Is Re-Examination inevitable?

[DisplacedCoastieinCanada]

Hey there. I'm just trying to get an idea of what to expect over the next few months. I'll summarize my situation briefly here.

I have 2 VA-rated disabilities. 70% for Major Depression and Anxiety, 40% for a back injury. Both of these are listed as not permanent.

I was discharged in January of 2015. May 2015 I received my ratings. I was bumped up from 70% to 80% in December of last year when I had my back re-examined. Prior to the re-examination last year, my back was only rated at 10%. 

I know that the VA likes to re-exam at the 5-year mark. I'm wondering if I should be expecting a re-exam for depression and anxiety early next year. I'm very much hoping that I'll slide under the radar because I live in another country and I was just seen a year ago for my back, but I know this is unlikely. I'm guessing the VA has an automated system that shows a glaring red mark for people coming up for re-examination. Honestly, I think my depression and anxiety has gotten worse and has further affected my quality of life, but I will have major issues affording the trip down to the VA, and if they did drop my rating, I stand to potentially lose my house since I have to re-qualify for my mortgage next year. Side worries, I know, but big ones for me.

Anyways, is there any chance that I might not be called in for a re-exam, or is it pretty much inevitable these days?

Thanks!

[Vync]

12 hours ago, vetquest said:

DRO hearings in the legacy system are now supposed to be running 13 to 26 months without an in person hearing.  And that is the estimate, I have been waiting 13 months and not a peep.

Yep, that sounds about right. I was told 24 to 36 months. After a year and a half, I didn't hear anything either. Back then you could call some 202 number in DC if your DRO request was 18+ months old. I got worked in a few weeks after I called. After Allison Hickey left, they did away with that option. Guess I was in the right place at the right time.

[mailmanthirty1]

I showed up to c&p in march of 2014. it lasted 30-45. pretty normal stuff, very incomplete. no goniometer used or even an objective tape measure for scars. i didn't find out for years that i had actually been given 6 exams in the 30-45 min and one opinion. 5 months later i had the same 6 exams without the opinion. as stated it was years before i discovered the truth. even after i got my c-file i did not figure it out imediately. i kept seeing her name on all these exams and i said i know i only saw her twice. on top of that she did not sign the second six reports for 77 days after the date of the exams. all six

[blahsaysme2u]

On 11/24/2019 at 8:31 PM, vetquest said:

 

DRO hearings in the legacy system are now supposed to be running 13 to 26 months without an in person hearing.  And that is the estimate, I have been waiting 13 months and not a peep.

so what happens if you have to wait 2-3 years for a DRO? do you loose your benefits until then? or do they keep your rating until then and make you back pay if you loose?

[vetquest]

That's a good question.  I know they will keep you at your current rate as long as you are in appeals.  I do not know what they do if you lose.

[Buck52]

If a Veteran loses they are suppose to inform the veteran when his benefits will stop or what they will be reduced to at a certain date, so he gets to keep his compensation until the VA notified him of any reduction and the date the reduction will take place  once the benefits stop the veteran will be notified.

he gets to keep his current benefits until a reduction is ordered.and if it takes a year or 5 years  he don't have to pay back during this appeal time  he gets to keep his benefits  any time during an appeal the veterans keeps his benefits

its in the CFR's  some place I can't remember  but I did read about it