Dav, Good Or Bad?

[abean]

Don't know much about the organization. All I know is that they seem to know more about my husbands claim than me, hubby, and VA. We really don't know how they got our info. Are they legit? Is it an edge to use them?

[Gunner9835]

Don't request copies of C File until you either have just begun a claim or after a decision has been made

Pete - Wish my VSO had told me this prior to filing the FOIA request. They didn't and bam, my claim is in limbo.

Not to continue bashing, but I too found the DAV VSO I was assigned to very un-interested in my claim and me, as a veteran. I know there are good ones and bad ones out there in the VSO's, every type of working group has them, its not just limited to VSO's. And I know they are overwhelmed. But I have to say, that when I requested a meeting with my then VSO from the DAV, he had no understanding as to my military history, exposures, combat experience, MOS or anything. Had he looked at just the DD214 prior to my meeting, I feel he could have directed me and guided me better. As time has past, I have learned more and I am the one "working" my claim. I have learned a lot from Hadit.com and a few other great sites. I am learning a few other things the hard way, like the above quote. And that simple issue (the above quote) is something I feel should have been addressed by the VSO and this delay would have been avoided.

Its hard for me to express my feelings on my experience by typing this out, but I will try. To me and this is just my oppinion, but the DAV should have done several things at the starting gate for me when I filed my initial claim.

1. They should have looked at the DD214 and held a meeting with me, more or less to explore what issues I have and what should be filed, not just what I thought might be claimable. I filed for my knee, arthritis and tunnitus. Had they looked at my experiences, DD214 and my MOS, they could have helped me with the PTSD claim (instead, a VA employee who is disgruntled with his bosses and their lack of support for the Vet, told me to file...). They should have also told me to look into the GWI and the pressumptives associated with GWI, instead the VA "added" it to my claim and they requested evidence from me reference the GWI. I DID NOT FILE FOR THE GWI, THE VA ADDED IT ALL ON THEIR OWN. I know someone out there will say the VA can't do that, but man they did in this case. I had always "known" about the GWI, but blew it off. After seeing it on my claim, I began to look into it and know I wonder why I didn't look into it sooner on my own. Now I am behind the 8 Ball on this part of the claim.

2. They really should've met with me prior to any C & P's. Instead I went into them unaware of what to expect, what I should do etc. Granted I would not have done anything that I didn't do at them anyways, I told the C&P Docs just what I thought and felt, straight answers. But the anxiety prior to going to these exams drove me nuts. A quick, "hey this is what to expect" would have settled my nerves a lot.

3. Commo with me. There wasn't a lack of communication, there was simply none. I made the request to sit down with my VSO after I went to the first 2 C&P's and thats when he sat there, and basically tried to "sell me a ponzi scheme." I can't explain it better than that. In his defense I was probably his 100th Vet for the day though.

4. All VSO's should find out if the Vet has copies of his/her SMR's including all out/in patient files. If not file the request to get them prior to starting the claim or at the beginning. I also feel a request should be made for the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) so the Vet has them too. Like I've said above, I made the request thinking I need them to help show the in theater injuries etc for the pending claim, instead it stops the active claim in its tracks. Granted I will get the records, hopefully all of them, but the claim is now dead in the water, till the FOIA request is completed.

Time to get off my soapbox, but had someone helped me 20 years ago while I was ETS's-ing I would have made copies of my SMR's and OMPF, but I didn't. During that ETS I was offered a % for the knee, but turned it down thinking it would hurt my job hunt, it would not have. Had I been smarter I would have gotten all of my records years ago, before filing any claims. So I guess I can blame myself intitially, but once I started the process with the VA last year, my VSO had the chance to help me and guide me, but they failed to do that. I have switched VSO's and hope that helps. Oddly enough, when asked why I wanted to switch to the current VSO, my answer caused them to reply "Oh you had Mr XXXX from the DAV, didn't you?" And all I told them was, that I felt like I was being sold a ponzi scheme. They knew immediately who I had been assigned. The rest of the DAV VSO's that I had met during the outreach day, seemed good to go, I just got the one bad one I guess.

Sorry for the long rambling post, but I had to vent after seeing this post, this issue has been sitting on my chest like a lead weight. Thanks to all dedicated VSO's. I know you are out there, reguardless of who you work for, the DAV, VFW, etc.

[COOL BREEZE]

Pete - Wish my VSO had told me this prior to filing the FOIA request. They didn't and bam, my claim is in limbo.

Not to continue bashing, but I too found the DAV VSO I was assigned to very un-interested in my claim and me, as a veteran. I know there are good ones and bad ones out there in the VSO's, every type of working group has them, its not just limited to VSO's. And I know they are overwhelmed. But I have to say, that when I requested a meeting with my then VSO from the DAV, he had no understanding as to my military history, exposures, combat experience, MOS or anything. Had he looked at just the DD214 prior to my meeting, I feel he could have directed me and guided me better. As time has past, I have learned more and I am the one "working" my claim. I have learned a lot from Hadit.com and a few other great sites. I am learning a few other things the hard way, like the above quote. And that simple issue (the above quote) is something I feel should have been addressed by the VSO and this delay would have been avoided.

