hypertension My Bdd Journey

[Joe30045]

My intent on posting this is to provide my experience as I go through this process. I will attempt to post updates and if something I have done helps even one other vet, then it will have been worthwhile. Sorry for the length. Thanks for your service to all of those that have gone before, those currently serving, and those that will serve in the future, for no greater love....

Joe

My status is currently on active duty in transition with a retirement date of 1 February 2013. I filed a Benefits Delivery at Discharge claim on 14 August 2012 or 171 days prior to my retirement. My eBenefits status changed on 12 September 2012 and the followng is what was posted as my status:

Details of Your Claim

Claim Received: 02/01/2013

Claim Type: Compensation

Estimated Claim Completion Date: 10/03/2013 to 02/08/2014

Contentions:

sleep apnea with CPAP (sleep study of record) (New), hypertension (New), GERD (New), fractured

right wrist (New), coronary artery disease (surgery X 1) (New), basal cell carcinoma (New), kidney stones (New),

osteosarcoma (New), squamous cell carcinoma (New), right elbow condition (New), right shoulder condition (New),

right knee condition (New), left knee condition (New), hearing loss (combat) (New), migraines (New), insomnia (New),

bilateral tinnitus (New), testicular cancer (New), lower back condition and thoracic spine condition (New), sinusitis

(New), lung condition (New), head trauma (memory loss, concussion with loss of consciousness, combat) (New)

Change of Status: We determined that your claim required additional review. If any additional information is needed,a letter will be sent requesting that information.

Next Steps:We will review all available evidence and make a decision on your claim upon receipt of all requested information as outlined in the headings, "What Do We Still Need from You?" and "What Have We Done?".

Several factors will determine the duration of the "Development" phase, including:

type of claim filed

number of disabilities you claim

complexity of your disability(ies), and

availability of evidence needed to decide your claim.

Additional Details

Your Designated Power of Attorney

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS

Regional Office of Jurisdiction:

Winston-Salem

Send Documentation To

Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office

Regional Office

Federal Building

251 North Main Street

Winston-Salem, NC 27155

What Do We Still Need From Others?

This is a list of all items that have been requested from 3rd parties.

Items From Date Requested Due Date ", Follow-Up Dates

FB QTC 09/12/2012 11/11/2012

What Have We Received?

This is a list of all items that have been received from either the Veteran or a 3rd party. Please be advised that it may

take up to 21 days to receive, process, and annotate in our system any information that you mail to one of our

Regional Offices. Don't see an item listed? Check our "Unsolicited Items" page to see if it was received by VA.

Compensation & Pension Claim Details - eBenefits

Items Date Requested Date Received

VA form 21-526c Pre-Discharge

Compensation Claim 08/14/2012

VA form 21-22 Appointment of

Veterans Service Organization as 08/14/2012

Claimant's Representative - DAV

Memo from Transition Service

Officer with attacked documentation 08/14/2012

for claim

Signed VCAA notification 08/14/2012

Copy of service treatment records 08/14/2012

VA form 21-4138 Statement in

Support of Claim with list of claimed 08/14/2012

condition

VA form 21-674 Request for

Approval of School Attendance (3) 08/14/2012

VA form 21-686c Declaration of

Status of Dependents 08/14/2012

Social Security cards (8) 08/14/2012

Marriage certificate 08/14/2012

Birth certificates (6) 08/14/2012

Divorce Decrees (2) 08/14/2012

[meghp0405]

I hope that your claim is completed in the time frame they gave you.

I have seen BDD claims go up to 29 months. Winston-Salem is so backlog it's not funny. They are quick for the C/P exams, but once they are completed, it seems that there is no movement for months. They recently been farming out some of their claims to St. Petersburg, FL.

Again, I hope they make the date they gave you but don't get let down if it doesnt happen.

[Joe30045]

Ebenefits is showing they received my additional asthma claim on 24 January 2013, the same day I dropped it off to my rep.

On 1 February 2013, my Estimated Claim Completion Date is 09/09/2013 to 02/11/2014.

Luckily I am still able to work (if I can find a job), so I am not counting on the VA.

[Pete53]

Good luck. The estimation date for completion is rarely accurate.

[toolive65]

Hi, Like you I have also filed a BDD claim with VA. My time line is one month behind yours. (Retirement date 1 Mar 2013, Filed BDD Claim Aug 2012, Claim status in eBennefits is

Claim Received: 03/01/2013
Claim Type: Compensation
Estimated Claim Completion Date: 08/09/2013 to 02/16/2014

But unlike you I have not recieved any letters from VA or any appointments set for exams and I am approx 9 days from my retirement date. I call VA and the rep reads what sounds like some scripted paragraph and ends by telling me to log on to eBennefits. I am worried that my claim will be one of that of a many horror stories heard from many VA Vets that had bad experiences with VA. I could really use some advice. Thanks for posting your progress, it really helped.

[Joe30045]

toolive65,

I'm not sure how it works anywhere else, but here at Ft Bragg, we have a Soldier Support Center. Most of the Veteran's Service Organisations have a presence there and it is actually co-located in the same office area as the Retirement Services Office. The contractor that handles the exams, QTC in this case, is also in the same office space. I did most of my exams in that office with only a few specialty exams (audiology, upper GI) being farmed out. I don't know if QTC is the contractor for all C&P exams or not. It might also depend on how involved your claim is and whether or not your service medical records provided sufficient evidence to justify your claims. i would recommend getting a VSO rep if you do not already have one. I will be glad to help out any way I can.

[Joe30045]

Alright, promised I wouldn't bother y'all until there was movement. As of today, 8 May 2013, my claim status has moved to "Preparation for Decision" phase. Estimated claim completion dates of 09/17/2013 to 01/27/2014. And that wheel in the sky keeps on turning....