Backlog?

[Ricky]

Just wanted to complain I guess----- It has now been 14 months since my DRO hearing and still no decision from the VARO!!!! Wow now I call that a backlog!!!!!

My claim was assigned a docket number over 3 years ago cause I had to send in the form 9 well before they gave me the DRO hearing that I had asked for in my original NOD. So the file sat at the VARO with a docket number for 2 years and then low and behold they called me and said "hey we forgot to give you your DRO hearing that you asked for." No joke Henry!

Well the DRO held the hearing and said this is all messed up but you will get a decision soon. I guess 14 months just does not meet the definition of "soon." One would wonder why the BVA has not raised an eye brow since the thing has a docket number that was assigned 3 years ago.

In the past couple of weeks my calls to the new improved high-speed call center have revealed that "a decision was already made in 05" (yep sure was on the original claim!!), to "it is ready to rate", to "the DRO is looking at it now", all the way to "your file was transferred to the BVA in 05 sir and we can not provide you with any information" (the file is still at the VARO and has never gone anywhere).

Backlog or incompentence? Anyone's guess is as good as mine. I think that my name might be to well known at the RO. Since I have a little better financial situation than most that I help, my wife and I regularly take them on the 500 mile round trip for their hearings. Even if we have those 0800 hearings we will foot the bill for a couple of motel 8 rooms just to insure they are there on time. I also appear at the hearings with them cause the vets have a very hard time responding to the idiotic decisions they have been given in their original claims. I used to not attend the hearings but after a couple of them came out crying and telling me what was said and done to them during their hearing I refuse to allow the incompentent SOB's do it to another veteran.

A friend of mine (non-veteran) said to me "you know if those VA people you deal with were a private business they would have been sued, charged in criminal court and out of business by now!" I think that says it all. If only we did have some legal recourse with a bite! hahahahahaha Oh well thanks guys for letting me rant for a while. It seems that these days I do not have much time to sit down and go through my file as I have had tonight. Guess it is a good thing that I don't cause it sure is depressing.

[SeattleShay]

Now you know why the VA has made the organization and their incompetent employees "untouchable" by law.

How the hell, do we change that law ?????????????????

[john999]

A few years ago I asked for a DRO Hearing. I made an appointment to look at my file and found out that my file was on its way to being sent to the BVA. I got that stopped just in time. 14 months for a DRO is wrong. Something may be up with them sending you file back to the BVA. You may be in a crack between the VARO and BVA. Find out where your C-File is at.

[Pete53]

One way often overlooked is to request a Hearing. I was given hearings in a timely manner several times by the VA.

[Testvet]

this is why many people think that if you didn't have PTSD before dealing with a VARO you will have it before you are done......

[Ron II]

Just wanted to complain I guess----- It has now been 14 months since my DRO hearing and still no decision from the VARO!!!! Wow now I call that a backlog!!!!!

My claim was assigned a docket number over 3 years ago cause I had to send in the form 9 well before they gave me the DRO hearing that I had asked for in my original NOD. So the file sat at the VARO with a docket number for 2 years and then low and behold they called me and said "hey we forgot to give you your DRO hearing that you asked for." No joke Henry!

Well the DRO held the hearing and said this is all messed up but you will get a decision soon. I guess 14 months just does not meet the definition of "soon." One would wonder why the BVA has not raised an eye brow since the thing has a docket number that was assigned 3 years ago.

In the past couple of weeks my calls to the new improved high-speed call center have revealed that "a decision was already made in 05" (yep sure was on the original claim!!), to "it is ready to rate", to "the DRO is looking at it now", all the way to "your file was transferred to the BVA in 05 sir and we can not provide you with any information" (the file is still at the VARO and has never gone anywhere).

Backlog or incompentence? Anyone's guess is as good as mine. I think that my name might be to well known at the RO. Since I have a little better financial situation than most that I help, my wife and I regularly take them on the 500 mile round trip for their hearings. Even if we have those 0800 hearings we will foot the bill for a couple of motel 8 rooms just to insure they are there on time. I also appear at the hearings with them cause the vets have a very hard time responding to the idiotic decisions they have been given in their original claims. I used to not attend the hearings but after a couple of them came out crying and telling me what was said and done to them during their hearing I refuse to allow the incompentent SOB's do it to another veteran.

A friend of mine (non-veteran) said to me "you know if those VA people you deal with were a private business they would have been sued, charged in criminal court and out of business by now!" I think that says it all. If only we did have some legal recourse with a bite! hahahahahaha Oh well thanks guys for letting me rant for a while. It seems that these days I do not have much time to sit down and go through my file as I have had tonight. Guess it is a good thing that I don't cause it sure is depressing.

Ricky,

If someone as knowledgeable as you is having problems with the VA, no wonder so many of us get frustrated to the point of almost screaming.

Ron

[Josephine]

I feel blessed, don't get me wrong, but couldn't the VA have already

processed my husband as a dependent, being that they already

had our marriage license of 44 years and referenced him twice in

their decision.

So now, here I go clogging up the system as in about three months,

when he receives his monies, I will be going back in for the 50%

verus the 10% given to me due to the pension, which clearly states

chronic anxiety 50%. The VA used the same medical records for the

two decisions. Service connect it and it suddenly became 10%.

I will also be going back in for the Total Disability( Unemployable)

as quoted also on the pension for the anxiety is listed for 1983 and

the other illness 2002.

One time at doing it right and I could be out of the system and

allow time for someone else.

Just my humble opinion.

Betty