Claim Approved In 1996 But Va Couldn't Find Me

[Hrizio]

Hello fellow Veterans. I am new to this site and new to the process as a whole. I was in the USMC from 89-94 and was discharged with a 10% disability rating. I filed a claim upon discharge and just found out I was approved in 1996 but the VA could not find me as my address had changed. They apparantly had been sending checks until 2002 when they stopped due to th being sent back. I literally have lived within 5 miles of this location since my claim approval so I am stumped how hard it would have been to find me but nonetheless, I corrected my address information and my local VA rep took my direct deposit information and requested my case be reopened (claim already approved) and for the back pay and monthly benefits be sent to me. Does anyone know how long this takes? My congressman just opened and inquiry into this a couple days ago. As I stated, my claim has been approved for years. I have never received any benefits due to having an old address and because of such my file was closed. My rep reopened the claim and I am just wondering on a timeline to begin receiving the benefits I should have been getting for years. I am a single father of two kids and am in a significant financial dilemma as I am sure many are. Just foreclosed on and a bankruptcy discharged. Please if someone can give me a timeline. I have heard it takes years to get claims approved but mine has been approved. Just waiting for them to reopen and start sending my benefits. Thank you in advance for any information that anyone can provide. Semper Fi.

Howard

[381sps]

Don't know about the time line but I do know one thing for sure if you owed them money they would have found you.