Letter From Vso

[hedgey]

I got a letter from my VSO yesterday saying that I should soon be receiving notification from the VA that my claim for IU has been granted, and is "permanent". Since the rating is permanent, I will be receiving information about other benefits.

I called his office, because I couldn't believe it. His assistant assured me that they had sent the letter to the right Hedgey, and it was really my information, and that there really was a decision letter stating that it's permanent, and that I would be getting retro back to last year. He told me to call back on Monday to talk to the VSO about the other benefits.

I'm in turmoil here. I'm excited and sick to my stomach at the same time. I haven't told my spouse because I'm afraid it's not real and I don't want to have to say it was all a mistake.

I know I won't really believe it until I have the letter from the VA in my hand, and the money in the bank. But this is a good sign, right? I wanted to call the VA 800 number to verify it, but I was afraid to. What other benefits are there? I thought that IU only meant the $$ compensation was boosted to 100%.

I couldn't sleep last night. I guess I'm just posting here about it now because I can't tell anyone else. Thanks for being here, dear Hadit!

[hedgey]

THANK YOU to everyone for your good wishes and support - it helps so much to feel like I have a cheering section rooting for me. :)

I called the 1-800 number this morning to ask if they could verify the VSO's information. I was told by a very nice, very patient representative that my claim does have a decision on it, but that it's in the Authorization stage at this point. According to the computer it entered Authorization last Friday. He explained that it means that it's going through it's last check-through for accuracy and once that's done, the letter & rating explanation will be generated & mailed out to me, then the funds will be disbursed.

He said it all means that I can feel 99% confident that IU really has been awarded, but that there is still a remote possibility that an error may be found and it could be sent back for correction. Unlikely, but possible.

So the bottom line was that be happy, but wait for the letter and the funds before the celebrating.

Just like the Hadit folks said!!

[carlie]

hedgey,

I hope you get a little P&T with that IU :-)

[Bravo6]

Again Congrats! IMHO......I would have the bank number on speed dial........to me sounds like your going to have a great christmas! Those funds will hit LONG before you get your decision letter from VA! But once you get your award notice, ensure that it states no future examinations for P&T! Best of Luck!

B6

[alphahec]

Congrats!!!

[Testvet]

Congrats Hedgey it sounds like you caught your brass ring that is what a good VSO will do as they are wired into the VARO system they are normally told by the rater when the decision is made so they can give their veterans a heads up there is no benefit to him in lying about it to you, because if it isn't true he's the one who you get mad at

It sounds like you are getting all the benefits of P&T ID cards CHAMPVA for the spouse and kids now you can check into your states benefits like property tax exemptions etc remember this is probably the last Large check you will see so don't spend it all in one place and remember that there is rainy days if you are not on SSD yet maybe this will be enough for them to grant you SSD I think most of us live pretty decent on VA and SSD benefits especially since they are tax free unless your spouse works and makes a decent salary then you might have some tax issues on the SSD benefits but not the VA benies either way you are ahead now have a MERRY XMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR

[hedgey]

Thanks for everyone's good wishes. It's been a really rough few weeks around here (holidays kind of do that) and I still don't have any documents from the VA.

I did get a deposit today, so that had me feeling pretty happy.

I called my VSO's assistant to ask how I get the letter to take to the local base for an access ID card and she told me I had to call my VARO. I just got off the phone with them, and now I'm not feeling so confident about the rating being permanent.

I told the VARO rep that I'd been instructed to call them for the commissary ID card access letter. The VARO rep said "Did you receive the letter about your decision from the VA?" I said no, not yet, but that my VSO had and he had said my rating is permanent and that I should call the VARO for the letter. The VARO rep said "I know which letter you are asking about, but you need to read the documents regarding your rating. Legally, I'm not allowed to discuss them with you before you've read them yourself. When you've received your rating letter, read it carefully and if you have any questions, call back that same day."

So now I'm feeling like my rating isn't permanent after all.

And worse, I'm afraid that they might have changed their minds about the rating altogether.....