Strange Letter Received Today

[Guest jstacy]

I received a strange letter today from the RO. It said they had received my applicationf or benefits. Funny thingis I have not filed a claim in over a year.

I called the 800 number and the person told me the VA did it for me?

Is this just a ploy to keep on stalling or do you think the VA actually did file a claim on my behalf, Perhaps and informal claim?

[RockyA1911]

Oh No!!!

It could be that another vets claim is filed in your C-File folder. That happened to me. When I got my second C-File copy there were a lot of documents in my file that belonged to another vet and I mailed them to the vets address that was on the documents and never heard a thing.

[Josephine]

I received a strange letter today from the RO. It said they had received my applicationf or benefits. Funny thingis I have not filed a claim in over a year.

I called the 800 number and the person told me the VA did it for me?

Is this just a ploy to keep on stalling or do you think the VA actually did file a claim on my behalf, Perhaps and informal claim?

Edited September 14, 2006 by Josephine (see edit history)

[Josephine]

jstacy,

Do you live close enough to visit your R.O? If you do, I would certainly want to see in person the new claim, as I have had the counselors on the telephone tell me anything to shut me up and to get me off the phone.

I am not sure that they would file another claim for you.

I wouldn't trust them. I have been around the block and back.

Just a thought,

Josephine

[Guest jstacy]

Rocky, I remember that, It was last year wasnt it?

Josephine, I live about 100 miles fromt he Regional Office. I have viewed my claims folder 3 times this year.

[Guest jstacy]

I think I just figured it out, last week an IRIS response said they were going to ask the VAMC for another opinion on My cervical Radiculpathy. ALso a CUE claim I filed last year for the wrong decision based on information not considered int he service record and the Erroneous decision made in 1998. The decision stated the SMR Was negative for Complaints, treatment or diagnosis of H/A or Hypertension. However, The C@P examiner went right to the page it was listed on. This soap opera continues. I feel like I need to buy a box of tide or something. Should not be much longer. 3 years is enough.

Edited September 14, 2006 by jstacy (see edit history)

[Josephine]

I think I just figured it out, last week an IRIS response said they were going to ask the VAMC for another opinion on My cervical Radiculpathy. ALso a CUE claim I filed last year for the wrong decision based on information not considered int he service record and the Erroneous decision made in 1998. The decision stated the SMR Was negative for Complaints, treatment or diagnosis of H/A or Hypertension. However, The C@P examiner went right to the page it was listed on. This soap opera continues. I feel like I need to buy a box of tide or something. Should not be much longer. 3 years is enough.

Edited September 14, 2006 by Josephine (see edit history)

[Josephine]

jstacy,

Just in case the soap opera continues, please do buy the tide. I have been at it now for 4 years, been to the Rating Board, Appeals. BVA and now I am finally at The Management Center and hope to get out of this mess soon! Starting on my fifth year!!

I just keep hanging in.

Good luck!!

Josephine

Edited September 14, 2006 by Josephine (see edit history)

[Vike17]

jstacy,

I'm willing to bet that the letter you received was the generic letter stating "We received your claim for benefits. we apologize for the delay ect...." Probably VA Form 20-8992! If this is the case, VA sends these letters out to veterans when the claim has been moved or recently worked on, or has past a suspense date for something that needed to be done.

Vike 17

[Guest jstacy]

I will try again to get in touch with my AL VSO and directly ask him to find out what the new claim is for.

Maybe by some miracle, He can find out.

[Berta]

John-it is possible that the VA did this and filed a claim for you-

The VARO filed a Motion to Reconsider with the BVA on June 30, 2006 .I think it is on an old 1998 CUE claim I had-at the BVA and did not pursue-regarding SC death-

But BVA has recently remanded my AO claim-

My other BVA cued claim was awarded so the other BVA CUE I had claim might be it -but even the BVA was confused-

They asked me who filed this new one- my vet rep's didnt---I didnt----so I think an appeals coach did-

Also on Aug 1, 2006 the VARO re-opened one of my service connected death claims- I have three for direct SC-there is NO honor in 1151 death---

My POA doesnt have a clue and I dont know nor can anyone tell me at 800 what claim this is-

Iris just says my service conneected death claim has been re-opened by the VA itself-but I dont know which one.

[Guest jstacy]

Berta, It could be, The lady at the 800# told me that it was in response to a record received from my local VAMC. I think the VARO went fishing for negative evidence and an opinion from My C@P doc ( Rehab MED specialist) and my primary care doc. Their attempt may have backfired on them. I filed a CUE claim for these issues last year. I just hope they called the Cue on themselves. (wouldnt that be cool).

I tried to reach my VSO this am and have had no luck. I am on the Verge of Firing this person.

I guess I am going to have to make the trip again.

