All Vets (in appeals) can now do RAMP

[broncovet]

According to the CCK law firm's website, as of April 1, 2018, any Vet in appeals can now opt in for RAMP.  

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

Thanks, new hadit member,  Jroocan, for this heads up!!!

 

[AirForceVet81]

WOW....thats great news .....so if i filed an NOD back in SEPT 2017 for a DRO hearing i would be able to opt in to RAMP ? Did i understand that correctly ?

[vetquest]

AirForceVet81,

It appears you are eligible. According to what broncovet cited.  Contact your VSO and ask for the program.

You are eligible for RAMP if you have a disability compensation appeal pending (i.e. waiting for a decision) in one of the following legacy appeal stages:

• Notice of Disagreement (NOD)
• Form 9, Appeal to Board of Veterans’ Appeals
• Certified to the Board but not yet activated for a Board decision
• Remand from the Board to VBA

 

[broncovet]

Someone just posted the RAMP "opt in" form.  Yes, read the fine print to make sure you are eligible, since I dont know your circumstances.  

[broncovet]

The suprising thing to me is that, apparently, only about 3 percent of those Vets previously invited to participate in RAMP actually did it.  

This said, I can certainly appreciat their skepticism on "new VA programs" to help Vets. 

I think it was Ronald Regan who said the most dangerous sentence in the English language is,

Quote

Im with the government and am here to help you.  

 

[LongTooth]

The big to do about this program was that it would remove the right of appeal in exchange for a faster xxxxxxx. It also didn't help that most if not all of the VSO's where on board with it. From what I read on the link above it looks like there is still an appeals process of some kind. At this point in my case it doesn't help me as my next NOD will be after the rater low balls my claim, if I ever get into a C&P that is. I'm going to read up about how the appeals work before I foment an opinion either way. I just hope to christ we don't end up with another enormous backlog.

 

Also, upon a quick reread of the link, I'd like to see deeper statistics beyond a simple 57% award rate because that number by itself doesn't tell anybody anything. I find it hard to believe that 43% of people rejected by the new RAMP system are frauds. I'd like to see a breakdown of the claim fail rate %'s as well as the win rate %'s

 

Edited April 3, 2018 by LongTooth

[broncovet]

Long tooth,

You posted

Quote

 that it (opting in to RAMP)  would remove the right of appeal in exchange for a faster xxxxxxx.

I beleive this statement to be misinformation, at least, according to VA:

source: https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/appeals-ramp.asp

In pertint part, VA says:

 

Quote

 

Advantages of RAMP

• Early participation in the new, more efficient review process for VA benefit decisions
• Potentially faster decisions and early resolution of disagreements
• Multiple review options (supplemental claim, higher level review, or appeal to the Board after February 2019)
• The same potential effective date for benefits regardless of the review option chosen
• The option to ask for a quick, fresh look at a VA decision by an experienced claims reviewer
• A new requirement that we must have clear and convincing evidence to change any findings favorable to you in a VA decision

 

 

You see, you would only be "giving up" your potential to appeal to the board until Feb.2019, which is only about 8 months away.  This is insignificant because it takes about 3 to 4 years to complete a board decision anyway.