To Dav Or Not To Dav?

[cvsp]

Little background.

Had a local program with a VSO that is not longer available to me (she left). I have taken over my case and learned a lot (thanks to Hadit and the folks). I was in contact with the local DAV office last Monday. I was told to call back today as they were at a travel board. Called back today and found out I was assigned to someone there, but he was not in on Mondays, and Tuesdays he is doing something else. I can call him Wed-Fri.

So just to get initial contact I am looking at 10 days. Frustrating! Bringing me the the question, is there anything that the DAV rep can do that I can not? Can he look into the VA system? Get status? Walk to the raters desk?

I guess what I am asking is should I put another hurdle in the way? Would it be to my benefit?

Thanks in advance.

Edited March 16, 2009 by cvsp

[Meddac]

I learned from IRIS last week that someone added issues to my claim. These came about from the C&P (99% sure). I sure hope this does not delay my claim.

Sounds like the rater may have "inferred" claims for you. If you don't receive a VCAA letter on those claims then I would think positively about that aspect. Remember...As I said before, The VA cannot deny without first sending you a VCAA letter addressing the claims.

It shouldn't slow the claim too much. It seems to be a good sign that your claim may be at the board already. A VSR can't infer issues.

[purple]

From Meddac-"Don't get that confused with "they will make sure that you are getting what you deserve". Many of them look over the claim and make notes, and some of them don't have a clue what hey are looking at. "

If that is true...then why bother with a rep in the first place?? They will just add an extra step and potentially slow-up the claim.

[Meddac]

If that is true...then why bother with a rep in the first place?? They will just add an extra step and potentially slow-up the claim.

That's the chance you take with having a rep, purple. It all comes down to whether or not you get a decent one or not. Kinda like the VA, ain't it?

It will add the extra step, and it could potentially slow the end of the claim, but that might be from getting a good rep that is really reviewing the decision for you. 50-50 in my opinion.

[cvsp]

Sounds like the rater may have "inferred" claims for you. If you don't receive a VCAA letter on those claims then I would think positively about that aspect. Remember...As I said before, The VA cannot deny without first sending you a VCAA letter addressing the claims.

It shouldn't slow the claim too much. It seems to be a good sign that your claim may be at the board already. A VSR can't infer issues.

Meddac,

Thanks a mil for the help. So only a rater can add issues? That sounds promising.

The VSO I was using put in depression and depression alone. I now know this to be a mistake. The added ones where PTSD, CFS and mono. I was diagnosed with PTSD and CFS by the C&P doctor. Under the CFS statements she did mention that I was hospilized with CFS a number of times while in the service and for depression (steming from the CFS) and PTSD in the service. All documented very well in the SMRs. She also mentioned testing positive with mono on one of the stays and from what I have read that is a dirrect connection to CFS somehow or can be confused with CFS. Thus probably why the rater added mono.

No VCAA letter and I know they were added at least two weeks ago.

I thought I had read that only a rater can add issues. Glad to hear it from the horses mouth. Maybe I will be lucky that the adding and rating was done in one fell swoop. By your statement it might be done as such.

Smiling!!!

Edited March 16, 2009 by cvsp

[cvsp]

That's the chance you take with having a rep, purple. It all comes down to whether or not you get a decent one or not. Kinda like the VA, ain't it?

I think with all the great advise I got here I am going to call the rep on Wed. and "interview" him. If I feel he is a top notch guy, then I will sign up. If not I will carry on my merry way.

That still leaves me with the question. As far as the VA is concerned I still have a VSO. How do I tell them I do not have a VSO? Could IRIS do it?

[luvHIM]

I will never say that my NSO (DAV rep) has been the greatest because that is not true. I have pretty much worked my own claim.

But the asset (no pun intended) that the DAV NSO has been in my claim process is all of my mailed correspondence has made it into my C-File (I have a copy of it). Much of the correspondence was duplicated because I would send info to my rep and directly to the VARO (just to be on the safe side).

So, it is your call. It is true that we are our own best advocates and we need to be proactive in our claims filing with the VA. But in my experience with having a rep...it has not hurt my attempts either. Best regards, whichever way you decide.