Writing Congress

[MrFreedomforAll]

Good Morning Folks,

I checked on the status of my case this morning and they lady told me that it is in the appeals process and that it can stay there for up to a year. WOW!

Will it be effect to write my congress man?

If so any ideas of what to say. other than the basics/ Or what not to say.

Thank you

[Berta]

A year????- mine was in appeals 6 years-

Did you ask for a DRO review?

Did you send to them everything they asked for under the VCAA letter and response form?

Do you have any additional evidence to send to them?

What stage of appeal is it actually in-

There are almost one million claims in the system.

If a vet does not comply with the VCAA letter and attempt to get all the evidence they need-and then make sure the VA considers it -the claim will be in the system possibly longer than a year-

I deal with Buffalo VARO-they told me that they color code the NODs and dont even work on a NOD until a year has passed after getting the NOD.

Congressmen and women cannot award claims.

They cannot supply any critical evidence because they dont have evidence to support claims.

In some cases I experience Congressional intervention did get things moving a little faster-

but it is solely evidence that gains an award letter-nopt anyone from Congress.

For example H VAC CHair COngressman Filner wrote to me that the VA had again denied my claim (in March) then he wrote in May 2009 that they had awarded it-

he had looked into the status due to some H VAC testimony I gave.

He however did not have anything whatsoever to do with the award.

VA will get a COngressional Inquiry and then put it with the C file and send it to their COngressional Liason person who will hold up the claim in order to reply to the COngress person by putting the VA in the best light.

The VA is only to happy to say the veteran failed to provide evidence to attain service connection-blah blah blah or in one situation I had long ago-they told my Congressman and 2 Senators an absolute bold faced documented Lie.

If I were you I would spend energy on seeking all the evidence you need instead of writing to a congress person.

[darkhorse]

Berta's right. It would be better for you to just get them what they need to grant your claim. If you start getting your Congressman involved you might get a faster decision but not the decision you want. I'd rather get a later grant than an early denial.

DH

A year????- mine was in appeals 6 years-

If I were you I would spend energy on seeking all the evidence you need instead of writing to a congress person.

[MrFreedomforAll]

Wow

Okay.

I will get to work

[Berta]

Yeah- I recall in the late 1990s they denied as fast as they could when they got the Congressional Inquiries I requested.

There is another Congressional Inquiry now at the RO regarding my claim-

dont know where this one came from-

It isnt holding anything up this time - the VA is doing that all by themselves-

[darkhorse]

Do you feel comfortable with the evidence they have to give you a grant? IMO, Comp&Pen...etc

DH

Wow

Okay.

I will get to work

[john999]

Yeah, congressional inquiry will just hold things up for a few more months. Unless you congressman is your brother-in-law forget about it.