Higher-Level Review Timeline

[FlyboyLeRoy]

Hi, 130 days for Higher-level review currently, but my VSO had the HLR informal conference talk with the higher level reviewer on 7/24/20. Anyone have knowledge of the typical timeline after the HLR is conducted? VSO said " We did have a two way conversation; but you know the deal; she sounded very positive about service connection but could not come right out and say it!", so i'm hoping the outcome is as good as he made it sound! Thanks. 

[Vync]

I assume it would depend on the situation.

In the past, my DRO (people who work the HLRs) conference happened towards the end. No additional C&P exams were needed in my case. The DRO said they would need to double-check everything and a couple of weeks later my decision arrived in the mail.

If your HLR conference required an additional examination, there's no telling how long that may take to get scheduled (especially if an in-person physical exam is needed).

Of course, they can't tell you a decision over the phone. My DRO did tell me that the RVSR who worked my claim made a bunch of stupid mistakes. It wasn't definitive, but was promising. Once the decision letter is completed and uploaded into the VA system, your VSO can get it and provide it to you. I had a claim get completed and uploaded yesterday. My VSO provided it to me on the same day.

[deedub75]

I wish I could just get my informal conference completed.  There are no exams needed for my HLR.  It's just to correct the effective date.  I have my stack of evidence ready!!!

Priorities change all of the time at VBA.  With covid-19 throwing a wrench in everything, who knows what the priority is now?

 

[FlyboyLeRoy]

17 hours ago, Vync said:

I assume it would depend on the situation.

In the past, my DRO (people who work the HLRs) conference happened towards the end. No additional C&P exams were needed in my case. The DRO said they would need to double-check everything and a couple of weeks later my decision arrived in the mail.

If your HLR conference required an additional examination, there's no telling how long that may take to get scheduled (especially if an in-person physical exam is needed).

Of course, they can't tell you a decision over the phone. My DRO did tell me that the RVSR who worked my claim made a bunch of stupid mistakes. It wasn't definitive, but was promising. Once the decision letter is completed and uploaded into the VA system, your VSO can get it and provide it to you. I had a claim get completed and uploaded yesterday. My VSO provided it to me on the same day.

Thanks, nothing further is needed and the claim had all needed documentation when it was submitted; which makes this even more annoying. The rater initially said a "c&p was never needed" but then their c&p exam confirmed the diagnosis and service connected it lol. There's our VA for you lol

[FlyboyLeRoy]

13 hours ago, deedub75 said:

I wish I could just get my informal conference completed.  There are no exams needed for my HLR.  It's just to correct the effective date.  I have my stack of evidence ready!!!

Priorities change all of the time at VBA.  With covid-19 throwing a wrench in everything, who knows what the priority is now?

 

understood, mine was just to fix someone else's mistake when there was a clear error. I got my conference at about 128 days, even with all favorable and clear stated ptsd paperwork.  Good luck.

[Vync]

34 minutes ago, FlyboyLeRoy said:

understood, mine was just to fix someone else's mistake when there was a clear error. I got my conference at about 128 days, even with all favorable and clear stated ptsd paperwork.  Good luck.

Yeah, we see the VA making a lot of those clear errors

[deedub75]

Finally had the informal conference today with a DRO for my HLR to fix the effective dates on some recently granted claims.  I was initially upset when she called because I was sitting in the parking lot of my doctor's office and had about 15 minutes before I needed to go in.  I had all my evidence at home in a stack waiting for the call.  She asked if I had time to talk and I told her I was about to go into the doctor's office but I had maybe 10 minutes or so to talk.  She told me it would only take her a few minutes or she could call me back tomorrow if she needed to.  

She told me that she had reviewed my file and agreed with me that I had been continuously pursuing the claims for knees, back, and left ankle since my original filing date in October 2010 so she was going to change the effective dates from February 2020 to October 2010!  It took me 10 years to get these claims granted only for them to make the effective dates February 2020 which was when I filed a supplemental claim.  But until I actually see it I won't fully believe but she told me it would be finalized by tomorrow. 

[GBArmy]

deedub75 wow! Sounds like "winner, winner, chicken dinner." Of course, depending on how much the back pay is is going to impact the signature process. Follow up with an IRIS request after your letter to get an estimated timeline for you. Don't know how that will be for you, but the IRIS procedure seems to be working again.

[Vync]

@deedub75 that is very promising! From the time you sent in your HLR, how long did it take for them to call you? I am curious because I have an HLR that has been sitting idle since April of this year.

[deedub75]

4 minutes ago, Vync said:

@deedub75 that is very promising! From the time you sent in your HLR, how long did it take for them to call you? I am curious because I have an HLR that has been sitting idle since April of this year.

I submitted my HLR on March 27, 2020 and I received my call yesterday.  So it was about 4.5 months.  I'm still skeptical until I see it in writing.  

[Vync]

Just now, deedub75 said:

I submitted my HLR on March 27, 2020 and I received my call yesterday.  So it was about 4.5 months.  I'm still skeptical until I see it in writing.  

That makes sense. When I called yesterday, they said I was almost to the 125 day estimate. With the VA making repeated mistakes on supplemental claims (at least in my case), I assumed that the HLR queue would be growing, much like the appeals used to prior to the AMA changes.

[GBArmy]

I've got one since early April. Peggy said est. time would be Aug.30, which runs about 140 days. Certainly every one is different, but their target was 125 and that is what they had advertise on va.gov for at least a month before they took the standard target down.