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My current VA journey, looking for advice

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John Hardin

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John Hardin Newbie

John Hardin

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Hi everyone,

                         I have been fighting with the VA for over 15 years, and a couple of years ago decided to go the lawyer route after having zero luck on my own.  My situation right now is I filed a claim in September 2016 for PTSD which was denied (they said they could not find a record of the "incident"). AT this point I hired a lawyer who sent me to their own doctor, and put a packet together for me for an appeal.  I opted for a DRO appeal, which they received Jan 6, 2017.   Since that time I came in contact with a guy who was in my platoon overseas, and witnessed the incident the VA says they have no record of.  He wrote me a buddy letter which I have sent to the VA (and the attorney) and verified they have received it.  Recently, the attorney has contacted me and thinks it would be a good idea for me to go the RAMP route.  This person at the attorney's office indicated when the VA receives new evidence for an appeal, they put you back at the bottom of the stack. I have not made my decision on doing RAMP yet for a couple of reasons, and that is why I am here hoping for some advice. 

1) I am over a year and a half in on this appeal.  The wait time for an appeal in FL was 277 days when I started the appeal, it is now at 366 days.  I have passed both of those thresholds, so I am hoping this will be done soon.  Is this an uninformed opinion????

2) The person who told me when the VA receives new evidence for an appeal, they put you back at the bottom of the stack did not sound certain of that.  It kinda sounded like rumor mill stuff, and no one could give me a straight answer on it.  Anyone have any experience with this??

3) IF (big IF) I am close to the end of this appeal, why go the RAMP route?   

Any and all advice and input is appreciated.  My level of frustration is high, and I'm not sure what to do here.

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vetquest
vetquest

I am of the feeling that difficult cases get filed in the dead pool.  I have seen my case wait a year for a C&P.  Once they get a hold of it they deny the case with some really bogus opinions.  I

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broncovet Grand Master

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If you have "new evidence", you definately need to submit  it, or it goes to the VERY bottom of the pile:  Appeals, after your claim is denied AGAIN.  

To submit new evidence, opt into RAMP in the supplemenatal claim lane, and send in your new evidence with the Ramp opt in form.  

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