One Number For Life?

[Bigred122]

I've been meaning to ask and keep forgeting too.(is that SC?)lol When I got out of the service in 72, I had filed paperwork out on my bad knees. When they sent me a date for a C&P exam it had a claim number on it. My boss was a jerk and would not let me take the time off to go to physical. He said I was already gone to long before so no more time off. Anyway, when I filed my claim last summer, I realized that the same number was on the new claim. I didn't put down my knees when I did the new paperwork. Do they just assign you a number and all your claims go under that same number? Or did they never close my original claim?I never rescheduled an appointment and I don't remember them ever sending me anything that said claim was closed. That would be some back pay if they never closed the claim. It would only be about 10% on each knee, but back pay for 39 years would be a nice retirement package.lol Can everyone give me a Charlie Sheen "WINNING"!! I would guess that one would get a new number for each new claim. OK, who's gonna be first to burst my bubble and say one number for life!! What ever the answer is, I won't be sleeping tonite.I'll be spending the money that I'll never see.But I'll be rich for a few hours!! lol Mike

[rpowell01]

It is the same claim number, usually social security number or your service number. If you didn't show up at the C&P they probably closed it. But again who knows the is known to make mistakes...That would be a good retirement check...

[Guest]

My advice would be, I think you should take a trip to your local VA regional office to review your C-File and go from there.

[Bigred122]

My advice would be, I think you should take a trip to your local VA regional office to review your C-File and go from there.

Unfortunately, my RO is about 500 miles away and I'm only able to drive about 60 miles before I have vision and other problems.So I gather that they assign a new number each time .One thing for sure I have all my paperwork on my knees from the service.Nothing new on them, I just deal with them. They are getting good at predicting cold spells.lol I think they share my morphine with my neck.lol The C&P doc never even looked at my knees, my missing half of a Big Toe (Great toe),and the scarring on both legs from top of boot to my knees. He missed alot of minor things. No wonder NPRC doesn't want to send me my mental records. I just thought that being they are government, the unions have put them on slow down mode till new budget is passed.Enough people bitch about them being behind and they won't get laid off. It's called government security blanket.They know their jobs are safe as long as they are behind. So if someone screwed up and never closed my original claim I might have some mental owed me like my knees and I'd be WACKO RICH with a limp!lol My claim number is not my SSN# or my army selective service number. With all the moves I've made over the years, it was in an old envelope that had my first paycheck stubs back in1964.It is only about 1/3 the size of a normal sheet of paper.It's an old form 07-3542c.That would be great if they screwed up in my favor. Now I wonder if I should I do. Send in copies of my medical records with a letter stating that they forgot to put down my knees and C&P dr didn't examine them. Or wait for mental records to arrive and see what they say.They have moved my get by date till the 5/25.Three days won't kill me to wait. I told them they should have settled me quickly, I keep finding things and soon I'll have the second lien on our country after China!! lol " WITH A REBEL YELL, i SAY TELL ME MORE, MORE MORE!!" Thxs for the morsels of hope!! Mike

[sharon]

You are only issued one number. The exception being, if the old claim number duplicates a Social Security number. You can reopen the claim for which you were denied with new and material evidence. That is evidence that was not reviewed before and is relivant to the claim. A medical statement by your doctor connecting the current condition to your service will reopen the claim.

[Philip Rogers]

As for the claim number, back in the 60's and 70's, the VA issued their own numbers. Later on, like the military, I believe they started using SSN's, which were also started being used as service numbers, in the late 60's. I was issued a claim number back in the early 70's, that is neither my SSN, nor service number. It is my same claim number today. You should also request an FOIA copy of your complete c-file to see what was done, then, with that old claim. It is possible they failed to adjudicate or close that claim and you could have an existing claim open. It wouldn't be the first time. jmo

pr

[broncovet]

Big Red

There is a test, called the Brokowski test, to determine if you have filed an informal claim for benefits which can establish an effective date. Unfortuanately have a "claim number" is not one of the criteria for the 3 part test. However, IMHO, having a claim number could establish "intent to file for benefits".

All 3 parts of the Brokowoski test are required to establish an effective date: 1) It be in writing 2) It show intent to apply for a benefit and 3) you "specified the benefit sought". If you file an informal claim, the VA is required to send you a formal claim form.

I do seem to recall reading about individuals who had NOT been sent the required claim form ultimately win an EED.

To establish an effective date, it is important to rememeber that the effective date with be the later of the "facts found" or date of claim. You see, it would not matter if you applied for benefits in 1939, but if your doctor says you did not get the disease until 2010..your effective date would be 2010.

I would agree there is a "glimmer" of hope, with it being only a glimmer as the VA aggressiviely fights Vets on very old effective dates.

In this old Vets opinion it will take a very long fight for you to win a 1970's effective date.