Time Table From Claim To Award Getting Worse

[RockyA1911]

I myself am on 18 months from the initial date of claim, simple claims with all the military medical and VA records, and C&Ps as proof. Should have been fast and easy. I do understand there are some claims that are complicated such as having to search for records or missing records or difficulty in finding info for nexus etc.

But instead of getting better at decreasing the lead time from effective date of claim to award is seriously getting worse, even thought the VA has reported they instituted procedures that now reduce the length of time to where the average claim is decided in 229 days.......Bull Hockey!!!!!!!

If a vet files a claim today and he has all the supporting documents needed to support the claim they can now assume 2 years from the date the VA receives the claim.

This is appalling! What can we do about this? Barrack Obama and Durbin have hammered them over the heads to speed things up and it is getting worse and taking longer for claims to be completed.

I called them again on mine today and was told it is still in the "Ready to Rate status" and has been in that status since June. They said they anticipate completion by the end of September so that is then 19 months if they hold true to there word. But then again I have heard this several times over the past 18 months.

We deserve better and the american citizens deserve better than this. No other government organization would be in business anymore with these statistics. There needs to be a total reorganization of the way they do business in the VA. There are government agencies and private agencies that do as much or more volume than what the VA process and a lot of them with more bureacracy than the VA and they still get the job done in a suitable time frame. It's called managment and oversight and the VA is not using those tools.

[Clayton0417]

My claim is being handled by the Atlanta RO. I filed my initial claim in June 2005. I was finally scheduled for a C&P exam on 1 June 2006. My claim was rated on 29 June 2006. I received the award letter on 2 August 2006. The PTSD portion of my claim was deferred (still awaiting mental health records from the military). I had the C&P exam for the PTSD, but they still need my records. However, there was a mistake with them recouping a separation pay that they shouldn't have. Who knows how long it will take for them to fix that.

Edited August 11, 2006 by Clayton0417

[KennyJ]

Winston-Salem VARO...17 Months

[Berta]

Buffalo RO - it is taking them over one year to get to NODs.

the DRO reviews are often sameo sameo- copy and paste jobs of the initial denial,

so don't expect De Novo,

they are not sending out VCAA letters before the initial denials- and they are setting up many claims for Remands from the BVA by committing this DTA error-

It might take them 3 years for you to get and SSOC, where they do not list your evidence (because they have not read it yet) and then they send it off to the BVA-

so all in all- Buffalo- might take a good five year or more-to succeed.

They have gone way downhill- it used to take them much less time to award most claims and they took the time to read the evidence. They dont now.

I have complained about my RO to anyone in the gov who will listen and told the IG that this is an abuse of taxpayer's money-

it has become -in my opinion, one big scam-

What I said about my DRO was true and it was deplorable-

these are ligh GS level employees and some dont have a clue what their job description entails-

I sent my DRO her job description-from M 21-1

I dont think she could comprehend it at all-

BUT then again - depends on the pile you are in- they pick and choose-and if you do not have a good vet rep- and are in the wrong pile-you can be screwed right from the Git Go-

Scam? that puts it mildly-this is a National Disgrace-

This Nation does not collectively care about vets-or the VA- only vets do and only vets can change this.

[qmcorps]

I tend to agree. I filed an NOD over two years ago on four evaluations that I disagreed with the findings. I finally was scheduled for C&P exams in May 06. I must compliment the Medical Staff for the extensive and detailed examinations(they revealed two additional secondary conditions). Because of the dilligence of the VAMC staff, I'm sure the two month delay busted up someone's metrics at the VARO. Anyway, I'm 90%(87 solid) and still waiting for the response. As I stated once before, this process is not for the faint hearted, they want you to quit. Everyone needs to understand this is a protracted affair and you must fight for every small victory. I have been at this for five years with accurate and solid military medical records. keep fighting, learn the contents of 38 CFR.

[Berta]

Gee guys- I think my VARO is stepping it up--

I just opened a letter I just got from them today--

Dear Mrs Simmons- we have received your application for benefits----blah blah blah-

the form letter you all recognize that they send when you file a claim---I filed my claims over 3 years ago-

man they are bookin'-maybe I shouldn't have griped here-

Seriously-for morning reports as to individual VARO's workload :

http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/201/reports/mmrindex.htm

Remand Stats from Knight Ridder:

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington...ge/13415145.htm

[LarryJ]

Informal Claim filed - July, 2003. All NODs, etc. have been filed within a couple of weeks. Waco TX RO

I was feeling really good about this, a couple of days ago. Called the AMC to check on status yesterday. Talked to a lady that, when I asked my status and she looks it up, says "well, yo claim is being rated, we done sent it in thar to be rated" So, I says, knowing that the Remand simply required that they get my Social Security records, I says "So you finally received my Social Security records?" She says, "We didn't get no Social on you." Having a little trouble with this, I again asked if they had, indeed, received my Social Security records, seeing as how that was what the remand was all about ( and, all that it was all about ). She gets kinda huffy ( maybe I should have said "huffier") and says again "I acks them over there and I don tole you, we ain't got no Social Security records on you. CLICK.

OH WELL, WHY AM I SURPRISED? Time to call Kay Bailey Hutchinson...............again.