Lost C File?

[betrayed]

31 Days ago I had A C&P, today I did a Iris Inquiry and got the following back.

This letter is in response to your inquiry of October 19, 2006.

Your claims folder was sent to the VAMC in Detroit for a scheduled examination. As of this date, the folder has not been received back in this office. Once the folder with the exam is returned, it will be forwarded to the DRO for his action.

At this time, we cannot give you a specific timeline for the finalization of your appeal. We apologize for the delay.

We hope that this information is helpful to you.

Sincerely,

D. R. Brady

Any advice as what I should do?

[Guest jstacy]

Call the VAMC Detroit. Ask them if they still have the C File, If not, The RO is pulling your chain.

Keep calling daily until you find out. Ask or Demand your VSO locate it for you.

[BoonDoc]

Do you live close enough that you could go down to the RO to make a paper trail when requesting the C-file so you have something proving your requests.

Boon Doc

[otey2171]

The comp and pen office at the VA hospital lost my c-file once for 4 months. They insisted they had sent it back to the RO. As we were talking they decided they would look for my c-file expecting not to find it. They pulled some files out of a bottom of a filing cabinet and there it was laying flat on the bottom of the drawer. It would probably still be there if I hadn't went to the VA hospital in person and asked them to look for it.

I had a comp and pen exam 2 months ago and it took 7 weeks for the c-file to get back to the RO.

[betrayed]

does the VA use a tracking system when moving files from one place to another?

[john999]

Jim

I think the VA has some system of keeping track of C-Files but it is ancient because what is in the C-file should be scanned into a computer but I dont' think it is at all but just in paper form. They probably have to sign to some custodian when some rater checks it out and then has to sign it back in. This is just a guess. That is why I have always been scared of moving from one RO to another. Completely in character for the VA to lose a C-File and anything else in their hands.

[betrayed]

More from IRIS, my questions

You stated "Your claims folder was sent to the VAMC in Detroit for a scheduled examination." This exam was completed on 18 September, it is now 20 October.

What is the normal time frame for a claims folder to be moved from the Detroit VAMC to the Detroit VARO a distance of 2.05 miles?

What kind of tracking system is in place when claims folders are moved between offices and buildings?

On 18 September I had a Comp and Pension (C&P) Examination at the Detroit VA Hospital. A few days following the physical I sent a VA Form 10-5345a ( Individuals request for a copy of thier own health information) and requested a copy of the C&P report and associated radiologists reports. I have yet to receive anything.

their answer

This letter is in response to your inquiry of October 20, 2006.

Claims folders are tracked through a computer tracking system when they are sent out and received back in the office. The distance between the office and the VA hospitals does not impact the transfer of folders between the two facilities.

You stated that you sent a request for your report a few days after your exam. The exam would not have been written and released in such a short time. We would not be able to send you a copy of the C&P report until we actually have it ourselves. The report has to be released by the examining physician. Please note that the physicians at the hospitals have multiple exams to perform and the results do take time to be compiled and sent to us.

We hope that this information will be helpful to you.

Sincerely,

D. R. Brady

Veterans Service Center Manager

My response to the above

would the Detroit VAMC have a record of when they sent the claim folder back to the VARO?