ptsd DRO Hearing to QTC Exam to Awards Letter

[kentorambo]

"I currently have an lawyer representing me and is very fimiliar with the VA system. I currently have  DRO assigned to my case. I had a hearing with the DRO on (Aug 29, 2016). I had a QTC Exam for PTSD on (Nov 16, 2016) with the word "EXPEDITE" in Big Bold Red Letters." 

Now that the Exam is done, how long before you think I recieve any papers on the decision. Its Now Been Exactly 5 weeks.

This the response I received. "No one can tell you how long the DRO will take, but based on your information about expediting it, a guestimate of within 3 weeks may be sound. Once the DRO makes the decision, internal preparation to prepare your paperwork, any retro pay (if you are not retired) etc have to be completed because you will be issued a Rating Decision. If only a partial grant of sought benefits occurs, then the DRO would also have to prepare and issue you a Statement of the Case (SOC) explaining the reason and bases for the decision(s) which you received. Keep in mind that mailing time could result in about a week for a SOC, and about 2 weeks for a Rating Decision" 

 

Does this sound about right ???  Ive recevied nothing yet and no changes on eBenefits.

[flores97]

kentorambo,  did you put in a hardship request to expedite? Its very difficult to gauge without knowing where the expedite request is coming from,  plus the holidays will probably slow things down a bit.  If you have put in a hardship request,  then you should be hearing something very soon,  probably in the first half of January. I wish you the best of luck on your claim, and Merry Christmas. Keep checking ebenefits, especially the benefit verification letter(under VA letters),  it usually updates there first. 

[kentorambo]

Thx for the reply Flores97. I will be checking the benefits verification letter. I think my lawyer put in a hardship request to expedite. Ill have to check that, if so, like you said mid January sounds logical. Ill keep this post updated when something happens. Thx again for your information.  

[Gastone]

Checking E-Ben can be like chasing your tail. However, as of late, E-Ben seems to be getting their act together, check it once a week if you absolutely have to.

Your best bet for knowing you've been Awarded, is when your Retro Hits. This can happen up to 3-4 mos before you receive the actual Award Letter.

Just be sure your VA Comp Direct Deposit account, is set up to Txt & Email you real-time, regarding "ALL" financial transactions.

Merry Christmas to All

Semper Fi

[kentorambo]

Hello Gastone. Here more information about my claim.The DRO Informal Hearing (in which the DRO told me that I would not be going to anymore hearings, said on Aug 29, 2016, 2 issues were being addressed,  which was a already service-connected 10% Shoulder Increase and PTSD. Thats it. QTC Exam for shoulder was a month later and then the QTC Exam for PTSD a month after that. I recieved the report from both exams and now is in the hands of the DRO. My diagnosis was rated as a F43.10 PTSD, Unspecified which is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes and also a F33.1 Im not sure if my lawyer put in for a 60 day hold for New Material Evidence, but i doubt it. Ive been told by most I should hear or see something by mid-January. Does that sould about right to you with the information I just provide to you????? Any info will be greatly appericated. Thx

PS Yep My Va Direct Deposit is already set up, so like you said Ill be checking that too.

Edited December 22, 2016 by kentorambo

[paulcolrain]

always impossible to say though your time frame seems reasonable. id be looking at ebenefits every 3 days and expect some information between now and mid january. if it is good news your money will drop around 7 days from letter date. just my thoughts.

one time i actually had a QTC in mid November and had all things done by December 18th. money dropped Dec. 22.. i personalty thought that crazy Quick but it did happen. 

Edited December 23, 2016 by paulcolrain

[kentorambo]

Thx for the reply Paul

More Info About My DRO Hearing

At my DRO Informal Hearing, no decision was made other than the fact that he said he was going to schedule me for 3 Exams. (Shoulder Increase & First Time PTSD) & (Foot on a separate claim) I was awarded 30% for my foot about 3 weeks ago. So now Im thinking there going to make a decision on my shoulder increase and PTSD since all the exams are in his hands now. 

The DRO did not say why it was denied other than the fact that I needed a QTC Exam to prove that the PTSD is service-connected. Thats it. Cut and Dry. I think I got a very favorable decision judging from the QTC Exam Report. The QTC Exam for the my (foot) and (shoulder) was examined on the Same Day. I recieved 30% for the (foot) a month later. Still waiting for the (shoulder) upgrade decision/rating ?? I guess because the (shoulder) and (PTSD) was on the Same Claim, they'll rate them at the same time. #1) Do you agree ??The DRO did not say why it was denied other than the fact that I needed a QTC Exam to prove that the PTSD is service-connected. Thats it. Cut and Dry. I think I got a very favorable decision judging from the QTC Exam Report. The QTC Exam for the my (foot) and (shoulder) was examined on the Same Day. I recieved 30% for the (foot) a month later. Still waiting for the (shoulder) upgrade decision/rating ?? I guess because the (shoulder) and (PTSD) was on the Same Claim, they'll rate them at the same time.

#1) Do you agree ??

If it only took 1 month to rate my foot, after the qtc exam, don't you think the shoulder should have taken the same amount of time. And the PTSD.... its pretty clear from the QTC Examiner, thats its service-connected. Plus the DRO put Expedite on the on the QTC Appointment Letter.

So all what i just wrote made me think that the claim would move a little faster.

#2) Do you agree??  

 Original Claim - Oct 2014 

Claim Denied - Apr 2015

NOD - July 2015 

NOD - May 2016 

Dro Hearing Informal - Aug 2016 

QTC Exams (Shoulder & Foot) -  Sept 2016 

QTC Exam (PTSD) - Nov 2016 

Waiting ??????