Help!

[BFR]

I was finally able to get into eBenefits and found what I expected to find; that my Gulf War Illness claim has been waiting for a decision for over a year. Apparently they've spent more than a year "review it to make sure we have everything we need to make an informed decision."

Is that within the norm? I understand that things take time and the resources are limited, but all I filed for are conditions in the GWI "presumptives" list (with what I think is an awesome IMO) that is written in the "VA speak" that Dr Bash recommended ( it's full of phrases like "more likely than not" type of stuff).

The IMO I sent is from a board certified in Internal Medicine saying "He has CFS. He has IBS. He has FM. And all of them are more likely than not directly related to military service." Do they really need a year to decide?

I'm getting worse and need to get this service connected so I can get VA treatment my private medical bills are huge. Should I get a rep to go to the VARO in Waco to find out what needs to happen? If I do that will it push me to the back of the line?

Please, any advice is most welcome.

From the eBenefits page:

Open Claims

Claim Date Claim Type Claim Status Is Your Attention Needed?

2010-08-24 Compensation Decision Phase No

Details on your Compensation claim received on 2010-08-24

• Regional Office of Jurisdiction: Waco
• Power of Attorney: TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION
• Status: Decision Phase
  Where Should You Send What We Need?
  Department of Veterans Affairs
  Regional Office
  One Veterans Plaza
  701 Clay Avenue
  Waco, TX 76799
  
  
  Contentions
  
  • Gulf War Syndrome
  • Next Steps: Your claim is currently located with our rating activity. We will review it to make sure we have everything we need to make an informed decision. If we have everything we need, we will prepare a proposed decision on your claim.
  • The length of time it takes to complete the Decision Phase depends on several factors, such as the type of claim filed, complexity of your disability(ies), the number of disabilities you claim, and the availability of evidence needed to decide your claim. The Decision Phase is completed on most claims between 16 and 28 days. The number of days provided is a national average of time claims spend in the Decision phase based on data at the end of May 2010. Please be advised that a claim may take longer in this phase based on the specifics of your claim.

[brokensoldier244th]

A representative is not going to be able to speed up your claim. They can inquire on it, find developments that might not be reflected on Ebenefits or over the 1-800 number, but the claim, ultimately, will take however long it takes, depending on its complexity and the number of issues raised, and how many GW claims are before yours.

Thanks for the advice and information, but I'm still not sure what I should do.

Should I simply wait it out? Would enlisting the help of a representative who can walk into the Waco RO and find out what's going on speed up or push back the Decision phase?

[carlie]

That's true, Carlie. I'll have to work out the prescriptions based on the >50% rule.

http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/Library/pubs/EPG/EnrollmentPriorityGroups.pdf

Enrollment Priority Groups

Priority

Group 1

Definition:

• Veterans with VA-rated service-connected disabilities 50% or more disabling

• Veterans determined by VA to be unemployable due to service-connected conditions

http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/eligibility/DetermineEligibility.asp

http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/coveredservices/StandardBenefits.asp

[Gulfvet45]

You do not want to change to the DAV on this claim. The TCVA is well trained. It is the time at the RO. Change your VSO will not make the claim move any faster, and I have had to fix to many DAV claim in the past 2 years.

That's true, Carlie. I'll have to work out the prescriptions based on the >50% rule.

About getting a service officer from someone like the DAV involved: does anyone know if that will reset the timeline...in other words, will it put my claim back at the end of the line if one were to intervene on my behalf?

[COOL BREEZE]

I Discourage Vets from using The DAV for the claims process. I would study this site and do the claim on your own. They will not hold your hand or support you through the process.

We will provide much more help than they will!!

[brokensoldier244th]

It depends on the VSO. I would suspect that examples of each can be found, both useful and not. I handhold my own claims, but also fax my DAV guy. He keeps me up to date and gets things into my claims file, then verifies that they are in there, rather than my sending them off into the ether via VONAPP or faxing.

YMMV.

CAS

I Discourage Vets from using The DAV for the claims process. I would study this site and do the claim on your own. They will not hold your hand or support you through the process.

We will provide much more help than they will!!

[myround0]

Not what you really want to hear, but, I am using the same regional office. My case was sent to them February 2008, and I am still waiting. All i can say is, USUALLY, the longer the wait, the more likely the claim will be granted...I hope that helps you a little, as for as a time deadline, they don't have one, you get it when they are ready to grant it...