So, you call your VSO (if he bothers to return your call), and ask him "how long"? His response is that their is a "big backlog" at the VARO or the BVA. And now, you get "the rest of the story", as Paul Harvey used to say:
THE VSO's contribute to the backlog. They like us to think that they RUSH our claim off to be processed, and its all the Regional office and BVA's fault for the backlog. This isnt true, at least not all the time. A few years ago, ebenefits had my appeal as "with VSO". It seemed to be "with VSO" for a rather long period of time, so I checked. Sure enough a call to the BVA confirmed that my (national) Veterans Service Officer had my claim file.
So, I called the VSO, and asked them what was the delay? They responded that, since I already had a docket number, there was "no hurry" for the VSO as I was simply on a long wating list at the BVA. I found out later THIS IS NOT TRUE. In fact, I did not have a docket number at the BVA, and I would not get one until the DAV completed its "brief" and sent it to the BVA. This did not happen for 18 months.
This means that the DAV "sat on my claim" for 18 months before they prepared the brief and sent it to the BVA, and THEN LIED ABOUT IT.
After thinking about it, something similar happened when I applied. I went to a local VSO and filled out the paperwork in March, 2002. Later, I found out VA did not receive my claim until May 30, 2002.
I knew it did not take 2 months for the mailman to go a 3 hour drive, but did not know better so I just assumed it was the mail or the Regional Office. No. When I sent in my dependent changes, I found out the VSO did not submit that paperwork for 13 months. (The time limit is a year, so I wound up losing money on dependents, also, compliments of my "free" VSO).
The cost of my "free" VSO has amounted to about $8000, as follows: 2 months retro lost while they were finding a stamp and mailing my paperwork (that I already had filled out myself). Another 3 years of retro lost because the VSO delayed sending in my dependent information for 13 months, and I did not figure that out for 2 more years. Total cost of free VSO: $8000. This should pay the "free" rent for the VSO at the regional office and VAMC for a year or so. Remember that, the next time someone tells you to get a "free" VSO, or you get "free" burglar alarm when you pay for monitoring.
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broncovet
So, you call your VSO (if he bothers to return your call), and ask him "how long"? His response is that their is a "big backlog" at the VARO or the BVA. And now, you get "the rest of the story", as Paul Harvey used to say:
THE VSO's contribute to the backlog. They like us to think that they RUSH our claim off to be processed, and its all the Regional office and BVA's fault for the backlog. This isnt true, at least not all the time. A few years ago, ebenefits had my appeal as "with VSO". It seemed to be "with VSO" for a rather long period of time, so I checked. Sure enough a call to the BVA confirmed that my (national) Veterans Service Officer had my claim file.
So, I called the VSO, and asked them what was the delay? They responded that, since I already had a docket number, there was "no hurry" for the VSO as I was simply on a long wating list at the BVA. I found out later THIS IS NOT TRUE. In fact, I did not have a docket number at the BVA, and I would not get one until the DAV completed its "brief" and sent it to the BVA. This did not happen for 18 months.
This means that the DAV "sat on my claim" for 18 months before they prepared the brief and sent it to the BVA, and THEN LIED ABOUT IT.
After thinking about it, something similar happened when I applied. I went to a local VSO and filled out the paperwork in March, 2002. Later, I found out VA did not receive my claim until May 30, 2002.
I knew it did not take 2 months for the mailman to go a 3 hour drive, but did not know better so I just assumed it was the mail or the Regional Office. No. When I sent in my dependent changes, I found out the VSO did not submit that paperwork for 13 months. (The time limit is a year, so I wound up losing money on dependents, also, compliments of my "free" VSO).
The cost of my "free" VSO has amounted to about $8000, as follows: 2 months retro lost while they were finding a stamp and mailing my paperwork (that I already had filled out myself). Another 3 years of retro lost because the VSO delayed sending in my dependent information for 13 months, and I did not figure that out for 2 more years. Total cost of free VSO: $8000. This should pay the "free" rent for the VSO at the regional office and VAMC for a year or so. Remember that, the next time someone tells you to get a "free" VSO, or you get "free" burglar alarm when you pay for monitoring.
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broncovet
The attorney's want their pay ASAP. The attorney's dont get paid until the retro is distributed. The attorney's have a dog in the fight just like we do, , while the VSO gets paid every other Frida
broncovet
So, you call your VSO (if he bothers to return your call), and ask him "how long"? His response is that their is a "big backlog" at the VARO or the BVA. And now, you get "the rest of the story", as
broncovet
I used to think the same thing, Texas Marine, until someone pointed out something to me: If you apply for benefits, and get awarded, you get an effective date and start collecting benefits. The
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