With Regards To An Ongoing Claim

[CCC]

Mornin', y'all. Have another question. :)

We are in the middle of a claim for several issues that we feel are service connected. During our research, and with the help of an amazing person here, we have found another couple of issues that we want to request SC for.

Should I wait until the current claim is resolved with the VA? Or can I go ahead and submit the new medical issues as well?

My husband told a VA rep a couple of months ago that we had a significant amount of research to present to the VA wiht regards to his SC, and the VA rep said, "Aw, just hold on to it. You don't want to muddle up the process right now. It'll just bog it down even more." I didn't listen very well, because it sounded like a bunch of hooey, and yet another VA rep that didn't want to do their job.

I actually called a few months ago to request a complete copy of his SMRs, and the rep actually told me, "Well, if we give his SMRs to you, how will we process his claim? We need the paperwork ourselves." I swear, sometimes I wonder where they get these people. I've found when you get people like that, it's best to just hang up and call back and get someone with half a brain. Even though you have to hold for ANOTHER 40 minutes (or longer), at least you have the chance to get someone who isn't a complete idiot.

Anyway, sorry I drifted. Would it be OK to go ahead and submit the evidence for the new illnesses we feel are SC, or should we wait until the current claim is finished? If I have my preference, and it doesn't really affect anything, I'd like to go ahead and submit the evidence for the new claim. It takes so long to get anything done with the VA, and I'd hate to have to wait a year or 2 (or more) just to submit my new information.

Thanks again.

[MarkInTexas]

I agree with Berta, but even more strongly so. Any delay of the Veteran in filing a claim, will result in reduced retro via the effective date.

So, I say to this. "How much retro do you want to lose so that your claim "MIGHT" be processed faster? I say "might" be faster for good reason.

Remember, if your claim file is at the bottom of a pile somewhere and you add another claim to it, someone needs to dig your claim out of that pile if only to put another condition in it. I say they are unlikely to put it back at the bottom of the pile, but to set it on top, instead. Not always, but it is sure possible.

I further think if the VA wants to delay your claim, they will find a way..and they do, too. If adding another condition "delays" your claim, so can any or all of these things::

....sending in evidence...

....attending a C and P exam....

....asking for a copy of your c file...

....sending in a 21-4138

....adding or subtracting dependents...

....seeking help from your congress critter..

....or even inquiring as to the status...

Sigh.......sending in evidence.....guilty.......attending a C&P.....guilty....twice......asking for a copy of my c-file........innocent! but I'm dumb because I should have done that at the onset.......sending in a 21-4138......guilty, guilty, guilty....x 25 or so.......adding dependents.....guilty.....(we had a newborn baby in Feb, 2011).......seeking help from congress critter......sigh.....guilty......and inquiring as to my status.......guilty x 20 or more........

I hope I get rated before I reach Social Security age...........I REALLY should have checked this site out first before filing my claims........sigh.....(one more sigh just because........)

Mark

Edited September 20, 2012 by MarkInTexas

[deanbrt]

"JMHO But filing a new claim now, with a claim already working ,will only slow the process down, To what extent nobody can say, but hubby's C-file can't be in 2 places at the same time. They will lump the claims together and back to gathering evidence they go, no matter where in the chain the first claim was.

Again JMHO. I'm sure others will answer. "

You are right. They pulled this on me......

[RichSal2451]

Guess I'll have to sigh also. My TDIU claim was sent in 4/5/12. Still shown as "Under Review" on ebenefits. So far I've had a general C&P exam, a hearing C&P exam, and am now scheduled for a diabetes C&P exam next week. Why hasn't the claim advanced to gathering evidence? Answer: ebenefits is useless IMHO. What I didn't do and didn't know I could until after the filing is request my 'c-file'. I figure I'll wait and request it for an NOD if the claim is denied. Good approach?

[CCC]

Is there a legend for all these acronyms?

[Berta]

I hope this helps:

http://www.hadit.com/definitions.html

[rdawg]

last time I called Peggy she offered to send me a copy of my c-file. It was stored electronically and she hit a button and I got it about 10days later. No need to pull from stack and put back on bottom.