Should I Rep A Vet?

[Hoppy]

The veteran I have been helping fired his service officer. The SO has never had a handle on this claim. He gave up on it and sent the veteran a letter saying a previous denial was in the veteran's best interest. I got an IMO that was a slam dunk and the veteran was service connected. The rating was low because the SO was so convinced that the claim would lose that he was not submitting types of evidence the RO requested. The IMO I got only addressed the issue of service connection. The veteran did not even have a standard C&P exam. The SO would not even attempt to request or submit evidence that would have resulted in the scheduling of a standard C&P. This was the final straw and the veteran fired the SO.

In the process of firing the SO the veteran's benefits councilor gave the veteran two forms one was for hiring a new SO and the other was to have a friend represent him. We have another SO who will take over if the next appeal is not to his satisfaction. In the mean time I was wondering if there would be an advantage for me to be put on the record. If I were to be put on the record my primary objective would be to make sure he gets to any exams they schedule. Would the RO notify me of pending exams? Wouild I be able to meet with the DRO prior to any decision?

Edited July 6, 2010 by Hoppy

[Pete53]

Its a big responsibility but I think that you probably can help this Veteran.

Good Luck

[Tbird]

Hoppy -

It is a lot of pressure on you. Perhaps for years, make sure you are up for that. Helping another veteran is what I am all about, but I do caution folks to take of themselves or they will be no good to others. So if you think the pressure or stress is not to much for you to put on your plate, then do it.

[LarryJ]

The veteran I have been helping fired his service officer. The SO has never had a handle on this claim. He gave up on it and sent the veteran a letter saying a previous denial was in the veteran's best interest. I got an IMO that was a slam dunk and the veteran was service connected. The rating was low because the SO was so convinced that the claim would lose that he was not submitting types of evidence the RO requested. The IMO I got only addressed the issue of service connection. The veteran did not even have a standard C&P exam. The SO would not even attempt to request or submit evidence that would have resulted in the scheduling of a standard C&P. This was the final straw and the veteran fired the SO.

In the process of firing the SO the veteran's benefits councilor gave the veteran two forms one was for hiring a new SO and the other was to have a friend represent him. We have another SO who will take over if the next appeal is not to his satisfaction. In the mean time I was wondering if there would be an advantage for me to be put on the record. If I were to be put on the record my primary objective would be to make sure he gets to any exams they schedule. Would the RO notify me of pending exams? Wouild I be able to meet with the DRO prior to any decision?

Hi Hoppy.

First of all, you do realize that there can be just one entity that holds a veterans Power Of Attorney. There are two different POA forms (21-22 for use when an organziation represents a veteran, 21-22a when an individual represents a veteran), if you decide to represent this veteran, then make sure and use the 21-22a. When the POA form is sent to the veterans VA Regional Office, then the very act of sending in this POA form acts as a "dismissal/firing/whatever" of the veterans CURRENT representation. In-other-words, sending in the POA is all that you have to do to begin repping this vet.

Sounds easy, doesn't it?

BTW, you will be allowed to ONLY represent this veteran..............and no others, ever.

You will, some times, receive notifications regarding this veteran..............and some times, you won't hear ANYthing, with the veteran receiving ALL the correspondence and you, zilch. Some times you will receive ALL the correspondence and the vet, zilch. (this is a sinister plot to keep you and the vet at each other's throats whilst the VA cruises, I do believe.........or, just the fact that it's easier to ignore the vet or the rep).

You will also find that, as Berta has so well put it, you have a lot of pressure to "perform".

Only, upon taking all the above into consideration, would I, if I were you, accept this challenge.

I do believe that you would do well for this veteran, and, in the process, find that you have a newly developed talent and goal in life.....................la chaim!

(pm me if you need to)

[broncovet]

Hoppy...

It is an honor to you that you would consider such an endeavor. If I would have known you were available, I would have had you "rep" me, because I know that you have a really thorough background in Work Comp law, and are an "expert" at research for Veterans. (Of course, I would also love to have Berta as a rep, but so would most of the other 1,000,000 Veterans waiting on the VA.)

JMHO, but I cant really see that much advantage for either of you for you to go on record as his rep. You can do pretty much the same things without the formality of being his rep, just have him sign the documents you help him to prepare. Im suggesting you be his "informal advisor", instead. This would help keep the Veteran "in the loop"...even if he signs stuff without ever reading it. It would be more trouble for you, to have to run him down every time you want to send in required paperwork for him, as the VA requires oceans of paperwork, as you know.

Whatever works out best for you and the Veteran is certainly okay by me, as I certainly dont understand this Veterans claim as well as you do.

[atlaturne]

The veteran I have been helping fired his service officer. The SO has never had a handle on this claim. He gave up on it and sent the veteran a letter saying a previous denial was in the veteran's best interest. I got an IMO that was a slam dunk and the veteran was service connected. The rating was low because the SO was so convinced that the claim would lose that he was not submitting types of evidence the RO requested. The IMO I got only addressed the issue of service connection. The veteran did not even have a standard C&P exam. The SO would not even attempt to request or submit evidence that would have resulted in the scheduling of a standard C&P. This was the final straw and the veteran fired the SO.

In the process of firing the SO the veteran's benefits councilor gave the veteran two forms one was for hiring a new SO and the other was to have a friend represent him. We have another SO who will take over if the next appeal is not to his satisfaction. In the mean time I was wondering if there would be an advantage for me to be put on the record. If I were to be put on the record my primary objective would be to make sure he gets to any exams they schedule. Would the RO notify me of pending exams? Wouild I be able to meet with the DRO prior to any decision?