Claim At Rating Board

[Michelle]

Hello Everyone:

I'm fairly new to Habit...Disabled Persian Gulf Vet at 70% SC. I have a claim in for increase for 100% P &T because conditions have gotten worse and I havent worked in 7 months. My claim is at the Rating Board and has been there since April 7, 2006. Can a few of you tell me how long it took yours once it got to the Rating Board?

Thanks, I love this site...

Michelle

[john999]

I don't think there is any way to tell how long your claim will be at the rating board. I would call about every two weeks and check to see what is happening. You must have had your C&P exam and sent in all your evidence so I guess you just have to wait. Check for SNAFUs by calling the 800 number. Sometimes your claim can languish for the most ridiculas reasons that you can fix yourself. The VA said they could not rate my claim because they did not have my DD214. I have been SC for 35 years and suddenly no DD214.

I brought them a certified copy myself.

[Michelle]

Thanks John for your reply...I figured it couldn't be much longer. They have everything they need I checked prior to it going to the rating board so I guess all I can do now is wait...thanks again..

[Berta]

Michelle -my VARO says 60 to 90 days- but one of my claims was only there a few days-and a decision was made -dont know why- or any results-the other has been there over 2 months with a target date of some sort of May 12th. They are putting both claims together for their 930 (end product).

Not that this date means anything-

I was sent a letter on March 12th, regarding questions about this claim- a CUE- and they wanted a reply in 60 days so maybe that is where they got this date-

They received my reply within days of the letter.

It does pay to call them a double check on the claim status- ask them for what the COVERS screen says.

My VARO will look at the VACOLS screen and give out old info sometimes- I always have to ask for the COVERS screen as it shows a little better what the actual physical presence of the claim is -in adjudication, authorization, rating board, stuff like that.

[RockyA1911]

Wow!!!! 60 to 90 days huh? That is SPEEDY. My date of claim is 28 Mar 05, had C&P for PTSD and Cognitive Disorder in July of '05. The cognitive disorder is for increase from 1976. Both exams favorable and complete. In Sep 05 I signed the expedited action form and checked the block that I had no further info. The VARO stated my claim would be within 60 to 90 days. I have faithfully called the 800 number every two weeks since Oct '05. Each time I have been told that my claim was farmed out to Seattle for rating. I had even received many emails confirming my claim is in the rating decision process from the VA service manager stating that I should be notified in 60 to 90 days or shortly and apologized for the delay.

Well in Feb now '06, I received notification from the manager at the VA that my claim is with the rating specialist. In Mar '06 the 800 number person told me my claim is in the development area. Again I contacted the VARO service manager and he again confirmed my claim was with the rating specialist and I should be notified shortly. First week of April '06, I received a notification to have 4 more C&P exams,1) for skull loss, 2) for surgical scar from skull loss, 3) skin disorder AO, and 4) Tinnitus/hearing. I completed the exams for skull loss, scar, and skin disorder on 20 April '06. The VAMC overlooked the VAROs request for Tinnitus C&P and did not schedule me for an audiogram. The VAMC apologized and said I would be notified of an appointment date for audiogram and Tinnitus C&P by mail in about two to three weeks. To date I haven't received a notification to report for the C&P.

Not to discourage you, but the VA has had all my records in the VA file since 1976 relating to the head injury, skull loss, and scar and the records are still in my C-file as I requested a copy of it.

So here it is over 13 months so far for my claim, even with the expedited action forms furnished at least 10 months ago.

I don't look to have a decision on my simple claims until around August '06, IF I FEEL LUCKY!!!!! I've already gotten the C&P exam summary from 20 April '06 and sent it to the VARO because when I called them yesterday (4 May 06) they said my folder was at the VAMC and they were awaiting the C&P exam transcript. I asked them why I had a copy already and they didn't? So I priority mailed it to them, but I doubt seriously if it will expedite anything.

I think what happens is once they receive the info they need then the claim goes back to the end of the line for rating and if they decide they also want you to be checked for hearing loss even though you did not claim it, they can delay the claim even longer. And when they get that C&P, then back at the end of the line again and it starts all over. That has been my experience anyway for the past 13 months.

And guess what? Next week I will be told my claim is with the rating specialist again even though I know my file is at the VAMC awaiting a C&P for hearing.

Hope you have had better luck believing them than I have. I have the written proof stating that my claim is alway being rated or will be rated within 60 to 90 days or just "shortly".

Hope this doesn't happen to everybody.