[Berta]

Yeah- they could CUE themselves -I had them do that 2-3 times so far by requesting they CUE themselves.

Since 1997-

My latest August request to the VSM that they do this on my AO decision got no response but I got my Remand Monday so I dont care.

They are as responsible for the ramifications of the regs as we are-

They can open a claim or re-open one for the vet, they can CUE past decisions they made- even when the claim is still open-they filed a Motion at the BVA in my behalf BEFORE the BVA got my claim at all???

I cant figure that one out-but that too shows what the VA can do on behalf of the claimant-

They CUED themselves on my offset about a year ago and sent the check- and they re-opened a claim for me on Aug 1, 2006-dont know what claim- but it shows-

when WE show them we know VA case law-they begin to fulfill their own MOS.

[Guest jstacy]

Berta, I just talked to my VSR. He advised me to call the 800 number for he was too busy and did not want to pull my claim folder. What a load of horse manure. I bet this guy has the nicest lawn in the state. I have been putting it off but Now I am Mad. I am going to write a letter to national and put them in their place.

Can you give me your reccommendation for the PVA. I dont use the following.

DAV: Disabled American Veterans. Totally imcopetent.

AL: ( Enough said)

[Berta]

PVA is as good as the rest are-or as bad-

It isn't the vet org -itself- it is the service department of the vet org-

You could access some BVA decisions with PVA on the brief and see what you think of them-you can possibly narrow the search down to the PVA office you are intending to give your POA to-

Since vet reps get paid without any incentive at all to actually work a claim- it is always up to the veteran anyhow to go the leg work-

My new vet rep is absolutely overwhelemed yet has emailed me and called me almost every day since I raised Hell with their director-

but I know I have to take him step by some of some of my issues- 3 1/2 years and 8 months, 6 claims, and a wealth of medical evidence-only because I transferred from his boss who was my vet rep so he has not had years to know what is what-then again his boss didnt have a clue-

I summarized it all on one page for him and actually each claim is now good to the git go-

because I raised Hell at other levels to----and the VA re-oped something as well as filed a Motion for Reconsideration at the BVA-and of course I am still dancing with joy over my recent remand-

My vet rep said something yesterday- (and based on what local vets have told me-he DOES help vets to succeed and they thank him for winning their claims)---

what he said is the philosophy I have and any claimant needs-

As he said-Evidence wins claims- vet reps, veterans, whatever don't - it is the evidence that makes a claim succeed.

Then again it also involves RO employees who have the ability to read that evidence too.

YOU are the best vet rep you will ever have but I feel it is imperative to have a POA for DRO reviews and for the 646 appeal statement.

Edited September 15, 2006 by Berta (see edit history)

[Guest jstacy]

I totally agree, I told my vet rep that he could get a job at a department store as a manican.

[Alex]

Berta --

I had our old friend Cudda call me up and asked me for representation on a limiteed basis, since he knew all about his claim and how it should b worked. I told him that under no circumatance do I permit split representation with the veteran, lthough I am allways open to suggstion. When I told him I would give him the number of Amrican Legion, he started cursing, and I had to hang up on him.

So if you have a SO (other than me) but want to file something by yourself, be sure to give it to him beforehand to make sure that it contibutes towards your theory of the case.

Alex

[Berta]

Alex- my former vet rep and his boss screwed me and so did the VA but I fixed them and got a 51 day Remand-

The problem they are blaming this on is lack of proper training because I told them I would tell the Governor of NY who pays them-

Cudda had the nerve to call you?????

Alex -and all here- you predicted Haas!!!! You were right and also clairovoiant !

Thanks for the tip on Haas you gave me months ago- I am delirious with Joy over the Haas decision.

Berta

[Pete53]

Berta --

I had our old friend Cudda call me up and asked me for representation on a limiteed basis, since he knew all about his claim and how it should b worked. I told him that under no circumatance do I permit split representation with the veteran, lthough I am allways open to suggstion. When I told him I would give him the number of Amrican Legion, he started cursing, and I had to hang up on him.

So if you have a SO (other than me) but want to file something by yourself, be sure to give it to him beforehand to make sure that it contibutes towards your theory of the case.

Alex

Alex:

Same old Cudda. Glad to see you Posting you were missed. My only reason for an 1151 Claim is to nail the lid on DIC for my wife. Fortunately for me I have a top rated Heart Specialist that I hope will write an IMO for me. If it costs 1000 than I will go back to retirement.

Anything I filed with the VA I also ran by my SO as many as there were I felt like it was a courtesy. I had 15 different SO's in 5 years and a couple of different guys at Hearings.

Its still the Vets claim in the end win or lose. A pro can be a big help but a puff bag lazy good for nothing can hurt.

307,000 Veterans are 100% and that does not seem right to me?