ptsd Vets Claim Is A Mess----- Supposed To Be In Fl But His Records Are In Ms! Help!

[oicclouds]

I am helping a Desert Storm Navy Vet with a Combat Action Ribbon with his claim. We filed last Aug for 8 different items, 5 are which upgrades to current SC disability. Vet lived in Florida and claim info was sent there, records were sent to FL, etc. A few months ago, vet gets letter from Jackson, MS stating they were still reviewing his claims. The vet now lives in MS but we did not move the claim! Vet calls 800# and was told nothing was moved, his claim is in St. Petersburg.

Vet goes through C &P exams on 1 and 5 August. I have him go to ROI, get his copy and OMG, it was totally screwed up. Vet is not SC for PTSD, has the diagnosis, has the combat action ribbon and the dr states she had reviewed his file and no evidence of PTSD (been diagnosed and in treatment over 2+ yrs). Some of the other, currently SC conditions were listed as no evidence he even has them. Ugh!

Then he gets in the mail, as I am trying to get started on fixing the mess of his C & P exams, from the Jackson MS office listing the records they have---- ALL of them and that does he want to send any additional information for PTSD and TBI.

Huh?

Veteran went back to C & P office and the exams were requested by St. Petersburg AND since Jackson, MS has all his medical records, the docs in the C & P had/have none of his evidence.

Vet call 800# again and is again told St. Petersburg is working his claim, all of them including PTSD and TBI.

I am having fits and my vet is at his wits end. I am wondering if a trip to Jackson, MS is in order to get them to send all his records to Florida and well..... what the hell about the C & P exams? Isn't he entitled to new ones bc of this screw up? Please, any advice quick!!! Thank you!

[harleyman]

The claim follows the Veteran. Anytime an RO can get "rid" of a pending claim the management wants it forwarded to where the Veteran resides. It's all about the statistics and work end productss. The file is forwarded as T8r states, especially if there are exams involved as the claims folder must be present for review on some exams it is mandatory for the claims file to be available for review, (exams regarding Mental, Dental, Eye, Ears, PTSD, TBI, GYN, Heart and any opinion exams all need the examiner to state the file was revewed in the report of findings).

If the Veteran has changed his primary residence to another Regional Office jusrisdiction and a rating decision cannot be made by the original RO without further development, the claim will be sent to the nearest Regional Office of Jurisdiction closest to where the Veteran resides.

Of course with VA there are always exceptions. Right now at my RO, claims that are part of the 1 year priority initiative, are not being sent to follow the Veteran if he relocates. The files are staying with the original office of jurisdiction (it's a statistics things). So exams are being ordered through MES, VES QTC or whomever the RO uses to conduct contract exams. And the claims file is being sent to the contracted medical facility and returned when the exam is complete.

Veterans cannot pick what RO works their claim. For example you move to Sacramento, CA and you want Albequerque, NM to work your claim. It won't be allowed.