ptsd Prison Match Review

[westcoastlv]

Ok, checked ebennies today for husband's status.

History: original claim for PTSD, Tinnitus, Hearling Loss, Elbow and TDIU filed 07/2010, decided 08/2011 with 60%. Request for Reconsideration filed 08/2011 and increase granted 05/2012 with TDIU deferred.

My Question is: WTF is a Prison Match Review???? This was not listed as on open claim the last time I checked, however, it now lists like a closed claim and states that is was opened on 07/09/12 and closed on 08/16/12. It lists all of the claim documents EXCEPT the TDIU application. Tried to google and only came up with some mumbo-jumbo about SSA and VA Prison Match worksheet.

The TDIU has been contemplated for almost a year now, but was deferred on 05/04/12 and Peggy told me the 'development' stage began again on that date. Either way, this stage has almost met its estimated completion date.

I am freaking out. My husband is NOT nor has he ever been in prison. Is this some new trick to delay/deny benefits? Has anyone else experienced this and what was the outcome.

[iraqx2]

If I had to guess why that is on there, it would be the fact that VA WIL NOT pay on any claims if the veteran is in jail.

I would not worry about it.

[MarkInTexas]

Could it possibly mean that there is another veteran out there with the same first,middle, last name as your husband, that is incarcerated, and now they are running a confirmation check to ensure that they are two separate people?

Just a thought. As our population grows.....and it is tremendously, the odds of people with the same name, and possibly same date of birth are growing as well. I think I'll copyright the name of it and call it the "John Smith Syndrome".

Mark

[jvretiredvet]

I am freaking out. This is one of the problems with eBenefits as I see it - TMI.

An earlier poster noted that (some) incarcerations make a veteran ineligible to receive benefits. One of the findings about the VA is that some incarcerated veterans had received compensation when they should not. As most incarcerated veterans don't/won't notify the VA that they are in jail, "someone" has to do a records crosscheck - but when? IMNSHO, it shudda been done before final promulagation of your husband's claim. - but that would have delayed the claim even further.

Whenever anything is done with (or to) a veterans claims file, there needs to be an End Product (EP) established for widget counting purposes. While an EP can mean there is an outstanding claim, it can also mean sumpin' like an administrative review, a quality control check, whatever. For example, the massive screening when IHD/PD/leukemia were added as AO presumptive conditions. I'm pretty sure that an EP was established merely for the review - even though the veteran had not specifically made a claim.

My guess is that establishing any EP drives an entry into eBenefits.

My husband is NOT nor has he ever been in prison. Well, there (apparently) has been enough concern about the situation that status is being checked. My guess is that will be more or less standard.

Is this some new trick to delay/deny benefits? I sincerely doubt that.

Has anyone else experienced this and what was the outcome. As a previous poster mentioned, I wouldn't worry about it.

Ok, checked ebennies today for husband's status.

History: original claim for PTSD, Tinnitus, Hearling Loss, Elbow and TDIU filed 07/2010, decided 08/2011 with 60%. Request for Reconsideration filed 08/2011 and increase granted 05/2012 with TDIU deferred.

My Question is: WTF is a Prison Match Review???? This was not listed as on open claim the last time I checked, however, it now lists like a closed claim and states that is was opened on 07/09/12 and closed on 08/16/12. It lists all of the claim documents EXCEPT the TDIU application. Tried to google and only came up with some mumbo-jumbo about SSA and VA Prison Match worksheet.

The TDIU has been contemplated for almost a year now, but was deferred on 05/04/12 and Peggy told me the 'development' stage began again on that date. Either way, this stage has almost met its estimated completion date.

I am freaking out. My husband is NOT nor has he ever been in prison. Is this some new trick to delay/deny benefits? Has anyone else experienced this and what was the outcome.

[Philip Rogers]

I agree w/Markin Texas, that it's possible there is another vet w/the same name and they are confusing the two. jmo

pr

[sharon]

§ 3.665 Incarcerated beneficiaries and fugitive felons—compensation.

(a) General. Any person specified in paragraph © of this section who is incarcerated in a Federal, State or local penal institution in excess of 60 days for conviction of a felony will not be paid compensation or dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) in excess of the amount specified in paragraph (d) of this section beginning on the 61st day of incarceration. VA will inform a person whose benefits are subject to this reduction of the rights of the person's dependents to an apportionment while the person is incarcerated, and the conditions under which payments to the person may be resumed upon release from incarceration. In addition, VA will also notify the person's dependents of their right to an apportionment if the VA is aware of their existence and can obtain their addresses. However, no apportionment will be made if the veteran or the dependent is a fugitive felon as defined in paragraph (n) of this section.

