800# Phone Logs

[Guest Berta]

We have somewhere at hadit a template for VARO 800# logs-

This can help track your claim-then again- I am just baffled by the info I have gotten this year-I looked at my log-

In January my claim (dont know what one) went to authorization on 3 separate dates and then on to a senior VSR.(per 800#reps)

In early Feb they said some documents went the general counsel. I called the OGC but this was about a FOIA appeal I filed that has nothing to do with the claim-it was with an appeals team, mid Feb- to a coach,late Feb - Adjudication,

and last week a vet rep said it had been decided on Feb 28th and was waiting for an authorization person to sign it. He said "it" was a pension claim but they could have meant the SMC claim.

Today they say that the recent March info about authorization is not on the COVERS screen at all (like the vet rep made it all up)and the "claim was established on Feb 9th".That is all that is on the PC screen. What the heck does that mean?

Has anyone heard that before?

a claim was established? this is sure a new term to me-the vet rep could not tell me more-not even what claim they are talking about-the two they are 'working on' were filed 3 years ago.

Then I got a form letter last week from VA asking me if I had remarried as they had to confirm my marital status-

I think this is just maybe a normal SOP letter but I never got one of these before.

Any one else ever get letter like that?

By the way- widows and widowers over 57 can remarry and retain their DIC.

The VA has to know this info though.

I sure wish I knew what "claim is established" means.????

Wouldn't it be great if they used specific consistent terms when we call?

[carlie]

Berta,

Hope this helps some,

carlie

http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/22guides.html

[Guest Morgan]

Yes, Berta, consistent would be great. And it would be nice to have them send the veteran a copy of what they write. Every decision we have notes the phone contact. The veteran is at a disadvantage with these reps. I was so angry with one the other day. He had told me something and I happened to get him on the phone again so I brought it up, and he said, "I would never have told you that." If I could have strangled him, I would have. He is a smart mouth every time I call. I asked him if the recording is right about recording calls because I wanted someone to track that conversation. He said, "Oh, no, they don't record the conversation. They just listen sometimes."

They can write ANYTHING and the veteran wouldn't know.

Edited March 7, 2006 by Morgan

[Guest Berta]

Not really too baffled anymore- they must have made some sort of decision in January- it went to 3 authorizors-one was a VSM-

in Jan then to another one last week-

I haven't got a clue yet what claim or what the decision is-

I found out (from M21-1) that the authorizers can denote they have the physical c file on the PC Covers screen and then they can delete that info as it goes from one authorizer to the other.The covers screen always shows where the physical claims file is and they have to keep it up to date.

When I reviewed my whole 800# phone log- (I call twice a month but sometimes more often)I write it all down, it started to make sense when the 800 guy last week said a decision had been made-

Now I think it made sense ??? (Then again they might be making a decision as to whether to cook hot dogs or hamburgers over the bon fire they might make - from my paperwork) I am still actually in the dark and dont know why I even bother calling the 800#.

[Guest Morgan]

Berta,

I got a chuckle out of your post. It is the perfect example of how this process makes us crazy! I ask myself the same question: WHY do I call those nuts on the 800#. Still I do it. The VA process will certainly make us know whether we have a grain of eternal optimism. If we call the 800#, we do. :)

[mssoup1]

Berta.

You asked earlier in this thread if anyone had received a form to fill out concerning their marital status. My husband is currently service connected at 60% and as far back as I can remember we have never received anything to fill out concerning whether we were still married or not. Well, several weeks ago, we received a form letter to fill out wanting this information. I filled it out and returned it immediately, keeping a copy. We do have some claims still outstanding on my husband. One of those is IU due to his PTSD. Since he is currently 60% SC, we have claims in waiting for a decision and one of those being IU, I don't know if getting this form to fill out has anything to do with his claims.

mssoup