Two Hundred Eighty Three Days For Claim

[Guest Jim S.]

The latest update on my claim has the phone clerk telling me it will take 283 days from start to finish for my claim to be processed. I guess they have been taking numbers to see how long the average number of claim will take to reach a decision at my local VARO. So if this is correct, then I shouldn't expect anything until May or June of this year. They have everything they need here in town, everything else is a part of my C-File already and the only thing I can think of is a C&P exam and/or IMO of my records. The rest of my medical files are at the VAMC.

So why does it take so long for a claim to be processed? More to the point, why do they keep changing their story when you call, doesn't everyone at the VARO know how to read a computer screen, and if so, why the different story from them week to week?

If they think I am going to stop checking each week, I think they have a lot to learn.

Jim S. :)

[RockyA1911]

My claim is 340 days old today, date of claim is 25 Mar 2005. I've experienced the same as you. Had my C&P last July, the 27th. In Sep I was told it was sent to another resource center for rating. As of last week I was told my claim went to the rating board for decision on 15 Feb 06. I really don't anticipate hearing anything as far as adjudication until sometime in April or May.

If anyone knew why it takes so long even when they have all the information they need, they would be the new director of the VA.

[Guest Berta]

One of my claims has been at the Buffalo VARO for 1,123 days.

In 2004 and in 2005 they said I would receive an "administrative decision" on that claim.

It is a legal issue and is of the nature of General Counsel Opinions.

No one at the VARO can address it so I thought it went to counsel-long ago- for that "administrative decision"

Then the VSM told me vet rep and me in a letter a few weeks ago (it was a status I requested of all of my claims)

that this claim was "in appeals"---- say what?

Never got a decision- so I reminded them that this should have been given to VA counsel years ago.

The day after they got this response from me something went to General Counsel from my c file-

but the OG sec said they are working down there on my FOIA appeal on another issue-

Guess I better send the OGC the claim myself-

I don't know how they can even determine how long a claim can take-

do they mean the number of days after recipt of the claim until the first denial letter goes out?

[Testvet]

my claim was first filed in Dec 2002, I was finally given a C&P for it on 28 Dec 05 and Jan 3 2006, I can't add very well but I am sure it is a LOT longer than 283 days, I think the 238 days is a "average" they anticipate for a claim to take, unless of course it is like Berta's or in my case a claim they just ignore as long as possible, until they are forced to deal with it. The claims are already set with a BVA docket number for the appeal, talk about efficiency, they aren't even done rating them yet, lol

[Pete53]

VA always lies about how long it takes. Ask anyone if they got their claim done and paid in less than a year.

[john999]

If you file a claim and get paid within one year of the claim date you are doing stupendous at the VA. I had the most obvious DMII claim because it was presumptive AO. It still took over a year to get the decision. What if I had some fatal AO disease? I would not live to see the claim resolved. What happens in a case like that?

[SLEDGE]

"I would not live to see the claim resolved. What happens in a case like that?"

Generally speaking, when the veteran dies, the claim dies with him/her.

The longer they can hold out, the less they have to pay out.

I'm still waiting after 5300 days-plus. (Fifty-Three Hundred)

Two hndred and something doesn't bother me too much.

If ya get it done in less than 5 years, ya done somthin.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anything they tell the public is the product of politics, not good judgement or a caring attitude.

Everything they, the VA and/or congress, tell us turns out to be grossly mis-stated or a plain lie.

The only truth that I know of is the fact that our benefits always go down, not up.

Co-Pays are a temporary measure? HEH-HEH

How many times have they gone up??

Cutting Travel Pay helped them to serve more disabled veterans? (GAG, COUGH)

You can't have prescriptions unless they are ON THE LIST, even if the one you need is the only one that works for YOU.

The congress told the VA to take care of veteran's needs........ UNLESS!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm hobbling around on a badly swollen ankle and a bad knee, they owe me for 12 years retro, my MRI is scheduled for JUNE, 2006 (for my neck).....

I have to see a shrink to get refills of thyroid pills.

Yes, I just had a bad day.

sledge