Ebenefits And Ro

[vern2]

What happens to documentation that you submit via e Benefits? Does it flow to RO? IRIS sent me an email response one time that stated rating officers had "access" to documentation that we upload. I have uploaded 200+pages, and all I have ever noticed is that upload was successful. The status of waiting for documentation never changed in eBennies to reflect my upload. So what happened?

[TiredCoastie]

63Sierra is right. eBenefits is notorious for not tracking what's been submitted no matter whether you upload documents directly online yourself, mail them, drop them off yourself, or send them through a VSO. Someone mentioned that there is an online checklist within one of the RO's computer systems that no one uses. That's the system that feeds eBenefits. An IRIS response is a whole lot more reliable regarding what they hold and what they don't.

In my three claims, only one eventually came to state that they received something from me they'd asked me to submit. The other two stated that they asked for documents I'd already submitted with the claim up front but showed them unreceived even after the claim was closed. Meanwhile, both response packages cleared showed they received the information needed. The exception was the request for my DD214 back when I first submitted my claim, seeing as I filed a couple of months before discharge, and that one did show up as received.

[Slowlane]

What happens to documentation that you submit via e Benefits? Does it flow to RO? IRIS sent me an email response one time that stated rating officers had "access" to documentation that we upload. I have uploaded 200+pages, and all I have ever noticed is that upload was successful. The status of waiting for documentation never changed in eBennies to reflect my upload. So what happened?

That is the wonderful thing about one way communication with the RO. If what you sent them would win your case then, they will probably wait 2 years and say they never received it. If they can take what you sent them and use it against you then, they definitely received it. If you followed up by sending a hard copy RRR you would have a receipt and they would have 5 more pounds of paperwork to process simply because they cannot figure out how to let you know that they are in receipt of your electronic transfer. For more on this topic see:

[vern2]

My claim is still at RO, even though initially denied and narrative does not mention a of the 200+ pages of documentation that I uploaded via eBennies. I have mentioned this in my NOD and requested de novo review by DRO, 7 months ago!

Yup, feel like hamster in the wheel. I will keep it up.

[john999]

I remember writing a brief I researched via VBM for my CUE. I wrote pages and pages of arguments and citations from case law. I got a one sentence denial. Sometimes if your evidence or argument is beyond one or two pages this overwhelms VARO. Most of these guys are HS graduates who were at the bottom of their class. They don't bother with a lot of what we give them. They list the evidence (now) and just crank out standard denial. Sometimes the Reasons and Basis in no way corresponds to the facts of the case. I don't even understand the decisions when I win and neither did the psychologist who wrote my IME.

John

[vern2]

Response from IRIS to my questions on missing documentation. Note does not mention that claim was denied 9 months ago base on the documentation that was submitted in 2012, nothing about 2013.

IRIS RESPONSE:

We apologize for the delay in responding to your inquiry. We are currently experiencing a large volume of inquiries and are working as quickly as possible to respond to each in a timely manner.

Your electronic document file contains seven single page documents, received May 8, 2013, two single page documents, received July 23, 2013, and one single page document received July 19, 2013.

Vern: this is in addition to the 43 submissions that they noted in prior email

Vern-This was in response to my query on missing documents on the activity page. I submitted it and prior response listed all documentation except those listed above.

Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below.

We apologize for the delay in responding to your inquiry. We are currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries, and are working as quickly as possible to respond to each in a timely manner.
eBenefits
The records indicate we received multiple documents in 2013 to support your claim; we are unable to determine why you could not verify this on eBenefits. To speak with an eBenefits specialist please call1-800-827-1000 FREE (when prompted please press the number 7).

Vern: not a true statement, was able to verify that was successfully uploaded, but then VA dropped the ball!!

Veterans Benefits Management System

Generally, when documents are received they are uploaded into the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS). The Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) is one of the new tools we are using to help process Veterans claims faster, and more efficiently. VBMS is a web-based, electronic claims processing portal created to give VA the ability to process Veterans claims paper-free. It is helping us move from a paper-based claims process to an electronic claims process. Unfortunately, the contents of this system cannot be monitored by eBenefits. The programmers are aware of the problem.

