Received The Large White Envelope

[mags1023]

I was excited when I received my mail today and there was a large white envelope in it with VA rtrn address. To my disappointment it was another letter asking for more information. What confuses me is it is talking about my NOD for service connected DDD lumbar spine, but it also mentions that this condition is under appeal. I have sent in volumes of evidence and information and anything I send is just a repeat of what I have already sent. My question is, what do you all think. Should I send in the VCAA and say I have furhter info to provide and then prepare another letter with the same evidence I have provided or should I just send the VCAA notice in and tell them to make a decision with what I have already provided. I am leaning towards the former, because maybe they will try to decide on it prior to my appeals travel board.

To ward off a couple of questions you may have, I looked at what they said they have received and it appears there may be some letters they didn't include. I didn't do as good a job of keeping track (copies of what I send) before I found this site. But, I know they have the info that I would be providing.

Thanks in advance for your comments!

[rentalguy1]

if you are confident that they have received everything you have sent them, then I would sign the VCAA notice and send it back. They sometimes send these letters out without verifying that they actually need to. It's the same as the we are still working on your claim letter that we all get. The computer spits it out, and the dutiful VARO employee sends it downrange to our mailboxes.

If you are unsure about what they have received, you can always make a appointment to view your c-file without holding the process up. It may be well worth the drive if you have the time and the gas money.

[poolguy11550]

if you are confident that they have received everything you have sent them, then I would sign the VCAA notice and send it back. They sometimes send these letters out without verifying that they actually need to. It's the same as the we are still working on your claim letter that we all get. The computer spits it out, and the dutiful VARO employee sends it downrange to our mailboxes.

If you are unsure about what they have received, you can always make a appointment to view your c-file without holding the process up. It may be well worth the drive if you have the time and the gas money.

Correct, the VCAA notices go out every so often and like clock work pretty much. Sign it and return it for not doing so may hold up your claim 3 or 4 months.

[sharon]

Do you have a reopened claim (VCAA) or an appeal (SSOC). If it is an appeal, everytime you sent in information you generate another SSOC. Send in all the infomation at one time and leave it alone. If it is a VCAA they are mandated to ask you for the information even though they already have it. It comes into play in case of an appeal.

[mags1023]

Do you have a reopened claim (VCAA) or an appeal (SSOC). If it is an appeal, everytime you sent in information you generate another SSOC. Send in all the infomation at one time and leave it alone. If it is a VCAA they are mandated to ask you for the information even though they already have it. It comes into play in case of an appeal.

Thanks all. It states In reply refer to:

317\VSC\Appeals\sms

name and ssn

We are working on your NOD..................... What do we still need from you? We need additional things from you...please submit medical evidence of your current ddd lunbar spine as well as evidence showing service connection....

I don't think it is an SSOC. Doesn't state either. Just has VCAA response notice on back of package.

[Berta]

This is the formal VCAA notice-and election form -

it should state exactly what the VA needs from you-

I suggest STRONGLY that you should sign,copy and send them the VCAA Election Notice -electing that they consider your evidence and decide your claim (if you feel you have complied with what they wanted in the VCAA letter)and on the back of it (refer to this statement on the front of it) -state exactly what evidence they should have received from you already and whatever other evidence you have attached.

Tell them to contact you if they do not have a record of the evidence you have sent to them already.

The VCAA itself has messed up thousands of claims- as the BVA web site reveals.

VA took what was perfect (the original VCAA) and has manipulated it to the detriment of veterans.

When they say a vet can elect for them to decide on the evidence they have- I do not trust them to do that properly without identifying ALL of the evidence that the vet has sent to them.

So I feel we claimants should make sure we do that ourselves on the VCAA Election form.

Please start a manila folder system and keep your submissions and their letters in tabbed folders.I have decades of VA ola crap in manila foldersd and also scanned onto my PC.I have never thrown anything from the VA out.

I have stuff from old SOCS and award letters that has become important to my present claims.

And also-since VA loses a lot of stuff and as Shreddergate revealed-they have destroyed evidnce from VA claimants-

best to keep copies of everything you send them and get a proof of mailing or USPS tracking slip too.

[mags1023]

This is the formal VCAA notice-and election form -

it should state exactly what the VA needs from you-

I suggest STRONGLY that you should sign,copy and send them the VCAA Election Notice -electing that they consider your evidence and decide your claim (if you feel you have complied with what they wanted in the VCAA letter)and on the back of it (refer to this statement on the front of it) -state exactly what evidence they should have received from you already and whatever other evidence you have attached.

Tell them to contact you if they do not have a record of the evidence you have sent to them already.

The VCAA itself has messed up thousands of claims- as the BVA web site reveals.

VA took what was perfect (the original VCAA) and has manipulated it to the detriment of veterans.

When they say a vet can elect for them to decide on the evidence they have- I do not trust them to do that properly without identifying ALL of the evidence that the vet has sent to them.

So I feel we claimants should make sure we do that ourselves on the VCAA Election form.

Please start a manila folder system and keep your submissions and their letters in tabbed folders.I have decades of VA ola crap in manila foldersd and also scanned onto my PC.I have never thrown anything from the VA out.

I have stuff from old SOCS and award letters that has become important to my present claims.

And also-since VA loses a lot of stuff and as Shreddergate revealed-they have destroyed evidnce from VA claimants-

best to keep copies of everything you send them and get a proof of mailing or USPS tracking slip too.

Awesome! Thanks Berta. I'll do exactly as you recommend.