CURRENT NOD, OVER 1000 DAYS

[USNJAGLN]

It took me approximately 10 years after service to come clean with my doc about an MST situation on my first ship.  I've been in therapy and take meds for anxiety.  I wrote my statement with the assistance of my therapist to not leave out any details....The VA comes back with a denial for MST.....unbelievable!  It happened on a Navy ship, but they state it's a personal trauma.  What a slap in the face. So I submitted a NOD....in 2016.  We are now at 1000 days, and the guy at the VA # suggests using the RAMP program, as traditional appeals can take 3-7 years.  Should I take that route with the RAMP?  I'm currently 70% due to DDD, bursitis, asthma, & gerd.  Recently had a CT scan for headaches, figured it was my cervical, secondary to my low back, they found nodules on my thyroid (having surgery this week to totally remove thyroid).  Is that something that I can tie to service?  Should I do an FDC for it?

[broncovet]

My advice is to call the BVA ombudsman.  Ask him if you have a docket number.  

The docket number will be YY-followed by a 4 or 5 digit number, where the first 2 are the year.  Example:  16-5689, would be a Board docketed in 2016.  

Info:  https://www.bva.va.gov/CustomerService.asp

If your docket number is 2017 or more recent, then Ramp is probably a good idea.  However, if your docket number is 2014 or older, then you should be "nearly up".  

[Cool]

I am in the same situation. I received the RAMP paperwork last year and have not done anything with it yet due to it stating that I would need to give up certain parts of my claim from the past in order to have my claim completed faster. I didn’t understand it completely and didn’t want to lose any backpay related to the claim. I understand that claims take a while but my claim keeps getting pushed back a year every time I’m told it will be done soon. Currently in remand status.