What Does This Mean?

[Cavman]

Just spoke to a very uncaring, cold woman at the VA 800# asking about my claims and appeal. Her answer was "its at the rating board waiting to be assigned. It hasn`t been assigned yet." I said...does that mean neither the claims or appeal has even been looked at? She say "its waiting to be assigned, its at the rating board". I said thanks and hung up, before I blew up. Isn`t this rediculous? I mean whats at the rating board...the damn claims or appeal or both? And when I asked her what that meant in layman terms couldn`t she have shown some compassion for 30 seconds and answered me? I mean who in the hell pays her wages?

I know its a waste of time to call that 800#, but we do it to basically keep from going insane while we wait.

Cavman

[Vike17]

When a veteran has muliple issues pending, they aren't "split-up" and sent there own merry way. A claimant has one C-file in which everything is in it. As I've said before, when multiple issue are pending, the c-file goes from one team to another to be worked and ultimately the appeals will be decided last. Furthermore, appeals do not go to the "rating board," they are handled by the Appeals Team, more specifically by a DRO. The Appeals Team is a self containing unit within the RO where they decide and rate appeals themselves. If your claim is at the "rating Board" waiting to be assigned, that means your new claims or claims for increases are probably with a Coach, and that Coach will assign a RVSR to your claim. Once your claim has been assigned to a RVSR, it waits its turn until it comes up to be looked at and decided. While it's waiting in line, it may be pulled by the Appeals Team to do any further work that they may need to do, and once they are finished, the C-file is returned to the "Rating Board" and put back in the line to be worked and decided.

I know it's hard waiting, been there done that. But instead of putting yourself though that misery, try to find a hobby to pass the time. If you know it's a waste of time calling the 1-800 number, then don't do it. Try and get your mind off it and let the claim take its course.

Vike 17

[Berta]

I dont think it means anything negative-the rating board is where you want it to be-probably everything is there in your file.

They told me mine went from claims examiner to rating specialist-last week - which in VA lingo meant to me, the rating board in general.

I never heard them say "waiting to be assigned" but I been waiting for four years this Feb.

Assigned to who? They dont give out any rater's names-

Cavman you are right- the 800 # as bizarre as that can be is at least a link to someone at VA who might have some info that makes the waiting better.

I jump for joy when I hear my claim has left one desk and went to another one.

At least it hasnt gotten into the PAP stack yet.

I ask the 800s if it has but then they always ask me what the PAP stack is-

(it is The Paper Air Plane Stack) ----

My dead husband used to say he wished he would get a denial letter -it was better than nothing- because the waiting for anything was always so difficult-

Cavman- try to focus on other things besides your claim-I think the whole process can give anyone PTSD or excerbate the PTSD they already have-

I know how hard this is to do- too- but try not to allow them to control your emotions and thoughts.

Easy for me to say -I dont take my own advise----you have no idea how angry I still am that they awarded my husbands claims posthumously-

and I couldnt even call him up and tell him he won both of them.

He never enjoyed a single minute of his retro for the 100% and never knew how right he was in his Sec 1151 claim.

The VA has gotten lots of Kudos lately for great medical care-

Rod almost withdrew his Sec 1151 when the Pres said on TV in 1994 that the VA had the best health care system in the world- of course this was a President who would have no idea about the VA at all.

Then again I think I could write a book about how bad the VA is but I could write an even bigger book about all the good things the VA is about-

As long as you have all the medical evidence you need and that they have it too and properly use it- the VA will do the right thing-but it just takes too long-

our RO in Buffalo lost most of their seasoned employees due to retirements the past 4-5 years-

this has significantly altered their ability.

You add the backlog and some lousy vet org reps to all that and you have a run a way train up there-and veterans are suffering because of it all.

[calnight]

caveman,

try the iris system I always got a better answer than calling the 1-800number. When I was told my claim was at the rating board they said a descion in 45-60 days. and got my descion in about 45 days. i think its agood thing its at the rating board.