Disappearing Claim

[MarkInTexas]

Anybody ever have a new claim disappear off of eBenefits completely? I filed a new one based on information received from my SMR's when I received them from the National Personnel Records Center. The VA was supposed to have retrieved them under the VCAA, but they were never in my C-FILE, so I obtained them myself and filed them with the VA.

I filed the new compensation claim in August, 2014, and it has been sitting on idle in Under Review for several months until a couple of days ago, when it disappeared completely. All other claims and information is still there.

Anybody have this happen?

Mark

[Vync]

I had one do that, but it was in the early days of the site. You could can 1-800-827-1000 and see what they say. The motto around here is that ebenefits is helpful, but cannot be trusted to always be accurate.

[TiredCoastie]

Vync is right. You could also send an IRIS email, which means you get a response in writing. The 30 minute wait on the phone is a whole lot quicker than the week's I've usually had to wait for an email response, but the email is a lot easier to quote when you've got to print out those emails and send them to the RO as enclosures to your letters.

I never had a claim disappear but an appeal never showed up.

[MarkInTexas]

Thanks! Called 'em up on the 1-800 line and waited for my callback. When I spoke to the representative, at first they couldn't find the claim. Finally, she found it and said that it was decided and closed on February 2, 2015, and that I should be getting my notification letter in the mail. She advised that she did not have any rating information before her, because the notification letter had not been generated and scanned into their system yet. Went pretty quick from "UNDER REVIEW" to done from August to February. It wasn't submitted as a fully developed claim, so this is interesting.

Mark

[MarkInTexas]

Another side note......no C&P was ever scheduled for this claim, so the plot thickens. Have a great weekend!

Mark

[georgiapapa]

MarkInTexas,

Start checking your "Benefit Summary Letter" under "Downloadable VA Letters" on ebenefits. You will probably see any change in your rating here before you receive the BBE. JMO

Georgiapapa.

[MarkInTexas]

Thanks! I'll keep an eye on it. I appreciate the input and advice. I have learned in this process that no two claims are ever the same, nor are the processes or outcomes, but I am always comforted by the information and experiences shared by other Veterans. Thanks again.

Mark

[georgiapapa]

You are welcome.

[JT24usn]

If it was STRs submitted for recinsideration an EP is created. The reviewed. If duplicate the EP will be counted to a 400 and returned to the vet. If new it will be reviewed by a rater and they will decide if it has any new beating on prior decision. If none the vsr is notified and letter is sent and EP cleared. These are normally completed quick and done. Now if the strs were considered and an exam garnered the EP would be continued and still going. Jmho.

[Asteketee]

MarkInTexas,

I just had the SAME thing happen to me! I had two claims open and one of them completely disappeared and the other one is at preparation for notification. The disappearing claim is not in my historical claims or anything! I'm so confused. Guess I just have to wait, or should I call the 800 number?

[63SIERRA]

looks like they are doing alot of streamlining of the claims on ebennies, instead of several different claims as single claims, they are lumping them together, this kind of makes sense because everytime they decide anything whether it be increase, reduction, ect, they are SUPPOSED to look at all claims and decide how the new contention affects everything. For example if the propose a reduction, they are NOT supposed to just look at the contention that they want to reduce, they have to consider all claims. This could be a route to appeal if you can prove they didnt consider everything.

Edited February 18, 2015 by 63SIERRA (see edit history)

[63SIERRA]

MarkInTexas,

I just had the SAME thing happen to me! I had two claims open and one of them completely disappeared and the other one is at preparation for notification. The disappearing claim is not in my historical claims or anything! I'm so confused. Guess I just have to wait, or should I call the 800 number?

1800 will get you 1- 8 nothing. I would stand fast, theres alot of changes going on, and Peggy dont know whats going on.

[MarkInTexas]

If it was STRs submitted for recinsideration an EP is created. The reviewed. If duplicate the EP will be counted to a 400 and returned to the vet. If new it will be reviewed by a rater and they will decide if it has any new beating on prior decision. If none the vsr is notified and letter is sent and EP cleared. These are normally completed quick and done. Now if the strs were considered and an exam garnered the EP would be continued and still going. Jmho.

Thanks for the information......but what's an EP?

