ptsd Claims Submitted, C&p Exams Completed

[pigdriver]

Hi Fellow veterans,

I have a question. I filed claim for Tinnitus and hearing loss in 12/08 and PTSD in 02/09, I am currently being medicated for the PTSD, attending therapy and have had the Tinnitus and hearing C&P exam on 06/01/09 and the PTSD C&P on 06/17/09. I have an 86 year old Aunt that lives in Greensboro, NC who is the last surviving member of my mother's family, she is not well and is requesting that my wife and I move to Greensboro and live with her to care for her until she passes. My question is if I agree and move to Greensboro will that have any effect on my compensation claims, the timeline etc. and if so how so. Plus I am scheduled to begin outpatient CPT therapy this month on the 14th which lasts 6 weeks. Should I attend this CPT 6 week session here in Michigan where I live or postpone it until I move to Greensboro should I decide to do so. Thank you in advance for any and all suggestions and opinions.

[Aquabear]

Hey pigdriver,

I dont know now but back in 98 when I moved it slowed things down a bit. I moved from Florida to NY during the process just about right after my CP exams in Miami. You should hear from other about this and maybe they changed the rules for the better!

[pigdriver]

Hey pigdriver,

I dont know now but back in 98 when I moved it slowed things down a bit. I moved from Florida to NY during the process just about right after my CP exams in Miami. You should hear from other about this and maybe they changed the rules for the better!

[carlie]

I have an 86 year old Aunt that lives in Greensboro, NC who is the last surviving member of my mother's family, she is not well and is requesting that my wife and I move to Greensboro and live with her to care for her until she passes.

Thank you in advance for any and all suggestions and opinions.

pigdriver,

About the only thing I can comment on right now is that,

VA Claims can drag on forever and the 86 year old Aunt, can't.

Hard decisions are usually the most important ones to make.

Good luck in what-ever you do.

carlie

[pigdriver]

Thanks Carlie, you are right! My 86 year old Aunt comes first! I guess I could go to battle with the VA later then sooner, if I can manage to live long enough! Guess I'll inquire @ the VMAC in Battle Creek about transfering my medical records to NC. Do I have to notify anyone else about this with the new address?? Thanks again!!

[Philip Rogers]

pigdriver, there is no need to change RO's, unless you want to. You can leave your claim where it is and let them decide. The only problem is should you need any C&P's you will need to travel back to Battle Creek, at your expense, for them. Changing RO's can delay your claim and does open any existing awards up to review. As for the CPT treatment you can have that done in Greensboro, if available. If you are close to your aunt, I suggest moving, as she will be gone one day and the memories created can be good for all. jmo

pr

Thanks Carlie, you are right! My 86 year old Aunt comes first! I guess I could go to battle with the VA later then sooner, if I can manage to live long enough! Guess I'll inquire @ the VMAC in Battle Creek about transfering my medical records to NC. Do I have to notify anyone else about this with the new address?? Thanks again!!

[carlie]

pigdriver, there is no need to change RO's, unless you want to. You can leave your claim where it is and let them decide. The only problem is should you need any C&P's you will need to travel back to Battle Creek, at your expense, for them. Changing RO's can delay your claim and does open any existing awards up to review. As for the CPT treatment you can have that done in Greensboro, if available. If you are close to your aunt, I suggest moving, as she will be gone one day and the memories created can be good for all. jmo

pr

Sir pr,

If he should make the move how should he handle the address issue

to be sure he gets a copy of anything VA might send him ?

carlie

[sharon]

I am in Greensboro and maybe we can have coffee or tea when you get her. Now to your question. You do not have to change ROs because you move. Send in a change of address and notify them that you want you claim completed there. You can have your exam in NC and still have your claim rated in Michigan. The will send you file to the Winston Salem clinic for the exam. Hope you have a good and safe trip.

[Pete53]

Sharon:

Thanks for that gem. I did not know that you can do that.

Pete

[rentalguy1]

Been there, done that, got the reduction letter to prove it. You are just asking for trouble if you don't give them a complete change of address, drop the current claim and start all over at the new RO. Yes, you can leave the claim alone and it will follow you wherever you go, so long as you tell them. In about 2 years you will be called in for a C&P at the new VAMC, and then you will have several months wait for a answer to the claim after that.