(b) Definitions. For the purposes of this section the term compensation includes disability compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151. The term dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) includes death compensation payable under 38 U.S.C. 1121 or 1141, death compensation and DIC payable under 38 U.S.C. 1151, and any benefit payable under chapter 13 of title 38, United States Code. The term release from incarceration includes participation in a work release or halfway house program, parole, and completion of sentence. For purposes of this section, a felony is any offense punishable by death or imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year, unless specifically categorized as a misdemeanor under the law of the prosecuting jurisdiction.

© Applicability. The provisions of paragraph (a) of this section are applicable to the following persons:

(1) A person serving a period of incarceration for conviction of a felony committed after October 7, 1980.

(2) A person serving a period of incarceration after September 30, 1980 (regardless of when the felony was committed) when the following conditions are met:

(i) The person was incarcerated on October 1, 1980; and

(ii) An award of compensation or DIC is approved after September 30, 1980.

(3) A veteran who, on October 7, 1980, was incarcerated in a Federal, State, or local penal institution for a felony committed before that date, and who remains so incarcerated for a conviction of that felony as of December 27, 2001.

(d) Amount payable during incarceration—(1) Veteran rated 20 percent or more. A veteran to whom the provisions of paragraphs (a) and © of this section apply with a service-connected disability evaluation of 20 percent or more shall receive the rate of compensation payable under 38 U.S.C. 1114(a).

(2) Veteran rated less than 20 percent. A veteran to whom the provisions of paragraphs (a) and © of this section apply with a service-connected disability evaluation of less than 20 percent (even though the rate for 38 U.S.C. 1114 (k) or (q) is paid) shall receive one-half the rate of compensation payable under 38 U.S.C. 1114(a).

(3) Surviving spouse, parent or child. A surviving spouse, parent, or child, beneficiary to whom the provisions of paragraphs (a) and © of this section apply shall receive one-half the rate of compensation payable under 38 U.S.C. 1114(a).

(e) Apportionment—(1) Compensation. All or part of the compensation not paid to an incarcerated veteran may be apportioned to the veteran's spouse, child or children and dependent parents on the basis of individual need. In determining individual need consideration shall be given to such factors as the apportionee claimant's income and living expenses, the amount of compensation available to be apportioned, the needs and living expenses of other apportionee claimants as well as any special needs, if any, of all apportionee claimants.

(2) DIC. All or part of the DIC not paid to an incarcerated surviving spouse or other children not in the surviving spouse's custody may be apportioned to another child or children. All or part of the DIC not paid to an incarcerated child may be apportioned to the surviving spouse or other children. These apportionments shall be made on the basis of individual need giving consideration to the factors set forth in paragraph (e)(1) of this section.

(f) Effective dates. An apportionment under this section shall be effective the date of reduction of payments made to the incarcerated person, subject to payments to the incarcerated person over the same period, if an informal claim is received within 1 year after notice to the incarcerated person as required by paragraph (a) of this section, and any necessary evidence is received within 1 year from the date of request by the Department of Veterans Affairs; otherwise, payments may not be made for any period prior to the date of receipt of a new informal claim.

(g) Incarcerated dependent. No apportionment may be made to or on behalf of any person who is incarcerated in a Federal, State, or local penal institution for conviction of a felony.

(h) Notice to dependent for whom apportionment granted. A dependent for whom an apportionment is granted under this section shall be informed that the apportionment is subject to immediate discontinuance upon the incarcerated person's release or participation in a work release or halfway house program. A dependent shall also be informed that if the dependent and the incarcerated person do not live together when the incarcerated person is released (or participates in a work release or halfway house program) the dependent may submit a new claim for apportionment.

(i) Resumption upon release—(1) No apportionment or family reunited. If there was no apportionment at the time of release from incarceration, or if the released person is reunited with all dependents for whom an apportionment was granted, the released person's award shall be resumed the date of release from incarceration if the Department of Veterans Affairs receives notice of release within 1 year following release; otherwise the award shall be resumed the date of receipt of notice of release. If there was an apportionment award during incarceration, it shall be discontinued date of last payment to the apportionee upon receipt of notice of release of the incarcerated person. Payment to the released person shall then be resumed at the full rate from date of last payment to the apportionee. Payment to the released person from date of release to date of last payment to the apportionee shall be made at the rate which is the difference between the released person's full rate and the sum of (i) the rate that was payable to the apportionee and (ii) the rate payable during incarceration.

(2) Apportionment granted and family not reunited. If there was an apportionment granted during incarceration and the released person is not reunited with all dependents for whom an apportionment was granted, the released person's award shall be resumed as stated in paragraph (i)(1) of this section except that when the released person's award is resumed it shall not include any additional amount payable by reason of a dependent(s) not reunited with the released person. The award to this dependent(s) will then be reduced to the additional amount payable for the dependent(s).