Mark

[JT24usn]

EP (end product). Tracking number for claim. Examples. 8 or less first claim. EP 110. 8 or more first claim 010. Any non original claim 020. This is how va tracks a claim. A claim was decided and then new strs submitted. End product 020. Dependency claim 130 end product. Adaptive housing or equipment 290. Just to name a fewHopefully this explains what you are asking.

Edited February 19, 2015 by JT24usn (see edit history)

[MarkInTexas]

Thanks!

Mark

[msattler]

My did the as e thing,did you ever get it resolved?

[USMC_VET]

I had my proposal to reduce listed on ebenefits during the period to file the NOD and submit evidence. which i did. once i did that and window closed it disappeared. I had to go through the VSO and a rater friend to see the status. never appeared again.

msattler. if you have already submitted everything you want to, regardless of it working or not you are going to be waiting anyway. I would once a month... IRIS to get written proof as to the status of your claim and call to get immediate(ish) response on the status.

I

[MarkInTexas]

After talking with a DRO the other day, I learned that my "new" claims, which were inferred from my previous C&P, were moved down to appeals case currently in the NOD phase. He advised that because these were secondary conditions, the VA would decide on the primary condition and rate from there. I'm also now under a de novo review with a C&P scheduled for July 18th and a bloodwork draw on July 21st. We'll see how it all pans out now.

Mark

[msattler]

Markin I'm glad it is moving along for you ,so they just took it upon themselves to move it are did you reopen it stating you did not agree ,my claim is at the New Orleans RO and from what my VSO said its in express lane and those are done quickly.

[MarkInTexas]

Thanks msattler! I did a "blind" NOD, while waiting on my C-File to arrive. I ended up waiting almost a year to file my NOD hoping the C-File would arrive, so that I could review my C&P results and comments, and verify what the VA had in their possession. However, it didn't arrive in time, so I filed a month or so prior to the NOD expiration date. After waiting a few more months with no response, I did a Presidential inquiry and my C-File showed up in the mail in a big box with hard copy documents. (I think they send CD's out now.)

Within the C-File, I found about 89 pages of other medical and psych records from other veterans, and nearly all of my SMR's were missing, along with some of the documentation that I had personally forwarded.

I regrouped, did multiple requests to the National Personnel Records Center and dug around in my military boxes for old SMR's and personnel records. (I should have done ALL of that prior to even filing my original claims. My fault.)

After obtaining as much of my SMR's and personnel records that I could from my private stash and the NPRC, I forwarded it all to the VA via eBenefits, certified mail and fax. When they started the Janesville intake, I added them to my list of faxes and certified mails. So each time I send a document or record, I send it six ways to Sunday. I filed an amended NOD, citing all of the above, plus other errors I felt the rater had made, as well as filing for new claims on inferred conditions that the VA-contracted VES doctor had diagnosed during my C&P examination.

I also obtained an IMO letter from my oncologist of the past seventeen years, and went to the Ellis Clinic up in Oklahoma City for an independent medical examination and opinion report, and once again sent it out six ways to Sunday as well.

This must have shaken things up a bit, because now I am in a de novo review, with additional C&P's scheduled for this month. I've been at this over five years now, which is a drop in the bucket compared to others out there fighting the good fight, but in my own eyes, I am nowhere near the fast lane.

In hindsight, it's probably best though. It has given me to time research, learn from serious mistakes I made at the onset when filing my original claim via the old VONAPP system back in 2010, and allowed me to learn from folks on here, as well as Asknod's book, which really provided good information, but also kind of amped me a up a bit back into fighting. When I first got rated with a flying 10% and a 0%for good measure, I was pretty depressed and was about to cave in and just let the VA pat me on the back and give me a flag.

After reading the book, I jumped back in and regrouped.

The short answer to your question is that I filed NOD within the one year deadline to get the brakes put on, disagreeing with nearly every rating decision made in my case. I still have a long way to go I think.

Have a great weekend!

Mark

[bbirder2]

Realize this is old post but, wanted to add this note. About 3 yrs ago I filed for tinnitus and other hearing problems. These cases never showed up in Ebenefits. Spoke with them and they blamed tech support. Tech support in turn blamed ebenifits. Long story short. Tinnitus approved and I get check and to this day still doesn't show up in ebenefits.