Why Does Va Keep Moving Claims Around?

[kate7772]

Why do they keep moving the office of jurisdiction on my husband's claim? Went to Louisville originally because it is a Camp Lejeune water claim. They temporarily sent it to Huntington and now it is listed as being in Muskogee. Doesn't all this moving slow things down? No wonder things get lost! BTW, our actual regional office is Cleveland.

Kate

[aggie54]

Kate, sorry to hear that you and your husband are getting the run around. As for the Camp Lejeune water, what is currently going on with it?

I was also in Lejeune from 1976 through 1979, and i am also very sick and currently rated 100 % for other service connected health issues.

I haven't started to proceed with a claim on this.

Good luck with it all.

God Bless.

Aggie

[Berta]

This recent BVA remand for a LeJeune bad water claim, shows that:

In part:
"1. In accordance with Training Letter 11-03 (Revised), November 2011, and any subsequent directives, including August 2012 legislation regarding health benefits for individuals exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune, the Veteran's appeal must be remanded to the Louisville, Kentucky RO for further development."

and
"Thereafter, the appropriate facts sheets from Training Letter 11-03 (November 29, 2011) or any subsequent updated directive in effect during this remand should be provided to the reviewer who is requested to provide an opinion with regard to appeal based on allegations of exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. TL 11-03 and Appendices A through D referenced in this Remand must be provided to the reviewer, together with any subsequent directives containing relevant updated information. The reviewer should note that the references to the known dates of contamination in the Camp Lejeune water referenced in TL 11-03 have not been updated since the additional information about contamination beginning in August 1953 was issued. After reviewing the evidence of record, including that obtained on Remand, and reviewing TL 11-03 and any necessary subsequent directives, the reviewer should address the following:"

http://www.index.va.gov/search/va/view.jsp?FV=http://www.va.gov/vetapp13/Files3/1326716.txt

It gives a good idea of what these claims involve. The ROs shuffle stuff around ,I think ,to help manipulate the backlog figures.

The training letter the BVA refers to is here:


There are other LeJuene claims at the BVA. Many vets had sent in evidence from ASTR etc, and intenet articels in support of their claims.

I dont have time to read them but it seems they all needed a very strong IMO associating the bad water at LeJeune to the veterans' current disability, with a full medical rationale, that rules out any other possible etiology..

Edited June 14, 2014 by Berta

[kate7772]

Berta, I would like to ask your opinion on something. Is there a way to contact you?

Thanks

Kate

[Fat]

I guess they move claims around to help alleviate high case numbers at some regional offices. Is there a specific number we can call to inquire on current appeal status besides Peggy (1-800-827-1000) and submitting a IRIS request?

[john999]

I also think it is about the statistics. The VA wants to show they are doing something when, in fact, they are doing nothing.

[Navy04]

I have seen some of the Vet's claims move faster when they are transferred to other VA institutions.