My Response To Iris Inquiry

[Ricky]

Dear Montgomery VARO thank you for your reply to my inquiry.

Just today I was speaking to one of your fellow employees via the telephone at the 1-800 number. During our 15 minuets or so on the phone she told me that my file had been transferred to Kansas so they could rate the current appeals. When I informed her that Montgomery had already issued a rating decision on the appeals on 31 July 2008 she declared “wait a minuet, that is strange, the temporary file has disappeared and the computer now says that your file is still at Montgomery.” It is a wonderful thing you have done with the computer systems – immediate real time updating.

Now via this medium you are informing me that my Aug 27 2008 claim is with a rater for review and the rating decision on the 2006 appeal is “still being processed in the system”. What about the rating decision that was issued on 31 July 2008 covering the August 2005 appeal? Is it not “still being processed in the system”?

After my two very informative contacts with the VA I have just a couple of questions:

(1) What is this 27 August 2008 reopened claim? Since it is not in the computer for the 1-800 personnel to let me know what issue is being claimed and your office continues to talk around the bushes on the subject I have to assume that I have some terminal illness that no one but Montgomery VARO knows about. I also assume that since you expect it to be terminal you are holding out on the payment of the back pay due on the awarded appeals until I die. As such I guess that my time should be used in an attempt to find a cure for this secret illness instead of worrying about an awarded appeal. I will attempt to see my treating PCP in the morning and let him know that Montgomery VARO has determined that I suffer from a disease so secret that even I can not know of it.

(2) When will the back pay and my monthly payment due, as provided in the 31 July 2008, decision be made? As of this date I am owed over xxxxxxxx dollars in back pay on the 31 July award. Along with this the proper amount was once again withheld from me this month. I fully understand that it has only been eight weeks however, I would like to receive it prior to my demise.

I understand that the decision had to be routed through authorization, the VCSM and finance - but eight weeks and you tell me that this process still has not been completed! If you would review all of my correspondence with the VA you will see that I have always been patient and respectful of each and all of you that I have dealt with. No hard words for I fully understand the pressure that each of you face due to the ever growing influx of claims. However, what your office has failed to see is that I expect the same level of respect from each of you. But Jesus Christ guys, to be told that my file was in Kansas for a rating on the appeals that have already been rated by your office on 31 July 08 and then not more that 2 minuets later the same lady told me "hey it now shows your temp file and true file back in Montgomery"!!!!!!!! - Then seeing your response of the 2006 appeal was "still being processed" in the system and no mention of the 2005 appeal which was awarded on 31 July 2008 - still being processed!!! eight weeks after a rating decision has been issued. And we all sit and shake our heads when some poor veteran takes a weapon and commits suicide. We sit and talk amongst ourselves and say “I wonder what pushed him over the edge?” Hmmmmmmm let me see – a veteran attempting to get a simple straight answer on his claim – just a simple straight answer and we take him to Kansas and back in 60 seconds and then give him some secret terminal illness that only the VA can know of - yep I just wonder what pushed him over the edge and made him pull that trigger. I mean my God surely he could have held on a few more weeks – Jez, I mean he only lost his home, vehicle and family – Gosh he has a warm place to stay in that box under the interstate by-pass and after all we gave him real time straight forward information on his claim!

I truly hope you do not see any humor in this for the only humor is in your ludicurous actions. Based upon your actions I will travel to Montgomery on Friday of this week. Upon my arrival I demand to meet with A.J. Hill at 10 A.M. so she can attempt to explain to me why it has taken, now over 8 weeks, to obtain simple signatures on an award and what issue the VA reopened on my claim.

As always I thank you for your service to the disabled veteran community. God bless each and everyone of you.

[william n]

MMmmmm, you may very well have an escort that morning :P !! Trust me ! Never, ever, let the enemy know when your arriving or even your intentions. Remember ya gotta show I.D.???

Well written though. Personally, i would have wrote that out and threw it right in my pocket, then maybe read it too A.J.Hill....or, threw it in the trash and still have felt better! Good Luck, William

P.S. I know a bondsman that does interstate!! :P

[trailblazer]

Its not the people at the VA. I think most of them are good people that care about the veteran. Its the system thats broke and we have to fix the system.

[jbasser]

I have never had a problem with the system. It takes people to apply the system. As far as Health care and other benefits like Home Loans, Life insurance the people will bend over backwards to help.

When it comes to claims adjudication on how I can help Veterans, but no. It has evolved into a negative system and people administer it.

J

[Ricky]

Nah no Ford ride for me my friends!!!! The gal that took me to kansas and back is the one that needs the ford ride with the little white jacket secured tightly hahahahahahaha.

Don't worry for I am very aware of the situations that could cause me problems and none of those will be played out. As my little clown picture shows I normally laugh and smile a lot when I get mad - that keeps the ole head clear and lets me present my case in a logical manner.

[Pete53]

Good Luck you are persistent and smart. You can get away with a lot of stuff if you put your statement in the form of a question. It puts them on the defensive and nothing works better than a series of question aimed at getting the truth out.