These folks get confused easily. I lived in Austin, TX using the Waco VARO. I filed a claim for increase, and had my C&Ps. Then we moved back to TN. I gave the VARO my forwarding address, and did a change of address card with the post office. About a year and a half I was contacted by the VAMC in TN and asked to report for another C&P. I asked what took so long and they had been trying to contact me from Waco. A call I placed to the 800# sparked the action that finally got my C-file moved to TN.

Long story short, if I had dropped the claim, gave them my new address, called to verify that my C-file had been moved, then refiled the claim at my new domicile I could have saved myself many months of aggrivation. People can quote regs (and I am a true believer in regs in most instances) and they can tell you what is supposed to happen, but I have lived it and I can tell you exactly what happened.

Good luck

[pigdriver]

Hi everyone and thanks for all the good info. What I am reading is: 1. Even though I've had both C&P's for both claims I still my have another? 2. I can leave my claims with the Michigan RO and just give them a change of address? 3. Can I put in a temporary change of address with the Postal Service so I get any mail from VA forwarded without notifing the VA of a "permanent " change of address, something like I'm going to stay with my Aunt in Greensboro for the winter as I can't tolerate the cold any longer? Definately do not want to drop the claims and start all over again, I may not live enough to see any results. Maybe taking Sharon's and PR's advise is the best option. Please keep the advise and opinions coming. Again thanks to all for the advice and information. God Bless the USA !!!!

[sunfish34]

We are in the middle of the same thing, moved from Michigan to Alabama about 5 mths ago, we do have a lawyer handling our case, Michigan is slow and awful, we have requested 3 times to move the case the lawyer has 2 times, finally got a copy of medical records, and filed some new cases

at the Montgomery VA so they could request the c-file and all other records themselves from MI

We have been working on this for 2 years plus, so far received 10% denied all else and missed

much more we were suppose to file for according to the lawyer, She told us to do what ever

we could to get my husbands file away from detroit, they are SSSSSSLLLLOOOOWWWWW

and things will move faster for us even with the wait of transfer if we just get his stuff out

of the hands of the Detroit office, thats our story , hope it helps you some

[Stretch]

I moved from CA. (California) to Arkansas in 2004. I used my sisters CA. address, for about a year, and my sister would forward my VA mail to Arkansas. I had the DAV as a VSO during this time. It was impossible to communicate with the DAV as they would not call back long distance. I had to fly back to CA., several times for Imo's etc.

I got so fed up with the problem that I resended my POA (Power of Attorney) from the DAV, and then I had my claims transfered to Arkansas. I figure I lost a year in the process.

I would say there are a few factors for you to consider:

• Are you going to move back to where you are living now, later on?
  
• How far are you in your claims process? That is, are you close to going to the BVA, are you in remand, or at the AMC, or are you just at the start of the claims process.
  
• Are you a gulf war Vet, Afghanistan vet, Iraq Vet, or a Vietnam Vet? These seem to be treated differently and new Vets seem to have priority. Some of these newer Vets get their claims through in 6 months.
  
• Do you have a VSO (Veterans Service Organization), such as DAV, American Legion, VVA, or VFW.
  

These are a few things to consider in your decision.

[Stretch]

CBT is Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Is this the six week class you are going to?

[BoonDoc]

I was in the process of moving back to Florida, and the VARO read about it from me telling my doctor, wanted to make sure that I had my meds coming, some are special consult, and I had all of my C&p's, and was told my claim was ready to rate.

Well I get a letter from my old VARO, a month after moving back, telling me that I 'could' have another C&P exam...I was staying in a monthly rate condo until we bought, and I decided to come back where my parents are pronto...I got the C&P exam 3 weeks after returning.

I'm sure that it can be done...but I'm waiting until I get my Rating Decision, and then go from there.

BoonDoc

Been there, done that, got the reduction letter to prove it. You are just asking for trouble if you don't give them a complete change of address, drop the current claim and start all over at the new RO. Yes, you can leave the claim alone and it will follow you wherever you go, so long as you tell them. In about 2 years you will be called in for a C&P at the new VAMC, and then you will have several months wait for a answer to the claim after that.

