Has anyone ever heard of having a DRO hearing in a C&P Room at a VAMC?

[83beenuff]

I just got my hearing letter saying I am finally getting my DRO hearing, but that it will be at my local VA Medical Center. I looked up the room number they gave me and it is the room that is used for C&P exams.  I'm glad I won't have to travel 2+ hours to get to the Regional Office, but I'm wondering if they are actually trying to schedule another C&P and just sent the wrong letter.  Has anyone ever heard of having a DRO hearing in a C&P Room at a VAMC?

Thanks in advance!

Edited February 9, 2020 by 83beenuff
added another sentence

[GBArmy]

83beenuff I'm not sure what you have. Did you appeal and request a HLR on your claim, and that is what you mean  when you say you are finally getting a meeting with your DRO? Your profile doesn't say where you live and the VA DRO's could have limitations on office space. Are you s-c for a disability with the VA? Do you have an open claim right now? Not much to go on from the info you provided.

[Buck52]

I remember I had a C&P for hearing loss claim one time at my VAMC AT THE ENT Clinic, I took a hearing test and all the things they do to test your hearing  and then went sit out in the lobby of the clinic and the ENT dR CALLED me back in and we sit in a room he checked my ears and ask me  this

I''see your here for an increase on your hearing  I said yes sir I am...he continued to look into my ears and said I have your C-file  I'll need to read your medical records  and just so you know its not me that makes the decision  but I will go and review your c-file and the R.O. Will be contacting you when they make their decision.

I was seen by this Dr for one minute!!!  That C&P turned out to be a proposal to reduce from what this C&P Examiner wrote up.

I requested a DRO Hearing and got it solved with a specialist IMO on my loss of hearing.  and won my case.  but it sit me back a few years of appeals,

[83beenuff]

Thank you for the replies.  I do not have any other open claims, just 1 open appeal.  I am SC for multiple physical/mental problems, the one is suppose to be PTSD, but the C&P doc said I didn't meet criterion A for PTSD, so he put it as other traumatic stressor related disorder.  I appealed the other traumatic stressor disorder and the VA's claim that my disorders are not P&T.  On my VA NOD 21-0958, I laid this argument out clearly using Chris Attig's advice in his books, and requested a DRO in person hearing for my appeal on the form.  I am in Pennsylvania if that helps.  The VBA letter sent clearly talks about they will be doing a recording and such for the hearing, but the location is not at the RO, but at the VAMC as mentioned in first post. 

They say they are giving me what I requested, but they only say I will be getting a Hearing officer at the hearing, no mention of a DRO. 

Is a Hearing Officer and a DRO the same thing, or does the Hearing officer have less authority than a DRO?

[vetquest]

Yes, I have had a hearing in a room that was not normally what one would expect.  My service officer was there so I knew it was legit.  Do you have a service officer there to go with you?  Sometimes they help at a hearing.  They have a relationship with the "opposition" so you are not going in without knowing what to expect.  I know that VSO's are not always the best but use them when they can help.  I file my own appeals now but still use my VSO as a pass through.  

[vetquest]

You posted before I submitted, I would like to ask if they say you do not have all the stressors for PTSD do you still have anxiety and depression?  PTSD is sometimes hard to get but you can be rated for anxiety and depression.  It falls all under the same umbrella and is rated the same.  A PTSD rating is rated the same as anxiety or depression and you cannot be rated for multiple disorders on top of each other. 

As far as I know the DRO officer and hearing officer is the same.

[83beenuff]

vetquest, thank you for letting me know your experience with your hearing.  That it is comforting.  I am not using a VSO.  I am doing my own appeal, but I am going to have my wife along to help me with organization and due to my speech impairments.  Hopefully they will not have an issue with her being there as I have a VA release of information on file for my wife with the VBA.