The advantage of the VBMS system is we are able to immediately access information electronically and not wait for the information to be scanned into the system. In some cases scanning information into the system is taking up to 75 days.

Unfortunately, at this time there is no means for eBenefits to record which documents were uploaded or display that list. The eBenefits team has plans to enhance the feature to include this capability soon.

After you successfully upload files, the eBenefits system displays a message listing each uploaded file with the file name, file type and date uploaded. You should print this message out, if possible, or save the screen image, for your records, because you cannot see this page again once you close it.

Claim Status

Your claim is currently in the decision phase and is waiting for review by the rating team. If the rating team determines that we have all the required evidence needed, we will prepare a decision on your claim and notify you in writing. If we determine additional information is needed, we will contact you.

Vern: WTF! my claim was denitged over 9 months ago, but still at RO, awaiting SOC, etc. (HAMSTER TIME!!)

Currently claims at the St. Petersburg Regional Office, are taking about eight months to complete. Please understand that these timeframes are only averages, and that your claim may take longer based on the specifics of your claim and VA's pending workload.

Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below.

Result: must wait 3 more months, then take appropriate action.

[hmcquade]

Response from IRIS to my questions on missing documentation. Note does not mention that claim was denied 9 months ago base on the documentation that was submitted in 2012, nothing about 2013.

IRIS RESPONSE:

We apologize for the delay in responding to your inquiry. We are currently experiencing a large volume of inquiries and are working as quickly as possible to respond to each in a timely manner.

Your electronic document file contains seven single page documents, received May 8, 2013, two single page documents, received July 23, 2013, and one single page document received July 19, 2013.

Vern: this is in addition to the 43 submissions that they noted in prior email

Vern-This was in response to my query on missing documents on the activity page. I submitted it and prior response listed all documentation except those listed above.

Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below.

We apologize for the delay in responding to your inquiry. We are currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries, and are working as quickly as possible to respond to each in a timely manner.

eBenefits

The records indicate we received multiple documents in 2013 to support your claim; we are unable to determine why you could not verify this on eBenefits. To speak with an eBenefits specialist please call1-800-827-1000 FREE (when prompted please press the number 7).

Vern: not a true statement, was able to verify that was successfully uploaded, but then VA dropped the ball!!

Veterans Benefits Management System

Generally, when documents are received they are uploaded into the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS). The Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) is one of the new tools we are using to help process Veterans claims faster, and more efficiently. VBMS is a web-based, electronic claims processing portal created to give VA the ability to process Veterans claims paper-free. It is helping us move from a paper-based claims process to an electronic claims process. Unfortunately, the contents of this system cannot be monitored by eBenefits. The programmers are aware of the problem.

The advantage of the VBMS system is we are able to immediately access information electronically and not wait for the information to be scanned into the system. In some cases scanning information into the system is taking up to 75 days.

Unfortunately, at this time there is no means for eBenefits to record which documents were uploaded or display that list. The eBenefits team has plans to enhance the feature to include this capability soon.

After you successfully upload files, the eBenefits system displays a message listing each uploaded file with the file name, file type and date uploaded. You should print this message out, if possible, or save the screen image, for your records, because you cannot see this page again once you close it.

Claim Status

Your claim is currently in the decision phase and is waiting for review by the rating team. If the rating team determines that we have all the required evidence needed, we will prepare a decision on your claim and notify you in writing. If we determine additional information is needed, we will contact you.

Vern: WTF! my claim was denitged over 9 months ago, but still at RO, awaiting SOC, etc. (HAMSTER TIME!!)

Currently claims at the St. Petersburg Regional Office, are taking about eight months to complete. Please understand that these timeframes are only averages, and that your claim may take longer based on the specifics of your claim and VA's pending workload.

Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with the information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below.

Result: must wait 3 more months, then take appropriate action.

WTF!!!!!!!