These folks get confused easily. I lived in Austin, TX using the Waco VARO. I filed a claim for increase, and had my C&Ps. Then we moved back to TN. I gave the VARO my forwarding address, and did a change of address card with the post office. About a year and a half I was contacted by the VAMC in TN and asked to report for another C&P. I asked what took so long and they had been trying to contact me from Waco. A call I placed to the 800# sparked the action that finally got my C-file moved to TN.

Long story short, if I had dropped the claim, gave them my new address, called to verify that my C-file had been moved, then refiled the claim at my new domicile I could have saved myself many months of aggrivation. People can quote regs (and I am a true believer in regs in most instances) and they can tell you what is supposed to happen, but I have lived it and I can tell you exactly what happened.

Good luck

[john999]

I would stay put until I got all my decisions. Once you get the ratings and start to get the money then you can move. Your money will follow you, but just make sure you establish your direct deposit at the new address. You will probably find all VARO's suck. I would never move in the middle of a claim if I wanted to win it.

[pigdriver]

CBT is Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Is this the six week class you are going to?

No, the program is called CPT for PTSD?

[pigdriver]

I moved from CA. (California) to Arkansas in 2004. I used my sisters CA. address, for about a year, and my sister would forward my VA mail to Arkansas. I had the DAV as a VSO during this time. It was impossible to communicate with the DAV as they would not call back long distance. I had to fly back to CA., several times for Imo's etc.

I got so fed up with the problem that I resended my POA (Power of Attorney) from the DAV, and then I had my claims transfered to Arkansas. I figure I lost a year in the process.

I would say there are a few factors for you to consider:

• Are you going to move back to where you are living now, later on?
  
• How far are you in your claims process? That is, are you close to going to the BVA, are you in remand, or at the AMC, or are you just at the start of the claims process.
  
• Are you a gulf war Vet, Afghanistan vet, Iraq Vet, or a Vietnam Vet? These seem to be treated differently and new Vets seem to have priority. Some of these newer Vets get their claims through in 6 months.
  
• Do you have a VSO (Veterans Service Organization), such as DAV, American Legion, VVA, or VFW.
  

These are a few things to consider in your decision.

Yes, going to move back, really not moving permanently, just to take care of Aunt until she passes, could be 1 yr, 2 yrs, 3 yrs, who knows.

I am new to the claims process so I don't know where I am, I have had both C&P exams for both claims, currently medicated.

I am a Vietnam combat Marine veteran.

I am using the DAV as the VSO.

[ks1k]

Remember that there are two parts to the VA. The Regional Office, which handles the claims and the Medical side that handles the medical stuff. Be sure to give them both your new address.

I spend part of the year in Florida and part in Connecticut. Never any problems with claims or exams as long as I remember to give EACH office the change of address on both ends of the line.

So, when you leave home give two changes and when you leave your Aunts give two more.

Good Luck

Dave sends

[pigdriver]

I would stay put until I got all my decisions. Once you get the ratings and start to get the money then you can move. Your money will follow you, but just make sure you establish your direct deposit at the new address. You will probably find all VARO's suck. I would never move in the middle of a claim if I wanted to win it.

My VRO and Shrink tell me it's about a 14 month process from filie date to rating which means I should get rated in February or March of 2010, just 43 years after leaving that hellhole called Vietnam. Knowing the VA it is probably the "game plan" to let all of us "old timers' die off before they have to pay a claim!! Maybe I will sit tight until then since my Aunt is not really infirmed or anything, just getting old and wants companionship. Thanks for the advise all!!

[magician2000]

My VRO and Shrink tell me it's about a 14 month process from filie date to rating which means I should get rated in February or March of 2010, just 43 years after leaving that hellhole called Vietnam. Knowing the VA it is probably the "game plan" to let all of us "old timers' die off before they have to pay a claim!! Maybe I will sit tight until then since my Aunt is not really infirmed or anything, just getting old and wants companionship. Thanks for the advise all!!

Just my 2 cents...

I only moved 10 miles away, and kept the same RO. I changed my address with both RO and VAMC. VAMC had no problems with mailing my meds to my new address. I didn't have a change of address, I would have missed about five letters from RO, all mailed after I called and sent a letter advising of my change of address. After every letter I received, I would call the 800# again, and ask what address they had on file for me. And is was always my previous address. But this is just my experience... And I just moved 10 miles...