Advice On Where To File My Claim

[kiowa58d]

Hello,

Long time lurker, first time poster. Thank you to all who have provided info on this site as I have learned so much.

I am looking for advice on where it would be the most beneficial for me to file a Benefits Delivery at Discharge VA claim.

My info:

- Active duty Coast Guard stationed in St Petersburg, FL.

- 01 MAY 2015 - 180 day date to be able to file a Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) claim.

- 15 JULY 2015 - Start terminal leave / move back to NC (just outside of FT Bragg)

- 01 NOV 2015 - ETS date. Signed 20 yr retirememt orders in hand.

My intent was to file a BDD claim here in St Petersburg on 01 May (my 6 month date) but the VA Rep at the MacDill AFB clinic (who handles the BDD claims) said I should wait and file after I move back to North Carolina. Her reasoning was based on the fact that my C&P exams would all be scheduled here in FL after I start terminal leave and moved back to NC.

The VA Rep also recommended filing via e-benefits. I dont plan to go this route as I have too many medical files to upload.

I do feel confident in filing on my own and have copies of all medical records to provide to the VA regional office.

I am requesting recommendations on whether to file here in St Petersburg (to get the ball rolling now) or in North Carolina during first week of August. Is there a way on the claim to request exams be scheduled in a different area based on a member moving.

I just dont want to lose a month of processing time if I dont have to.

Thank you in advance for your time.

[jbasser]

Do you have a current address in NC?

You can use that address to file your claim even though you are still AD.

You have to have someone get your mail for you. IF you have a C and P exam, you may have to drive north. I dont believe it will be a problem as is is almost June and it will take time to process.

J

[kiowa58d]

I appreciate your response.

I do have an address in NC that I can uses as well as someone who can check the mail at that location.

The only problem is that I did not get the impression the rep at MacDill wanted to help me since I was moving. She wouldnt even walk out to the waiting area at the clinic and instead chose just to talk on the phone on the other side of the door. Based on that I dont want to deal with her.

Would you reccommend filing out the EZ claim myself and then taking all the files to the RO here in St Petersburg myself or mailing everything directly to the VA Intake Center in Newnan, GA?

Thank you.

[kate7772]

Why not go to a VSO such as DAV and have them file using your NC address? That way when you move DAV could transfer your info to their office in NC. I don't really think there is a real disadvantage to using a VSO as long as you yourself take charge and be proactive in the process. A nice advantage to having a VSO is that you can run questions by them and also they can access things on the computer that you can't to see how things are progressing.

Kate

[Navy04]

I recommend what Basser said bud. Everyone seems to think that they can file after they retire and claim will move fast. Infact my bud just retired after 24 years in the Navy, and he was moving too like you. Guess what, he waited until after he moved, had a hard time finding a job and darn near starved. It took almost a year for the claim to complete, but if he had filed in the first chance, claim surely would have been completed in a better time frame. Filing online is not that difficult either, I have submitted all 4 of my FDCs over the last two years via Ebenefits with success. Only you can decide what is best bud. Good luck and God Bless