tinnitus Claim Status Question..

[SSG Ramos]

So my claim is complete!

Contentions: low back pain (New), lumbar radiculopathy (New), TBI (New), Sleep Apnea (New), Tinnitus (New), Sinusitis (New), Depression (New), Insomnia (New)

Your claim is complete. A letter will be sent to you via U.S. mail formally documenting the completion of your claim. Please allow standard delivery time prior to contacting the VA call center.

Claim Received: 01/11/2012
Claim Type: Compensation
Claim Closed: 06/20/2013

The VA has sent a decision packet to you by U.S. mail. The packet includes details of the decision or award. Please allow standard mailing time for your packet to arrive before contacting a VA call center.

My case was completed in 06/20/2013 but I haven't received any letter or communication from VA. No updates in E Benefits. Ive been checking daily and nothing so far. Some guidance would be appreciated. I just want to know whats going on at this point. If I omitted any information please let me know.

[TiredCoastie]

If you're on Ebennies, check the Letter Generator and see if your letter is updated with your new/revised percentage.

Look especially at the AB8 letter. It should give your overall combined rating. Something could be stuck in the system as a couple of guys above have suggested if an AB8 or a new AB8 has not yet been generated.

Letters are found under the "Access My Documents" tab under "Download My Letters." It's also linked in a couple of places on the homepage.

Checking the AB8 was my first indication of where I stood when my initial claim was completed. It was also my first indication that my second claim was effectively denied because the letter did not change.

[SSG Ramos]

Update:

At last!! Today eBenefits posted my AB8. I can't say that this journey was sweet, but its over !!

Combined Evaluation: 100 percent

I want to thank all the good people that helped me in this process. I will post my timeline and the conditions rating later.

Tonight I will sleep well !!!

[ketchup56]

Update:

At last!! Today eBenefits posted my AB8. I can't say that this journey was sweet, but its over !!

Combined Evaluation: 100 percent

I want to thank all the good people that helped me in this process. I will post my timeline and the conditions rating later.

Tonight I will sleep well !!!

BIG CONGRATS....watch the bank account it's on the way $$$$$$$$$

[71M10]

Harleyman, I think we have a wide difference of opinion on eBenefits. My AB8 and AB4 letters are wrong/incomplete. They have been that way for 18 months, they have been told multiple times they are wrong, they say they are being fixed but never are. Links to eforms submitted through the system don't work (will not allow you to see/print the form like they say they will). Items are received by my local VARO and it takes over 125 days for them to show up on eBenefits. I interact with multiple government web systems and eBenefits/VA is the worst. The fact they can't even get this working right(eBenefits) tells me full implementation of paperless claims will be a disaster! I have already seen news stories on paperless claims having throughput issues. My prediction about 6 months after full implemenation, this thing is going to fold like a cheap kite in a light breeze. I understand that my experience with eBenefits is influenced by my local VARO, but the fact that proceedures are not standardized accross the VAROs is additional evidence it is a poorly designed system with a even more dysfunctional implementation.

[harleyman]

71M10 says, Harleyman, I think we have a wide difference of opinion on eBenefits.

I don't really think we have so much of a difference of opinion. I said,

Personally, I think ebenefits is going to be a great tool for Veterans. I believe Veterans will be able to track what is going on with thier claim, what evidence is actually in thier file, and Veterans will be able to submit evidence directly into their own claims file themselves on line, instantneously.

The problem is, the VA does not yet have everyone in the VBMS paperless program. VA is working some claims in the new VBMS program but VBMS also pulls information from the "old" programs that VA is trying to replace, which in part are, "Vetsnet programs of Share, MAPD, Virtual VA, etc." so the information in ebenefits is not yet dependable and 100% accurate. But it will be, as more and more cfiles are scanned and the Veterans claims are processed in VBMS. It is going faster than VA thought possible to go paperless and they are ahead of schedule.

Right now at our RO, the ratings are being processed by the raters in the VBMS system (for the most part their are exceptions). But the decision narratives and awards part of the decision are being processed in the old Vetsnet system. Ebenefits is getting information from VBMS, but VBMS, get some information from the othr programs still being used.

Honestly, those with newer claims or first time claimants are being processed first into VBMS, those with older claims and have been in the VA system for awhile or those who have appeals are the last to be converted. There files are bigger and the paper is older and more fragile and it's taking special imaging to convert some of those cases, and more time. Ebenefits, is going to be a good thing for Veterans, but it's still a work in progress.

I think we agree the system is not yet working. I don't think we are so far apart on this.- jmo

[carlie]

ebenefits notified me of action they wanted on my part

and provide a way to upload what they requested.

What they requested does not exist and has noting to do with

the claim issue I have in.

ebenefits does not provide an option for my response so, as usual I went to my VARO

and took care of that.

This was over 4 months ago and ebenefits has not updated anything and states I am late.

Maybe 3 or 4 more years and a billion bucks or more down the road and ebenefits MIGHT

work as intended.

Right after that a whole new ball of wax will come into play and . . .

this is the norm for VBA claimants.

JMHO