Ramp was a waste of time

[Richard1954]

Ok... so I have been confused by what is going on with my claims,  I opted in to ramp Jul 2018 . The claims were already in an appeals status  and I had already requested de- novo reviews. So they took a claim  that did not even exist in one case (Heart)  and requested  a C&P exam. In another case they decided to ignore the issue and what had been written when I requested an earlier effective date for my TBI rating and then denied the EED.  In another case I asked for a separate rating for my sleep apnea,  ( separate and apart from my asthma/copd) and I requested a step increase in my SMC  from L 1/2 to M, because any rating 50% or more entitles the veteran to addition SMC. When the illegally combine a sleep disorder with Lung disease and then deny the SMC I think this is wrong, in fact the BVA has awarded a few separate ratings for Lung Disease and Sleep Apnea. I understand the special rules regarding Lung disease and that they do not award separate ratings for these conditions. My legal argument is that the VA should not be denying a separate rating for sleep apnea because sleep apnea is a sleep disorder not a lung disease.... Anyway I already knew  that this issues will have to be decided at the BVA or higher.. In fact,  I want this to go to the Court of Appeals, and if denied I will take it outside the system to a federal court. For too long the VA has improperly rated sleep apnea as a lung disease and denied me and possibly thousand of other veterans separate ratings when we have a lung disease. In my case I have Asthma rated 60%, COPD 100% and Sleep Apnea 50%. But because of the rules I get screwed and all three diseases are rated as one, first its not right because it fails to take into consideration how serious and different the 3 separate diseases are, and while Asthma and COPD do overlap, sleep apnea does not . Anyway the va then took my knee issue, and hearing issues and requested new C/P exams. I have already had 4 hearing exams ( one just last September) , and two c&p for me knee issues.. Why they need new C&P exams is beyond me and a waste of time and money.  In a different post I indicated they had my claims at pending a decision, and then they were back at seeking information ..well now I know why... So I now have to appeal these two denials to the BVA, and it has to be done on a special 21-4138 that they supplied and they give  6 different options and I have to select 1 option for all appeals.  So In my case Ramp was a waste of time because all they did was deny the claims again  and I have to send them to the BVA anyways.  ( Maybe they saved me a little time, under de-novo they would have denied them under the old system too) Anyway they are off to the BVA and I have new C&P exams sched for the 22  of Jan for my knee, and then at a different office in a different town on the same day a hearing test. I really think ramp is a crappy system. Also when they wrote the denials, the letter actual reads as if they left some lines out of the decision, over all very confusing. I understood the old system and should have just waited for a decision under that system...  Sorry for the long story..... 

[waynet]

7 hours ago, asknod said:

I see a lot of emphasis is directed towards CCK's assessments of RAMP. Here's another view from (gasp) attorneys who also know nothing (like me). https://www.woodslawyers.com/join-rapid-appeals-modernization-program-ramp/

 

 

The link above is outdated on some information.

From the linked site:

FAQ: Rapid Appeals Modernization Program (RAMP)

Can anyone opt-into RAMP? Not at this time. The VA is only inviting certain veterans to join this program. According to the VA, they are going to keep inviting more veterans monthly.

 

I am providing the updated info and the link directly to the VA re the information.

https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/48141/vas-rapid-appeals-modernization-program-ramp-now-open-appeals/

The RAMP program was opened up to vets without needing an invite in April 2018.

Quote from above VA link:

"Previously, a Veteran with a pending appeal could only opt in to RAMP after receiving an invitation from VA. As of April 2, Veterans no longer need an invitation to participate in RAMP. Now, all Veterans with a pending disability compensation appeal can choose to participate in the new decision review process."

 

**As always fellow vets, please do your our research and do not blindly take advice, whether it is something I post or someone else posts.

[Richard1954]

7 hours ago, broncovet said:

You are right..I dont know how long it will take.  5.9 years is not my estimate..its the BVA chairmans "average" during 2018.  I posted the link to the BVA Chairmans report  (where I got the numbers) to congress so you can read it for yourself.  He listed in in "days" and listed each step.  I added up the days and divided by 365.  If you have a better estimate, I would love to hear it.  

I don't have a better estimate,  I can only speak to my past claims and the time they took.  I do not trust the VA to be honest with us concerning much of anything and especially not the stats that concern va claims.  Wish I could believe  what they tell us, but too many times the VA has let veterans down.

Have you ever seen the movie " Article 99" , if you have then you know what I am talking about. For those that have never seen the movie, its about the VA authorizing veterans medical care based on their various disability,  but then in the same letter the VA says they don't have the money to take care of the Veterans. ( Withholding the medical care  is what is called an Article 99).  So what happens is some of the Doctors decide to break the rules to insure those seriously ill, get the treatment they need.  For me its real, and the VA has withheld Medical care from Veterans for years, even now they still get away with it based on one excuse or another. A couple years ago it was fake waiting list, now is withholding  pain medications veterans need all in the guise that they are doing it for the benefit of the Veteran. I am 65, and every time they give me the drug Tramadol, they require me to take a  piss test, to make sure I am not self medicating. Problem is if they keep giving  vets this crap, ( which doesn't really help)   we may start to self medicate anyway , a guy can only take it so much. Then they want to screw you over on your valid claim.

[broncovet]

No, I havent seen the movie, but I can assure you I agree 100 percent that you can not always trust VA employees or VSO's.  You are preaching to the choir, there, because VA EARNED their lack of trust with me the hard way:  They lied their way to their poor reputation.  

This said, VA is a very inefficient operation both with and without RAMP.  And, their management has permitted a few honest employees to infiltrate the ranks of the dishonest VA executives.  

It is somewhat like congress.  A good friend of mine says they should have term limits for congress and her reasoning is sound.  She says when a politician gets elected, they often beleive their campaign platform and fully desire to change a corrupt system.  They soon find out the system corrupts them, instead of them turning congress honest. 

 

Those poor new hired honest VA employees  are often corrupted by VA management who want the status quo.  The VA has managed to fire whistleblowers and retaliate even tho that is supposed to be against the law.  Remember, the VAOIG investigates corruption inside the VA.  Its a cozy relationship between corrupt kangarooo court and corrupt VA executives.  Its pretty much the same thing as when the mafia "owns" the police. 

VA deserves its reputation for lack of trust.  I have seen some signs where this is changing, however.  I got great service from my local vamc with my recent total knee replacement back in October.  I was treated well and got a good result with my knee replacement, actually better than friends who got their knees replaced in the private sector.  

[Wanderer]

On 1/14/2019 at 12:20 PM, Wanderer said:

I didn't request RAMP but the VA awarded me  30% for asthma within 90 days of claim submission. It may have been fast-tracked due to me living in a homeless shelter. I thought it would take at least a year to receive a payment.

Well, eBenefits says they awarded me 80%, effective date Dec 1, 2018. RAMP worked for me. Not sure how soon I'll get my first check, though.

[McRay]

Just got off the phone with my case manager and she told me that as of Valentine's Day, the ramp program is officially dead. She didn't know what would happen  with claims already in ramp -- just said it is no more. Apparently there weren't enough Vets participating.

[Wanderer]

15 minutes ago, McRay said:

Just got off the phone with my case manager and she told me that as of Valentine's Day, the ramp program is officially dead.

 

I'd need verification for this news item before I make any conclusions. Federal programs are not that easy to kill.