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.

 

 

[63SIERRA]

"""not being able to appeal to the Board until at least February 2019. ""

The info I have on our ramp papers say october 2018.

Heres my take on ramp from an active participant point of view.

First and foremost, I think its is an attempt to keep claims out of appeals.

second I think it is an attempt to try and appease POTUS

third I think it is an honest attempt to get some claims wrapped up

third it is a free and fast "bite at the apple " as ASKNOD would say

as far as negatives there are really none that I can see, unless your RO is just whiskey bent and hell bound on denying your claims, at which you will be just adding more time onto your claims..

The alternative is likely a 4 year wait, but the chance of a favorable decision is greater.

I believe due to the protocol the RO must follow, and thier lack of a broader brush to paint a path to victory,

many times, moving your claim out of the RO might be your best bet.

I dont think the denials are always a malicious component, its just the system, and lack of expertise .

 

[Wayne TX]

Well said and agree. 

[bpweryz]

pwrslm 

just wanted to update. Went to prep for decision today with a estimated completion date of 8/30 -10/1. Weird how things move after just talking to someone. Appreciate everyone’s input. Thx 

[WomanMarine]

Haven't got the 'brown envelope' but my percentage increased on eBenies ... from 80% to 90%. So they most likely gave it to me as my knee was rated 0% and this is the 'actual' service-connected injury. In 1980 they totally removed my 0% service-connected and said I had no issues, when in fact I was in a full leg cast for 6 months almost right after I was discharged.

This is the real issue that I want them to address and change my effective date. For the crap that the VA put me through, I believe I deserve it. And I can pretty much prove, through my Cfile records, that they did remove my 0%.

I will appeal this, after I receive my explanation so I can blow it apart ... 

[bpweryz]

Well just to let everyone know. Moved into Pending Decision Approval today. With an estimated completion date of 8/23 to 9/08. (Just so no one has to look back - I initially filed my RAMP on 5/16). 

[adkins7b]

I filed ramp april 23rd closed june 19th.. The idiot vso changed my form from supplemental to higher reveiw then try say i did it.. it was all done via emails.. but i just let it go.. they denied it because would not look at new dbq from doctor.. New ramp filed supplemental june 20th.