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.

 

 

[Richard1954]

Well, after careful consideration I decided to opt into ramp. I figure what the heck, they can't screw things up any worse than they already have.... I figured at my age, if I wait under the old system it will be another 10 years or more,  and I don't want to wait that long again.... so maybe I get luck under ramp and a favorable decision is made before I die....

[pwrslm]

On 7/10/2018 at 8:25 AM, WomanMarine said:

l the second issue - early effective date that was not granted with my RAMP appeal

if the eed was on your RAMP appeal, then did they outright deny it or ignore it?

If they ignored it, submit a reconsideration again, call peggy and see is she will do it for you on the phone...the least you deserve is a yes or a no...

if they outright denied the eed, they would do so in writing...that would be included in your decision from the RAMP 

do you have a solid case, that is the question you need to ask yourself

if so, its time to file your form 9...send it to the BVA next

[pwrslm]

My RAMP went to pending decision today. Projection was mid Aug to Nov. 

Crossing my fingers!

[broncovet]

Congratulations, powerslim, and thanks for the RAMP updates Woman Marine and pwrlsim.  

[Wayne TX]

CONGRATS pwrslm on the increase.........that was fast.......when did you opt-in and what Lane....HLR or Suppl?     What VARO handled your file?

Edited July 27, 2018 by Wayne TX

[pwrslm]

15 hours ago, WomanMarine said:

With a estimated completion of: July 27 - Aug 2

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

G'luck!!

I think its more about taking the time to do it right that counts more though :-)