Filing with a VAO vs. Self-filing

[Cobra4v]

Just wondering what the difference is between filing with a VSO or starting a self initiated claim. Does the VSO have any involvement after he/she send off the paperwork? I've noticed my last file I did which was with a VSO is taking longer and I've had a few more issues. Not sure if it's because I filed with a VSO or not. 

[Berta]

Make sure the VSO actually sent off the paperwork.

[broncovet]

There are mixed reviews on VSO's.  Lots of hadit members have had negative experiences with their VSO's, and choose to self represent.  With information available here, you can do just that.  Personally, I am represented by an attorney at the Court of Veterans Claims.  

A VSO might be able to save you some postage costs, but, there is a drawback with that, too, as Berta pointed out.  

A VSO (national) "sat" on my appeal at the BVA for at least 18 months.  When I contacted them as to why my claim on ebenefits said "With VSO" for a long period, they got defensive and told me my claim had been docketed and it wont matter how long it takes for the national VSO to prepare my appeal, since its "in the pending que".  

I found out that was a lie, that my claim got docketed well after the VSO said this.  

I also noticed that I had emailed my VSO back in April, from my old emails.  The VARO did not acknowledge receipt of my claim until May 30.   Since the effective date can never be earlier than  the day VA receives your claim this means that I lost a full months benefits due to a VSO not sending my paperwork in until the following month.  This means that my net cost of hiring a "free" VSO is about $3000, since I will never be able to recover this month of benefits, no matter what.  

Actually, my net cost is far more than $3000 for hiring a VSO, when you factor in bad advice that cost me money, such as not appealing a 0 percent "award" of benefits.   Since I am still in appeals, I dont yet fully know the extent of damage following a VSO advice has cost me yet.  IN other words, I may recover a portion of the lost VSO money, I dont know how much yet.  

Edited June 30, 2016 by broncovet

[Cobra4v]

That's terrible. Sorry you've had such bad luck. I've been trying to contact my VSO but it seems impossible to do so. good luck on your back pay 

[flores97]

Cobra4v, I agree with Broncovet, you are your own best advocate. I'm not certain about what claims you have in at the moment, but I do see you are 90%, it's usually always best to either hire an attorney well versed in VA claims or do the research yourself, I have had a few terrible experiences with VSO's and one fantastic VSO that of course was promoted and moved out of state fairly quickly. I wont go into details but, VSO's (not all, but a lot), have a tendency to sit on paperwork, and sometimes seem to be working more for the interests of the VA then the Veteran. Again, there are a lot of good ones, but the good ones are usually swamped with claims, and all of the vsos, good or bad, are going to get paid regardless if you win or lose your claim, whereas an attorney will only get paid if you win.

[rootbeer22]

Vets;

My Negative VSO experience taught me to learn as much as I can so I did not have to rely on the VSO and mainly do things for myself. One of the common things that you hear is about the VSOs not turning or doing something in a timely manner? I'm sure there are many cases where they are just overworked and have huge workloads? My primarily issue with my VSO that she did not keep up to speed on the latest rules and regulations and gave a lot of bad advice that cost me in a number of ways?

 

[Cobra4v]

Flores97,

I am currently at 90%. I visited my VSO on May 5th for an increase in 3 S/C conditions. (Knees, shoulder, neck) All of which were rated at 10%.

After discovering arthiorthritis in my knees with a patellar tear and tilt I decided to file an increase. My neck was discovered to have 2 bulging and 1 herniated disc. And shoulder is an impingement/l slap tear which needs an surgery.

I reviewed my original C&P exam and studied the standard ratings for my conditions only to find I was severely low balled.  With the addition of worsening conditions which I'm currently undergoing physical therapy for I decided to file an increase.

As for my experience with my VSO. My paperwork sat on her desk for nearly a month before it made way across the hall to C&P. I actually got my exam after inquiring through the system. The day of my C&P exam my claim went into pending decision approval. Over a month later and officially a week past the projected finish date. My claim status has not changed.

I was more curious if the VSO has anything to do with the claim once it's sent in. Because I've never had this kind of result where a claim idles in a phase of the process for so long.