Its hard for me to express my feelings on my experience by typing this out, but I will try. To me and this is just my oppinion, but the DAV should have done several things at the starting gate for me when I filed my initial claim.

1. They should have looked at the DD214 and held a meeting with me, more or less to explore what issues I have and what should be filed, not just what I thought might be claimable. I filed for my knee, arthritis and tunnitus. Had they looked at my experiences, DD214 and my MOS, they could have helped me with the PTSD claim (instead, a VA employee who is disgruntled with his bosses and their lack of support for the Vet, told me to file...). They should have also told me to look into the GWI and the pressumptives associated with GWI, instead the VA "added" it to my claim and they requested evidence from me reference the GWI. I DID NOT FILE FOR THE GWI, THE VA ADDED IT ALL ON THEIR OWN. I know someone out there will say the VA can't do that, but man they did in this case. I had always "known" about the GWI, but blew it off. After seeing it on my claim, I began to look into it and know I wonder why I didn't look into it sooner on my own. Now I am behind the 8 Ball on this part of the claim.

2. They really should've met with me prior to any C & P's. Instead I went into them unaware of what to expect, what I should do etc. Granted I would not have done anything that I didn't do at them anyways, I told the C&P Docs just what I thought and felt, straight answers. But the anxiety prior to going to these exams drove me nuts. A quick, "hey this is what to expect" would have settled my nerves a lot.

3. Commo with me. There wasn't a lack of communication, there was simply none. I made the request to sit down with my VSO after I went to the first 2 C&P's and thats when he sat there, and basically tried to "sell me a ponzi scheme." I can't explain it better than that. In his defense I was probably his 100th Vet for the day though.

4. All VSO's should find out if the Vet has copies of his/her SMR's including all out/in patient files. If not file the request to get them prior to starting the claim or at the beginning. I also feel a request should be made for the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) so the Vet has them too. Like I've said above, I made the request thinking I need them to help show the in theater injuries etc for the pending claim, instead it stops the active claim in its tracks. Granted I will get the records, hopefully all of them, but the claim is now dead in the water, till the FOIA request is completed.

Time to get off my soapbox, but had someone helped me 20 years ago while I was ETS's-ing I would have made copies of my SMR's and OMPF, but I didn't. During that ETS I was offered a % for the knee, but turned it down thinking it would hurt my job hunt, it would not have. Had I been smarter I would have gotten all of my records years ago, before filing any claims. So I guess I can blame myself intitially, but once I started the process with the VA last year, my VSO had the chance to help me and guide me, but they failed to do that. I have switched VSO's and hope that helps. Oddly enough, when asked why I wanted to switch to the current VSO, my answer caused them to reply "Oh you had Mr XXXX from the DAV, didn't you?" And all I told them was, that I felt like I was being sold a ponzi scheme. They knew immediately who I had been assigned. The rest of the DAV VSO's that I had met during the outreach day, seemed good to go, I just got the one bad one I guess.

Sorry for the long rambling post, but I had to vent after seeing this post, this issue has been sitting on my chest like a lead weight. Thanks to all dedicated VSO's. I know you are out there, reguardless of who you work for, the DAV, VFW, etc.

The quote about not requesting your C-file while you have a on going claim hit the nail on the head. That's what happened to me and they were going to rate my claim but the file was gone to be copied for my copy. I believe that is why my claim has been delayed.

[Gunner9835]

Cool - How long have you been delayed because of the copy request? I put my request in, in early February.

[Pete53]

Gunner

I am sorry for your delays but the fact is you will probably never know the real reason. Having the file out of its pew is one of many excuses that VA uses.

Good Luck

It took me 5 and 1/2 years and would have taken even longer if I did not get lucky, For almost 2 years my claim folder sat on an empty desk of my VSO.

[Gunner9835]

Pete - The new VSO was the one that made me aware of the fact that my claim will stall due to the copy request, but it was after I had made the request that I switched to them. So far it hasn't been a long delay, but cases like yous scare the hell out of me! How did your's sit on a VSO's empty desk for that long? I didn't think VSO's could get their hands on an actual claims folder? I was told the VA is the only one that will see the original and have control over it, that the Vet and the VSO's can only get copies??

[Pete53]

First of all it happened a long time ago 1992 to 1994. The VSO is supposed to write their input when your claim is going to BVA and my SO transferred from Waco to Houston where he was latter accused of fixing ratings if Vets paid him and some others he teamed up with. Anyway my folder was on his desk and they did not replace him.

If I did not have a friend who was Texas Adjutant for DAV it might still be there. He went to the office and started a search. There were ver 80 Vets in same boat with me.

This was Waco VARO one of the worst but every 2 months they would send me a letter asking me to comment within 60 days before claim went to BVA. Little did I know it was also going to the DAV in Waco and they were doing nothing.