Vba Video Conference

[Stretch]

I have been told that Video Conference is suicide. I guess I will find out tomorrow. I hope that I am not disappointed.

I will post the procedure Friday for those who are interested. I am going to take my lap top and hard copy of evidence. I am trying to get in to my Jack Webb mode (Just the Facts).

[Pete53]

Take a witness and good luck.

[carlie]

Stretch,

Try not to let them intimidate you with all the formalities.

Speak up like you said with, just the facts.

Try to be sure and get all of your evidence into the record.

Good luck.

Only my opinion.

carlie

[mssoup1]

When my husband and I went to his BVA hearing with the traveling board, I figured I would get really nervous. He has a SO, but he was so useless that my husband basically told him to shut up and let me handle his claim. Our SO started interjecting about his own problems. My husband told him that we were at the hearing for his problems and not the SO's and to shut up. I guess the law judge got a little sample of his PTSD.

Well, before we went to the hearing, I spent a number of days trying to do a writeup up of what I wanted to make sure got into the meeting and on the record. I also took copies of the most important evidence I had, including medical records, in case I needed them. Well, since I myself have panic attacks, I asked that I be able to read from my letter what I wanted entered into the record. They stated that that would be fine. This way I insured myself that I didn't forget anything I wanted heard and I felt more comfortable reading what I wanted to say instead of trying to try and remember everything. There were various times when the judge would stop me and ask either me or my husband some questions. Also, when I would bring up specific things about his medical records or other evidence, they kinda looked funny and asked if I had a copy of that that they could look at. I stated I did and gave them the copy. They wanted to look at the evidence, but couldn't find it in his folder. One specific piece of evidence I had was from an IMO and he stated that it was as least likely as not that his problem was due to an already service connected condition. The VARO turned this down, even with this statement. The law judge really looked puzzled over this. Needless to say, this was one issue that we got an instant approval on from the BVA. We also received another instant approval on another of his claims. The rest were basically remanded back to the VARO with some pretty sound demands on them as to what they didn't do and should have done.

But, we are still waiting on these issues to be cleared up by the VARO. A hearing before the BVA is really no more than the same type of hearing you get when you have a hearing before the Social Security judge. It seems kind of scary at first, but they seem to really put you at ease with them. At least the judge we had did. I guess this could vary depending on who you get.

I hope all goes well with you. Try to be as relaxed as you can and just keep thinking that these people put their pants on the same way you do, therefore, they are no different than you are. Try to stay as focused as you can on what the subject is and answer their questions as specific as you can. Just keep thinking that you are there to try and win your case and don't let them intimidate you in any way. You also want to make sure that you keep them focused on you and not let them wonder off somewhere and appear to not be listening to what you have to say. They cannot ask questions if they are not listening to you and all of this goes on the record.

Hope this didn't scare you anymore, but maybe helped a little.

Good Luck,

mssoup

[Guest Berta]

Mike- you will do FINE!!!! I just know that you will----

You got great advise here and remember they are in their jobs because of your service-

Like mssoup said -keep them focused on the evidence----

Have a goal in mind as to get something from them-their undivided attention-

and- like mssoup did-read their body lanquage-

"Also, when I would bring up specific things about his medical records or other evidence, they kinda looked funny and asked if I had a copy of that that they could look at. I stated I did and gave them the copy. They wanted to look at the evidence, but couldn't find it in his "

I bet this happens more then we think-

A hearing not only gives the claimant a face-quite an advantage-

but can also reveal (and be documented at the hearing) that evidence has not been properly considered.

Mike- can you get a copy of the video? I would think so and I also feel you would have the right to correct it if something you said was not exactly want you meant-

You will sure be OK and I suggest to get your stuff in order- you probably are very well prepared already- and then pick something nice to do after it is over-

like a good meal, or some good videos- focus on that a little -what you are going to do after this is all over-

your treat for having your DAY!

I am very proud of vets who do this-

and the VA actually appreciates meeting with the vet face to face- these men and women might well be disabled vets themselves-you will do fine with them. Berta

[mssoup1]

I'm not sure if you can get a copy of the video as I don't think that it is taped. It is basically a phone conversation, but you see the people you are talking to. You can request at the hearing that you would like to have a copy of the transcript. I'm sure you will be shocked at reading the transcript. So many errors and mispelled words were in my husbands transcript. But, none of that would have changed the outcome of the decisions made, so I didn't press the issue on the errors. When you speak, try to be as clear as possible. If need be, spell out some of the important words, such as a doctors name. This way you have a better chance of it getting into the transcript correctly. After all, it is being taped and someone else then takes the tape and transcribes it. If they are unsure of a spelling or pronunication, they just take a guess and put in what they think they heard. This transcript is then used by the judge in making their decision, so you want it as accurate as possible.

Hope this helps.

mssoup