Those That Asked A Lawyer To Represent Them, How Long Did It Take For Them To Agree To Represent You?

[retiredat44]

Those that asked a lawyer to represent them, how Long did it take for them to agree to represent you?

First of all most people know my story. I wil try to make this short and simple, if possible.

I am rated at 50% from 1997.

I am sick and am trying ot get the full 100%.

I had a VSO for about 3 years, but decided to get a lawyer. (please no discussion on why.. that is in other threads..).

I Contacted a well know Disabled Veteran Lawyer Firm, and the first step is that they get approval, from the Vet to get a copy of your Claims file, to see if they want to represent you, for your case. They then will exam your case to see at what stage your appeal is in. ANd, or course, see if it is winable, and they can make money.

Back to my question, which is:

How long does it take for them to order copies of your C-File, and determine if they are willing ot represent your VA Disability Claim.

(I know thy can go look at the file, before ordering copies, just to get a quick look before they order copies).

I just wanted to know if anyone knows about how long it takes for them to say yes/no.... after they look at your file and determine to represent you.

Note: I did not ask them that question. I suspect it might depend on how complicated your case is to determine if they will. I have thoughts about it, but so far I have only had a VSO a couple times in 10 years. I have never hired a lawyer for my Vet claims yet. This will be my first time to get a lawyer.

I won SSDI with no lawyer, and also won one issue out of three disabled veteran issues without a real lawyer, during the last 18 years. (I currently am meeting deadlines for appeal isssues while these changes are in process). That is why I ask this question. I just wanted to know if anyone that has used a lawyer has an answer to my one question. If you have not used a lawyer for getting Veterans Disability than you will not know the answer.

BTW, only one week has passed since my intial contact and approval for the lawyer for access to my files. I know that parts of the process can take very long periods of time,,, I am just wondering about other Vet's experience with this issue.

Thank you.

Edited June 28, 2012 by retiredat44

[RonP]

I filed 2 nods through a Vet certified lawyer, so far the lawyer has not seen my c file or anything else except my award letters, I filed the day after receiving the letter.

that was 400 days ago.

Does this answer your question.

I have had 1 letter from VA to submit further evidence, which my attny said BS. no other contact from VA and once every 45 days I get an email from the attny's clerk were working on it. We requested a DRO review on the Nod...

Still 400 days later ZIP, nada, asta taco your ass from the VA.

[Chuck75]

The whole VA compensation thing is a total disaster. That said, a lawyer that has requested a "C" file and hasn't gotten it 400 days later is in question as to what was actually done.

The VA normally responds to lawyers in a much more timely fashion than to veterans direct requests. It can be argued that such a delay is denial of due process, if nothing else.

[retiredat44]

I am only asking about the agreement to represent (by a lawyer),,,,timeframe.. not about anything else...

and btw, my dro review response took 1.5 years... so 400 days sounds about right... (for a large city VA office..)

sorry,,I guess I shouldn't have asked,,, I think it confuses people...

I will findout,,,one way or the other, what the timeframe is for either an agreement or refusal..

[RonP]

The whole VA compensation thing is a total disaster. That said, a lawyer that has requested a "C" file and hasn't gotten it 400 days later is in question as to what was actually done.

The VA normally responds to lawyers in a much more timely fashion than to veterans direct requests. It can be argued that such a delay is denial of due process, if nothing else.

You are absolutely correct. The Va Claims letter to the attny stated they did not know what office it was in because it is a Nemyr Claim. The attny is in Washington DC and reminded the VA they are in Violation of blah, blah,.

They have not responded. They never sent me any correspondence. The attny said sit back and laugh, so I do not have a stroke , heart attack, or commit suicide. She said and I quote, You have to have a sense of the VA

Think about

Larry, Moe, and Curly, as seat 1 , seat 2 and seat 3 at the top. I justt keep smilin...she says it is a done deal "SomeDay" My Prince will come.

[carlie]

I am only asking about the agreement to represent (by a lawyer),,,,timeframe.. not about anything else...

and btw, my dro review response took 1.5 years... so 400 days sounds about right... (for a large city VA office..)

sorry,,I guess I shouldn't have asked,,, I think it confuses people...

I will findout,,,one way or the other, what the timeframe is for either an agreement or refusal..

retired,

Your question,

"I am only asking about the agreement to represent (by a lawyer),,,,timeframe.. not about anything else..."

There is no real timeframe.

1) You consult with the attorney

2) They can tell you on the spot - I'll represent you or I won't represent you.

3) An agreement is signed or there is no agreement.

OR

4) The lawyer will want to look a few things over and get back to you prior

to an offer to represent the claimant.

Members are providing the answers to your question.

1) "Bergmann & Moore, my attys, looked at my denial letter and agreed to take the case to the court. We did the contract thru the mail and it took 7-10 days to sign & seal the agreement. They felt based on the denial letter that the VA has most probably made some errors.

pr"

2) "When I felt I got low-balled on my rating, I looked up a NOVA lawyer near me. I went to his office with my letter of award and some of my records. We immediately agreed he would represent me, and he wrote up my NOD and ordered my entire c-file for me."

Bonzai

3) "I filed 2 nods through a Vet certified lawyer, so far the lawyer has not seen my c file or anything else except my award letters, I filed the day after receiving the letter."

RonP

[PainterBK]

retired,

It took 2 weeks to get an answer from B & Moore for me. I contacted them & faxed them a copy of

my decision. They called me 2 weeks later saying they thought I had a good chance to win on my

retro pay, but declined saying they already had a large caseload. (kind of sounds like they thought it

might be a long battle) They recommended I search for an attorney through NOVA.

I wish you luck,

Bob K