BVA Changes coming

[Berta]

In part:

"WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) and Office of Information and Technology (OIT) are working towards nationwide availability of virtual hearings for Veterans next year, allowing access using their mobile phone or laptop via the VA Video Connect app.
The virtual hearings are based on the Veterans Health Administration's tele-health platform and lets Veterans participate in their appeals hearings from the comfort of their homes."

https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5372

Also:

"VA continues record setting claims processing pace for 2019

"WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) disability claims backlog reached its lowest point ever, Nov 23 from its previous record low achieved May 2018."

https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5371

 

[GBArmy]

vetquest you bring out some good points. I'd probably have a rep do it ; I doubt if I could handle the stress all the BS procedure stuff  there would be. What do I know about proper procedures and legal protocall? I don't hear that well either which is another point. (Actually it comes in as an advantage several times a day with my wife,  but that is for another time.) If they have the evidence, which they should or I shouldn't have gotten  to the BVA anyway, what am  I going to do, explain the law to them. No, I doubt if I'll be in attendance at any of my BVA appeals. Not likely.

[Buck52]

vetquest quoted

''On second thought the RO's should read all of the evidence and finish our cases correctly so they do not need to go to the BVA.''

I totally agree with this statement.

I think the video teleconference is a good Ideal for the veterans that have problems traveling ,or  can't afford a Hotel Room  when they have to go to DC for court  as I understand it they don't pay travel pay either..

Usually the Veteran rep will rep the veteran in cases like this...Alex traveled to Waco Tx  R.O. to represent his Veteran   even at the CAVC  OR BVA in DC

Waco Is my R.O.  And Back in 2002 I had to go to a DRO Hearing in person I represented myself  & ask DAV to go in with me the morning I got there..but we left a day early and stayed in a near by Hotel Room  and went to the hearing early that next Morning.

[ShrekTheTank]

2 hours ago, Holllie Greene said:

I am so frustrated by this...is it my figging fault I had trouble understanding a C & P examiner not from THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (no offense to foreigners) and now I am stuck in appeal h e l l ?

Thank GOD for HADIT.

I get not being able to understand someone because of a language barrier, but I have always found bringing my evidence with me carried it's weight in gold, regardless of where they understood me or not.  I have had plenty who understood me who did much more harm to my case than someone from another country as they thought they were the only one who could tell the VA what as going on.  Like some kind of power trip or something.  

For my case I had something only ever rated 3 times before.  So sometime you literally have to lead them by the hand to the information they need to make a decision.  Even then they will sometimes find a way to mess it up.  

[Holllie Greene]

Hi Shrekthetank1,

I brought all of my paperwork and he did not want to see it.  Sometimes it seems you just can't win...but I will never give up because as one in the Hadit family said "if you give up they win".

Thank you for responding to my post. 

[Dustoff1970]

I have never done BVA hearings in my several successful appeals over the past 30 plus years because i cannot hide my disdain for VA employees  or even VSOs in face to face contact and have done everything by mail, phone, fax or email that was just fine with satisfactory results.

Between 1985 to 88 or 89 I was notified AFTER THE FACT by a DAV VSO that he attended a hearing on my behalf and he sold me down the creek without a paddle or canoe.  I was never notified in advance about anything by him and my PTSD rating was reduced and then terminated because of that sorry ass VSO and sorry ass VA rater.  The VSO was an older Korean vet and thought of us younger Vietnam vets as doppers and losers. This is  first reason for my disdain.   Since then I have handled many claims and appeals myself with mostly successes.  To hell with them and their petty prejudices and jealousies. 

Edited December 10, 2019 by Dustoff 11

[GBArmy]

Sorry Dustoff to hear that. We all are. But if I may, I have learned there are good carpenters and then there are bad carpenters. There are good cops and there are some bad cops. Just like there are good lawyers and VSO's and then there are bad. Maybe there are a lot more bad than good but, I think you are an intelligent guy (after all, you are Army),so my point is that it is up to us as individuals to do are best to make sure we improve our chances on separating the good from the bad. VSO's and lawyers serve a purpose and if we find ourselves in need of their services, we have to do our best to make good choices in the selection processes. I think we do some readers of Hadit a disservice to paint with a wide brush. Veterans should do their due diligence. Ask other veterans if they had a good VSO. If yes, ask them why. Is the answer based on facts, or is based on the results that were favorable to the veteran but the VSO for example didn't do anything to get the favorable result. What did he really do?  Interview the guy. Not good enough, then start over. It all goes back to what we say over and over. The veteran him or her self are their own best advocates. We have to increase the chances that we are getting what we want. Personally,  I don't like VSO's in general. For the most part I have found that they are under trained and have away too many veterans to help  so it is rare that they can spend the time to do a good job. For many, it is, bottom line, just a job with very little accountability. If your claim doesn't go right, well, not my fault, it's the VA's. But, that said, I now do have a very good VSO. I know enough to be able to say that not only has she done very well for me, caught small things I didn't, but now to the point I do not hesitate to recommend her to veterans I come in contact with who are in need of a good one. But believe me, I did a lot of searching before I found her. I don't have VBMS and she really knows the system and is respected at the RO. She is a disabled veteran and loves what she does. Hard to beat.