(3) Apportionment to a dependent parent. An apportionment made to a dependent parent under this section cannot be continued beyond the veteran's release from incarceration unless the veteran is incompetent and the provisions of §3.452© (1) and (2) are for application. When a competent veteran is released from incarceration an apportionment made to a dependent parent shall be discontinued and the veteran's award resumed as provided in paragraph (i)(1) of this section.

(j) Increased compensation during incarceration—(1) General. The amount of any increased compensation awarded to an incarcerated veteran that results from other than a statutory rate increase may be subject to reduction due to incarceration. This applies to a veteran whose compensation is subject to reduction under paragraphs (a) and © of this section prior to approval of an award of increased compensation as well as to veteran whose compensation is not subject to reduction under paragraphs (a) and © of this section prior to approval of an award of increased compensation.

(2) Veteran subject to reduction under paragraphs (a) and © of this section. If prior to approval of an award of increased compensation the veteran's compensation was reduced under the provisions of paragraphs (a) and © of this section, the amount of the increase shall be reduced as follows if the veteran remains incarcerated:

(i) If the veteran's schedular evaluation is increased from 10 percent to 20 percent or greater, the amount payable to the veteran shall be increased from one-half the rate payable under 38 U.S.C. 1114(a) to the rate payable under section 1114(a).

(ii) If the veteran's schedular evaluation was 20 percent or more, none of the increased compensation shall be paid to the veteran while the veteran remains incarcerated.

(3) Veteran's compensation not subject to reduction under paragraphs (a) and © of this section prior to award of increased compensation. If prior to the approval of an award of increased compensation the veteran is incarcerated in a Federal, State, or local penal institution for conviction of a felony and the veteran's compensation was not reduced under the provisions of paragraphs (a) and © of this section, none of the increased compensation shall be paid to the veteran for periods after October 7, 1980, subject to the following conditions:

(i) The veteran remains incarcerated after October 7, 1980 in a Federal, State, or local penal institution for conviction of a felony; and

(ii) The award of increased compensation is approved after October 7, 1980. If the effective date of the increase is prior to October 8, 1980, the amount payable for periods prior to October 8, 1980, shall not be reduced.

(4) Apportionments. The amount of any increased compensation reduced under this paragraph may be apportioned as provided in paragraph (e) of this section.

(k) Retroactive awards. Whenever compensation or DIC is awarded to an incarcerated person any amounts due for periods prior to date of reduction under this section shall be paid to the incarcerated person.

(l) DIC parents. If two parents are both entitled to DIC and were living together prior to the time of the DIC payable to one parent was reduced due to incarceration, they shall be considered as two parents not living together for the purpose of determining entitlement to DIC.

(m) Conviction overturned on appeal. If a conviction is overturned on appeal, any compensation or DIC withheld under this section as a result of incarceration for such conviction (less the amount of any apportionment) shall be restored to the beneficiary.

(n) Fugitive felons. (1) Compensation is not payable on behalf of a veteran for any period during which he or she is a fugitive felon. Compensation or DIC is not payable on behalf of a dependent of a veteran for any period during which the veteran or the dependent is a fugitive felon.

(2) For purposes of this section, the term fugitive felon means a person who is a fugitive by reason of:

(i) Fleeing to avoid prosecution, or custody or confinement after conviction, for an offense, or an attempt to commit an offense, which is a felony under the laws of the place from which the person flees; or

(ii) Violating a condition of probation or parole imposed for commission of a felony under Federal or State law.

(3) For purposes of paragraph (n) of this section, the term felony includes a high misdemeanor under the laws of a State which characterizes as high misdemeanors offenses that would be felony offenses under Federal law.

(4) For purposes of paragraph (n) of this section, the term dependent means a spouse, surviving spouse, child, or dependent parent of a veteran.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a), 5313, 5313B; Sec. 506, Pub. L. 107–103, 115 Stat. 996–997)

[westcoastlv]

Well, talked to Peggy to get an explanation of what a Prison Match Review was, and I was informed that they had received a Social Security match and had to investigate if the match was valid. (By Social Security I mean SSA, not social security number) Peggy did not inform me of their findings, and although Ebenefits states that a letter has been mailed, Peggy could find no record of it. Either way, my veteran is not incarcerated, nor has he ever been, and the only thing I can rely on is that I have years of records, VA appointments and other proof that my veteran has presented himself IN PERSON to the VA on multiple occassions, leaving no room for incarceration.

We will see how this plays out. 2-years in so the light has to be near the end of the tunnel. Thanks for all the comments and helping calm my bad nerves.