

Hi Josephine

My file is back in the file room also. I sent Dr. Bash's IMO and a letter from me to the AMC via certify mail yesterday. Dr. Bash seems to be an advocate of getting politicians involved in moving the claims file. In my copy of the claims file, I see where they mark the file pull, so they do indeed pull the file for someone to respond to congressional inquiries which is a good thing, but the unknown factor, is where do they place it afterwards. Dr. Bash wants me to send his letter and a letter from me to my Senators and Congressman.

I did notice that several internet publications about my back condition that I had sent to the AMC were no longer in the file. So they do remove items from the file, which should be a no no.

Pertaining to your claim, how do they know if an item is missing from your file? It was there at one time and now it is missing, how would they even know it was missing,

unless it is there and they want to delay by asking for another copy. This has happened to me.

Dr Bash recommended that when I send in his IMO that I number each page legal style, i. e. 1 of 20, 2 of 20, 3 of 20 etc. I did that and it would make sense that if one finds pages out of sequence then the file is not complete. Then the pages were lost or taken out for some reason.

Happy Trails

Paul

Hi Paul.

I am so happy that you have that IMO in from Dr. Bash. What a pleasant journey that you took. "Small town boy goes to city." I liked that.

I did succeed in getting that file out of the cabinet.

As I told Pete, When the AMC sent me that second VCAA Notice. I took all the important information to the Regional Office and had it date stamped, so that they couldn't loose it.

I may receive a denial from the Rater, but at least it won't come back for information that has been sent to them.

You need to call and talk to Ms. Dunlap as much as possible to get your file moved out. You have been there way too long.

I can provide you with many telephone numbers.

Good luck as Always,

Betty

[10thFO]

Josephine calling them up to 3 times a day is a little exorbitant. I understand you are frustrated beyond belief, but I think calling them so much that they don't even ask for your SS# anymore, has moved you from a concerned vet, to one who they think is Wacko and their chain of command is probably relaying this message to them.

I have had great luck using Senator Warner in the past, but I picked and chose which battles I needed help with. Now that he is not running for reelection, I wouldn't be looking to Sen. Warner as a results getter in all cases. Before he used to be able to get them moving without even having you sign off on the Release of Information page. Now that he is leaving office, I think they will be less responsive to his offices inquiries. I think it's a shame but it is the way politics work.

Good luck with your case, I hope something breaks soon, I can appreicate your under extreme duress with the loss files and lack of paperwork, but you need to find a new approach, because it sure seems like someone is screwing with you over there.

[Josephine]

Josephine calling them up to 3 times a day is a little exorbitant. I understand you are frustrated beyond belief, but I think calling them so much that they don't even ask for your SS# anymore, has moved you from a concerned vet, to one who they think is Wacko and their chain of command is probably relaying this message to them.

I have had great luck using Senator Warner in the past, but I picked and chose which battles I needed help with. Now that he is not running for reelection, I wouldn't be looking to Sen. Warner as a results getter in all cases. Before he used to be able to get them moving without even having you sign off on the Release of Information page. Now that he is leaving office, I think they will be less responsive to his offices inquiries. I think it's a shame but it is the way politics work.

Good luck with your case, I hope something breaks soon, I can appreicate your under extreme duress with the loss files and lack of paperwork, but you need to find a new approach, because it sure seems like someone is screwing with you over there.

10thFO,

When you are dealing with an establishement that chooses to place a Sensitive 6 on your claims file and has no one to open the darn thing, it doesn't take much to make you loose it.

I just love to hear Fred and Ernest tell me that everyone that can open my file was promoted.

What kind of a place is this?

In the real world, no politician can help you with your claim, but they can get you some attention.

All I want is that darn claim out of that filing cabinet, as it doesn't belong there.

Two VCAA notices and a letter sent to my rep that I may be having another C&P to find it dated 2006.

The chain of command had better look and see what kind of info that they are sending out. I may be as incompetent as the two psychaitrist want me to think that I am.

Always,

Josephine

[10thFO]

I love Warner, he helped me a couple times, plus he's one of the few politicians I ever saw in Somalia. Have you tried Webb yet? I haven't had any dealings with him, but this doesn't sound like something that would sit to well with his palate.

I'm sure you've discussed much of this before, could you point me to a past thread so I don't ask a bunch of questions you've already answered? I'm very interested in this now.

Thanks

Rob

[john999]

It is bad enough we have to wait a year to 18 months for a decision but when they start messing up and losing things and "misunderstanding English" it gets bad. I would just stick to a single issue with the VA. Pound them on the lost piece of evidence. I don't think you have to start all over on this. They told me they did not have my DD214 after being SC for 30 years as a reason my claim was stalled. I got a copy and brought it to them. I did not start over on my claim. Respond to exactly what they are saying is missing.