Berta

[jlshand]

Hi Berta,

I recently filed additional new and pertinent info to my claim. The process had reached the scheduled C&P stage when I suspended it by asking for my medical service records. The VA never could locate them and advised me to try to find them myself. Since I didnt believe I needed them to establish my secondaries anyway, I sent in my new info based on evidence and proofs which are current to my condition.

A good month has passed and I have had no acknowledgement of receipt or that they are back working on the claim in light of the new info. I do have date stamped copies since I hand delivered. My question is are they required to acknowledge by mail this or any new info and if so what is a reasonable time frame?

Of course I cant get an intelligible answer via my phone calls.

Thanks Bertha

[Berta]

I always ask for the VACOLS screen info and then what is on the COVERS screen- at the 800#-

The COVERS gives physical present of your c file-

well- that is if you are lucky enough to get a vet rep at VA who understands their PC programs-

I suggest to send them a Query through the VA web site-www.va.gov/

It will be answered -often within hours-

by your VARO-

You could ask them what you mentioned here and their response, if you print it out- is proof of acknowledgement of what you sent and maybe more info on what is being done with your claim.

"My question is are they required to acknowledge by mail this or any new info and if so what is a reasonable time frame"

They may or may not acknowledge by mail- if there are regs on this- they really dont care-

The VA has nothing even close to defining a reasonable time frame.

My VARO -with excellent evidence on any claim- will choose to award in 3 months or 3 years.

If they had past history with you- depending on those results-

they often remember you well and I feel that this factor too can determine how fast or how long your claim will take.

PS- were the SMRs critical to your initial claim?

if they tried to pull something on you-

like CUE or question your main SC disability- you would need those SMRs.

They probably have them but put them into another vets c file.

Edited March 31, 2006 by Berta