Dro Hearing

[Mr cue]

it just seem to me there are a lot of us vet on this site wait for transcipt. or a decision i believe these hearing are cost us time if u go informal does that mean its not tape and a decsion can be made or is just part of there game. and who does these transcipt are they all done one place. if so goto school to be court typer because the va will be looking for these lol

[Quint7]

Carlie, I absolutely agree that having the official hearing adds time. I waited 2 months for them to just schedule my hearing only to get to Buffalo and find out that the hearing officer had to cancel for personnal reasons and nobody told me. Another 2 months waiting for a rescheduled hearing (I was told in person in Buffalo that I went to the back of the line after my hearing officer canceled, even though it wasn't my fault. They said that is just the way it is). Now I am 4 months post-hearing waiting for the transcripts plus the 3 months or so that it took VA to even accept my appeal and tell me I would be placed on the DRO list. So I am at 11 months with the DRO not having even opened up my file to look at it. Then I assume that she will either just do a blanket denial or will spend 2-3 months actually reading my file before sending me for a C&P, then another 2 months for a decision. So 15 months....... most of which could've been avoided if I didn't want transcripts.

Of course I could be wrong and I will get a leter today telling me that I am approved on all counts.

HAH!!!!!!!!

[carlie]

Carlie, I absolutely agree that having the official hearing adds time.

....... most of which could've been avoided if I didn't want transcripts.

Quint - I do not feel that you getting a transcript of the Hearing adds time - because the Hearing has ALREADY been held. Getting your copy of the transcripts is a part of the Hearing Master's Responsibilities, unless you have a VSO (POA) then the transcripts are to be sent to them.

A Hearing is something that has to be scheduled which takes extra time -

getting a copy of the Hearing Transcript's does not have to be scheduled,

that's my point in this thread.

Hope this helps a vet.

carlie

Edited March 31, 2009 by carlie

[Pete53]

If a DRO Meeting is held and the rating is changed or improved did it add time or save time? I say it saved time and it also gave the Veteran another chance to present evidence and win their claim. Lets face it most of the time our claim sits in a dark place doing nothing.

DRO is sometimes called another bite at the apple. I say the time waster is the AMC

[Quint7]

I meant that having the official hearing adds time to the "total length" of he claim. I was told at my DRO (and in many IRIS's since then) that it takes 3 months to get the transcript of the meeting and that the claim is not worked until the transcripts come back. So there is 3 months minimum added to the entire claim total. My DRO specifically encouraged me NOT to make my hearing official (on tape) so that it would be worked immediately instead of waiting (4 months so far) for the transcripts.

As I've said before, I have read on here about members walking out of the hearing with an agreement that A, B and C were accepted or denied, etc. My hearing was nothing like that at all. My DRO had not reviewed my claim issues or even opened my file before the meeting. She only had my list of items appealed and anytime I mentioned something not on that list she stopped me and told me to file a new claim about that issue (even thought it applied to the appeal).

MY hearing has definately added time to my appeal, but I agree that it will be worth it as the DRO is supposed to review every page of my C-File (at least thats what I have read on here).

My point is don't expect to walk out of the hearing with an agreement with the VA and expect a check to come anytime soon, official hearing or not. Some of us have been lucky and had a good DRO hearing. Others like me.... well as I said before....... I'm sitting here waiting.

Edited March 31, 2009 by Quint7

[carlie]

I meant that having the official hearing adds time to the "total length" of he claim.

My point is don't expect to walk out of the hearing with an agreement with the VA and expect a check to come anytime soon, official hearing or not. Some of us have been lucky and had a good DRO hearing. Others like me.... well as I said before....... I'm sitting here waiting.

Yes, for sure requesting a DRO Hearing does add time.

The claimant or VSO (POA) should get a copy of the transcript's about

the same time as the decision maker get's their copy of the transcript's.

Quint, FYI - my DRO Hearing was like yours. MY VSO totally sucked

and the DRO's Rating Decision was a rubber stamped denial of the prior Rating Decisions.

carlie

[militarynurse]

slphelan,

The DRO at my Hearing at Bay Pines VARO

would NOT allow me to use my own personal

cassett recorder at the Hearing.

carlie

I had a hearing a while back and the transcript was absolutely not accurate to what was said at the hearing by the hearing officer. It was, in fact, "sanitized" of anything that might be construed as adverse to my claim. ;)