Ebenefits Change In My Claim Status, What A Screw-Up!

[vern2]

I filed a claim back on June 4, 2014 for scar on my chin dating from 1973. It was listed as received on June 4, 2014. Simple claim, had LOD, medical treatment records and my 21-526. sent back the 5103 stating no further info on this claim. I filed another claim for heart issues on June 30, 2014, VA received it on July 3, 2014. It never made it to eBenefits until today, when saw change. Leave it to Va to screw everything up! I have included the printout of their notice. I have two open claims, plus a FOIA "claim" and they have managed to screw this up. I did call Peggy, and left message as wait time was almost one hour.

Details of Your Claim
Claim Received: 06/04/2014 (note: this is date of another claim, did not even mail this claim until June 30, 2014 and VA received it on July 3, 2014)
Claim Type: Compensation
Estimated Claim Completion Date: 03/08/2015 to 09/01/2015 (note: the other claim had completion date of 2014, seems that they have moved it forward one year!)
Contentions: VBMS (New), structural heart disease (New), cardiomegaly/cardiomyopathy (New), carotid artery disease (New) Note: (these are the contentions in my new claim; my old claim was for scar on chin)
Claims Status Process
Skip the Claims Process and go to the current phase.
1. Claim Received
2. Under Review
3. Gathering of Evidence
4. Review of Evidence
5. Preparation for Decision
6. Pending Decision Approval
7. Preparation for Notification
8. Complete
Next Steps:
We will review all available evidence and make a decision on your claim upon receipt of all requested information as outlined in the headings, "What Do We Still Need from You?" and "What Have We Done?".

Several factors will determine the duration of the "Development" phase, including:
• type of claim filed
• number of disabilities you claim
• complexity of your disability(ies), and
• availability of evidence needed to decide your claim.
Additional Details
• Regional Office of Jurisdiction:
St. Petersburg
• Send Documentation To
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office
Regional Office
PO Box 1437
St. Petersburg, FL 33731
Upload Documentation
What Do We Still Need From You? Your Attention is Needed
• Automated 5103 Notice Response
Date Requested: 06/26/2014
Due Date: 07/26/2014
Note: never received a 5103 for new claim on heart, etc. I did complete a 5103 for the chin claim and sent it back on July 7, 2014.

Prior to today all the info on eBenefits pertained to the old claim. Glad I printged this and saved it. More delays because of VA mix-ups:)

Vern2

[georgiapapa]

Although it does not seem fair, it is my understanding that filing new claims while other claims are pending will delay your pending claims. Also, filing an FOIA for your c-file records while you have a claim pending will also delay your pending claims. Others on this site will correct me if I am wrong.

Good luckmtomyou.

[carlie]

Although it does not seem fair, it is my understanding that filing new claims while other claims are pending will delay your pending claims. Also, filing an FOIA for your c-file records while you have a claim pending will also delay your pending claims. Others on this site will correct me if I am wrong.

Good luckmtomyou.

I say 100 % ditto on this post, although other's may not.

jmho

[NavyWife]

vern2--

This all looks normal to me...

Since you filed a new claim, they will combine everything you have filed for to show on Ebenefits. The cfile FOIA/Privacy Act Request does show up separately as a "claim". It's not really a claim, but that's how it shows on Ebenefits, just as a way to classify it.

They are keeping the claim received date as June 4, from the first date they received a claim.

As far as the completion date changing, that is normal. The dates can change as often as every month or everytime it changes to the next step in the process.

Might be worth it to send an IRIS inquiry asking what contentions your claim has, to confirm they included the scar.

Edited August 28, 2014 by NavyWife (see edit history)

[vern2]

Follow-up. Called Peggy yesterday. The young man read from a script and stated that my earlier claim for scar was still there but could not tell me why the other claims now had an earlier date. Yes, I agree that filing new claims while still have pending will delay, but needed to file these claims ASAP due to my decliniing health. The FOIA was actually a follow-on to one that I filed in October of 2013.

Vern2

[NavyWife]

Keep in mind they can only put one effective date on E benefits. I don't believe the system will allow them to put two effective dates. However that does not mean that your effective date on the later claims, -once you get your decision- will be the earlier effective date.

It may very well end up being the later effective date for those issues Filed later. I have seen claims go both ways. Sometimes when the claims are filed close together they will give them all the earlier effective date and sometimes they will stick to the actual effective date filed for each separate issue. It shouldn't matter too much only a month difference.. I hope that kind of makes sense.

Try not to get too worked up worrying about what e benefits says. I know I definitely do, but I still TRY not to :). The data is only as accurate as the person inputting the data and updating the file.

Are you saying you never received any of your C file from a request from October 2013??

Edited August 29, 2014 by NavyWife (see edit history)

[vern2]

Most of what I received in my c-file request was what I call "fluff" , virtually nothing that I had mailed to VARO was in the c-file. I did find two pieces of medical records that will help my claim, and copy of the letter I sent to them in July 2013 about VBMS. I have learned not to place much faith in the reliability of what is posted on eBenefits, or anything that the VA states for that matter!

I just wanted to point out that VA had lumped two separate claims together with earlier date as date for both claims. This may be good for me, but it is not correct.

[Fat]

Be patient.......... E-benefits is not perfect and I seriously doubt it is updated regularly.

Continue to perfect your claim with good medical evidence.

Hang in there and good luck.