How Long For Dro Appeal?

[Cavman]

Could some of you post how long it took for your NOD to be finished? Also, does it usually help getting your NOD back to the VA within a couple weeks of getting the envelope?

Cavman

[Wings]

After you file your Notice of Disagreement (NOD), the VARO is supposed to issue Statement of the Case (SOC).

I waited over a year, and finally used the VA Email system to put a little fire under their azz.

I got my SOC within 2 weeks of e-mail to say what's up?!

https://iris.va.gov/scripts/iris.cfg/php.ex...nduser/home.php

See also Overview of the VA Claims Process http://www.vetadvocates.com/overview/Index.htm

[10thFO]

I waited up to the one year date and submitted mine, it then took another 4 months after that. Mainly because they submitted me to the C&P's again. The reason I waited was I had more evidence to use against them that was provided in that time period. If you have all your ammo and talking points ready you can file now, it could be resolved within a few weeks if they don't need more information. Then again, it could be a year, although it is not supposed to be that long.

[Berta]

That is about the same time frame I waited- over a year and 1/2 after electing DRO review-to get one, then I got another one- but my evidence remained untouched.

Have you gotten a real VCAA letter that tells you what they specifically need- and with the election form where you have choice as to how they proceed?

I think you did- but just checking here.

I dont know why they even gave me a DRO review without sending a VCAA letter.I am still waiting for one but they put all my claims together and a rating specialist is working on them.Maybe I wont need a VCAA letter.

[john999]

My DRO Reviews and Hearings usually took about a year from the request via a Form 9. I request the DRO on the Form 9. This gets their attention.

[Guest jstacy]

It took my DRO review almost 2 years to reviewed. I had some diffuculty with a uncooperative RO. I had to mow through the red tape just to get it.

Yours should not take that long as I geues it depends on the VARO you are dealing with. Smaller RO's hace the shortest time frame.

[carlie]

Cavman,

If you haven't sent your NOD to VA yet -- please make sure to study the evidence they listed in your rating decision -- correct and clarify with them anything and everything you disagree with and why -- relate your disagreements to rules and regs and evidence submitted, that support a grant. ALSO -- really go over that rating decision to check for evidence that you or doctors or friends have submitted in support of granting your claim -- to make sure VA has listed this (ALL OF IT) evidence for their consideration.

More suggestions --- IF A VET has received a partial grant, let's say S/C, PTSD rated at 30 % due to evidence of record, with an effective date of Jan. 31, 2005,

the date we received your claim.

I have seen many cases of the vet getting pissed off because they know the evidence submitted fully supports a grant od S/C at 70%. So right away they fire off a NOD - disagreeing with the percentage.

VA comes back later and grants the award at 70%.

NOW THE VET ALSO REALISES HEY WAIT A MINUTE HERE, I filed my first claim for PTSD when I got my initial diagnosis when I was in the VA hospital back in 2001

and VA never responded to it.

See now, the vet should have INCLUDED that in the prior NOD, but the vet was so

peeved with the lowball rating that they neglected NODDing the effective date.

Now the vet has set themselves up for another fight and now the VA is going to try to bring in staged rating percentages.

My main point here to all vets is -- LOOK -- READ -- PAY Attention to each and every word. Address everything as soon as possible -- it's much harder to fight it down the road.

Good luck,

carlie