Confused

[don s.]

Yesterday I was pretty clear on the status of my VA disability claim, which has been through the appeal & remand process. Today I'm not so sure, so if anyone can provide words of clarity, by all means, have at. Here's the pertinent timeline:

Had a C&P exam May 5, 2009, at which the examiner opined service connection on two of the four issues of my claim.

I was told the AMC Rating Board received my claim May 15, 2009.

Then, I was told the Rating Board had reached a decision, and that on June 15, 2009 my file had "moved to Post Determination for authorization."

Today I received an SSOC from the AMC denying me benefits on the two issues the C&P examiner said were not service connected. This letter is dated June 15, 2009, the same day my claim supposedly went to Post Determination.

The SSOC says nothing about the other two issues the examiner opined were service connected. All it does is list the evidence used in determining the denials, and the rationale behind their decision. It also says I have 30 days in which to submit additional evidence not listed in the SSOC should I wish further appelate consideration.

I called the toll-free number on this and the service worker said she had no record of this SSOC and wondered if it "is official VA correspondence!" Duh??? Her latest entry is that it is still in Post Determination awaiting authorization.

My question, essentially, is what the heck does this all mean? Have the other two issues of my claim been decided or merely "put on hold"? Might I be receiving followup correspondence soon with regard to a favorable decision on these two issues? Or, does it just mean more waiting? At this point I feel like filing for a Section 8. It might not be service connected, but it would definitely be VA connected!

Thanks all my brothers & sisters in arms for any light you can shed on this case!

[tagandbag]

Yesterday I was pretty clear on the status of my VA disability claim, which has been through the appeal & remand process. Today I'm not so sure, so if anyone can provide words of clarity, by all means, have at. Here's the pertinent timeline:

Had a C&P exam May 5, 2009, at which the examiner opined service connection on two of the four issues of my claim.

I was told the AMC Rating Board received my claim May 15, 2009.

Then, I was told the Rating Board had reached a decision, and that on June 15, 2009 my file had "moved to Post Determination for authorization."

Today I received an SSOC from the AMC denying me benefits on the two issues the C&P examiner said were not service connected. This letter is dated June 15, 2009, the same day my claim supposedly went to Post Determination.

The SSOC says nothing about the other two issues the examiner opined were service connected. All it does is list the evidence used in determining the denials, and the rationale behind their decision. It also says I have 30 days in which to submit additional evidence not listed in the SSOC should I wish further appelate consideration.

I called the toll-free number on this and the service worker said she had no record of this SSOC and wondered if it "is official VA correspondence!" Duh??? Her latest entry is that it is still in Post Determination awaiting authorization.

My question, essentially, is what the heck does this all mean? Have the other two issues of my claim been decided or merely "put on hold"? Might I be receiving followup correspondence soon with regard to a favorable decision on these two issues? Or, does it just mean more waiting? At this point I feel like filing for a Section 8. It might not be service connected, but it would definitely be VA connected!

Thanks all my brothers & sisters in arms for any light you can shed on this case!

It sounds as though you recieved a Supplemental Statement of Case. I just was reading something about this. Did you recieve a Statement Of Case? There is info on this site about it. Check it out....

t&b

[LarryJ]

You confuse positive reinforcement with being a smartass!!!

Yeah, I was being a smartass. I apologize. When I read it again, after I came back to the board, I realized it didn't sound nearly as funny as I thought it did, or that you would think that it did.......... sorry.

[LarryJ]

When I was actively working on some of my claims (I am sitting now, waiting on another denial), but when I was having anxiety over my active claims, I'd call the #800 number and, before I did, the wife and I would have a wager as to what they would tell me this time (I tried REALLY hard not to call them but every couple weeks).

They had, as it turned out, because I kept track, 6 different answers.

The IRIS system, however, does have more than six, in that they actually try, I think that is because they have time to actually look up your claim.....they don't have you on the line and three more vets holding, if you see what I mean.

My original, smartass answer, however was partially correct. The part about "more waiting". sorry.

[don s.]

I hear ya'; just very frustrated. Sounds like you can well relate!

When I was actively working on some of my claims (I am sitting now, waiting on another denial), but when I was having anxiety over my active claims, I'd call the #800 number and, before I did, the wife and I would have a wager as to what they would tell me this time (I tried REALLY hard not to call them but every couple weeks).

They had, as it turned out, because I kept track, 6 different answers.

The IRIS system, however, does have more than six, in that they actually try, I think that is because they have time to actually look up your claim.....they don't have you on the line and three more vets holding, if you see what I mean.

My original, smartass answer, however was partially correct. The part about "more waiting". sorry.

[LarryJ]

I hear ya'; just very frustrated. Sounds like you can well relate!

Semper Fi, bro!

[don s.]

Back atcha!

Semper Fi, bro!