To "RAMP" or not to "RAMP"

[broncovet]

As many may know, Congress has passed new legislation which essentially requires VA to cut down on appeal backlog.  This plan is known as "RAMP".  

Currently, only Veterans who ARE INVITED by VA can elect to go with RAMP.  Im not sure it will do much good to write to VA and tell them you want RAMP, tho its POSSIBLE that VA may grant this request.  

A well known law firm has published some credible, and valuable information on RAMP.  If offered a chance to "RAMP" through a VA letter, its probably a good idea to:

1.  Just do it and go for RAMP.

2.  At least read the following before declining ramp, and discuss this with your representative.  

https://cck-law.com/news/news-cck-live-revisiting-ramp/

MY summary:

    UNLESS you have a compelling reason, opt "in" for RAMP.  

    CCK says you should not do RAMP if any of these would harm your claim:

However, veterans should fully consider that participating in RAMP means:

• not being able to appeal to the Board until at least February 2019.
• not being able to take their claim directly to the Board of Veterans Appeals.
• never going back to the legacy appeals process.

 

 

[broncovet]

Read over this carefully, it may answer your question:

https://benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/docs/appeals-RAMP-Opt-in-letter.pdf

[broncovet]

The regulations state he has to have a "current" diagnosis.  

If he already "has" a current PTSD diagnosis, then the symptoms are important, and "When" did the applicable symptoms begin.  They will likely compare the 2013 C and P exam to the 2017  c and p exam to determine if symptoms have improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same since 2013.  

To find out, compare the 2013 c and p exam with the 2017 exam.  

[pwrslm]

Ramp win.
sub 15 May 2018

closes 7/25/18

increase in disability from 40-60% for radiculopathy left leg 

[WomanMarine]

It looks as though the RAMP is moving.

My claim when to Notification yesterday.

With a estimated completion of: July 27 - Aug 2

Fingers crossed that I don't have to appeal .... 

Edited July 27, 2018 by WomanMarine
typo

[Vync]

Good advice!

[Jroocan]

Vets can voluntarily opt in starting today, April 1st, 2018. 

Im calling first thing in the am.

https://cck-law.com/news/rapid-appeals-modernization-program-ramp-open-to-all-veterans-april-