Don't expect a quick turn around...

[TALON II FE]

...now that the VA reached "an all time low" and settled all our back claims, lol.  I am on a hardship, both OIF and OEF wartime vet, retired for medical reasons (post 20 yrs), went bankrupt, etc., etc. and this is my initial claim filed within 2 weeks of retirement. My claim went over a year last month and I am unable to work.  My initial completion date was supposed to be February 15 and, at the time, I didn't see how we could survive financially until then.  Since I had to go bankrupt, I guess we didn't, right?...But that's partially bc February 15 became April 15, then April 15 became July-August 15, which in turn became September 15, and THEN sometime Spring to early Summer 16 (this was when I was last on here, I just didn't want to spew negativity at everyone) and then the completion date on ebennies became what you see below:

Status of Your Claim

Review of Evidence

• Submitted: 09/23/2014 (Compensation)
• Estimated Completion: At this time, your Regional Office is unable to provide an estimated completion date for this type of claim.

Also, I had been in Prep for Decision for around 4 months before it started bouncing backward again.

To add to this, check out my IRIS Response I received about 2 weeks ago (notice the 3+ MONTH turn around!):

Response By Email (Department of Veterans Affairs) (09/30/2015 02:53 PM) Dear Mr. xxxxx: This is in response to your inquiry to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) dated June 24, 2015. Your inquired about the status of your claim and would like to note hardship as well as the submission of your proof of bankruptcy. We have noted in your claim that you have claimed financial hardship and your proof bankruptcy has been included in your file. (NOTED...not the action verb I was looking for, jackasses) Your claim is currently pending the receipt of a requested medical opinion. Following the receipt of said medical opinion we will make a decision on your claim and notify you promptly.  (THIS didn't happen until less then a week before they sent this.  They want ANOTHER OPINION from one of 'THEIR VA' Docs to counter something that was stated by the IHS Doc they contracted and sent me to.  If they contract them, they are VA Docs, right?  At least from the perspective of the validity of their opinions and ability to administer C & P's, otherwise why send anyone there?) In regards to your question inquiring your status with regards to CFR 4.28 Prestabilization rating from date of discharge from service: Department of Veterans Affairs examination is not required prior to assignment of prestabilization ratings; however, the fact that examination was accomplished will not preclude assignment of these benefits. Prestabilization ratings are for assignment in the immediate postdischarge period. They will continue for a 12-month period following discharge from service. However, prestabilization ratings may be changed to a regular schedular total rating or one authorizing a greater benefit at any time. In each prestabilization rating an examination will be requested to be accomplished not earlier than 6 months nor more than 12 months following discharge. In those prestabilization ratings in which following examination reduction in evaluation is found to be warranted, the higher evaluation will be continued to the end of the 12th month following discharge or to the end of the period provided under §3.105(e) of this chapter, whichever is later. Special monthly compensation should be assigned concurrently in these cases whenever records are adequate to establish entitlement. Please understand that Prestabilization claims must be filed prior to discharge to be considered eligible for this benefit. (I cannot find this requirement anywhere, and neither could anyone else including the VA flunkies who deferred the question over and over again. Would have been good to know pre-separation.  Notice it says nothing of the kind in the Regulation, even though he quotes it.  IMHO, they just don't award this benefit, like others that they don't honor.  This one was designed to get you thru till a final rating was established, therefore, they would be forced to pay all of us with active medical conditions as we were getting out at possibly a higher rate until they came to a determination.  It's much easier to just not pay, I suppose.) We apologize once again for the length of time it is taking to make a decision on your claim; however, we are currently experiencing a backlog of claims. The decsion phase can sometimes be a lengthy process because we want to make sure every claim has a thorough review, as well as a fair and accurate decision.  (Well, F*** you, too! See, 'I'm learning VA speak!) Thank you for contacting us. If you have questions or need additional help with information in our reply, please respond to this message or see our other contact information below. Sincerely yours, RO Director VA Regional Office 21/273/jsm

WTF can I do short of a terrorist activity to get them to do something?

 

 

[TALON II FE]

Well, these guys were AD, which is what made it so horrible to me. 

Outside exams go into the VISTA system.  The CPRS has all the stuff that Govt employees put into your record.

From what I was told, no access to VISTA without FOIA, and FOIA could impede claim.  Not sure if this is true, but I can't extend this longer.

[TALON II FE]

Talon,

That's because it's not "cool" or fashionable to honestly hold Vets in high regard for what we have done for our country.  Since the gov't doesn't hold us in high esteem, why should society?

While there are many millions who do honor us, it's still less than 5% of our nation's populace.

 

Well, they shove it down everyone's throat, how much we are honored, but I think there may be a by law within the federal govt which states that they are only allowed to verbally compensate vets for their service, no other compensation will be allowed...wait...that can't be right...lol.

[pwrslm]

In Re; FOIA

I walked into the FOIA office and they handed me copies of my MRI reports from VISTA.  Just walk in and ask them for it.  If they say no, you can still do a request.  It is not tied to the VBA claim, its a VHA FOIA on your medical records there.

[Andyman73]

Talon,

I do wonder how other nations honor and/or respect their veterans.

As for throat shoving...I think that is all just a bunch of misdirection and slight of hand...you know, "hey look what we're doing, or what we're saying, see we do care".  Which distracts most of the general public from the truth.

But if enough folks see those billboards that say about the VA lying while Vets keep on dying, perhaps more will begin to ask what's really going on.

[pwrslm]

Money corrupts.

Anytime you get into a huge financial institution, you have the good people, and you have the bad one.  When the bad ones control the pocketbook, the scheme ways to cheat the system to make their positions more lucrative.

It might be a small percentage of people who are actually causing the VA to fail, but for the most part, the majority of people I have talked to honestly care for the Vets they serve at the VA.  Face it, when those in leadership postions get a 1/4 of a million dollars to relocate, its a huge factor is who stays where for how long and when they move.  Yearly bonus money is more than the annual income for most of the daytime staff at McDonalds, combined.  Just remember, the key theme in my rant.

Money corrupts. 

[Andyman73]

The love of money is what corrupts, not just money itself.

Like absolute power corrupts absolutely.