HLR since pandemic

[flynsolo2]

******UPDATE---4-13-2021*******

 

I received my decision letter for my duty to assist (although I never did receive a full explanation on why a duty to assist was flagged or what basis and I think I never will)...they note that from my C&P exam, my symptoms are:  pyrosis (heatburn and/or reflux), regurgitation, substernal pain and vomiting, and the decision is to continue my GERD rating at 10%. I don't know what else to do here. Shouldn't I be rated at least 30%, if not 60%? I mean, there are times, (as I told the C&P examiner), that I have had to come home from work to take medicine or reschedule a meeting during a flare-up because, ya know, belching etc., isn't professional. My examiner wanted to hear none of it. Did not even look at my file when I tried to show him all the documentation that this has been going on for such a long time. Now, a week later, I get a decision letter that it is to be continued at 10%....Any suggestions? Should I do a CUE at this point?.... 

 

 

***NEW UPDATE-April 3, 2021

Okay, so I received a letter about the duty to assist for my GERD claim, and scheduled a C&P. My file online for disability claims also updated to show the GERD claim. I went to my C&P exam this past Wednesday, where the claims guy went over the whole sheet about my symptoms and whatever for my GERD. Then, on Thursday, it updated on my disabilities page-except now it says PTSD claim? Same thing yesterday, it says, "what you've claimed-PSTD, claim received March 31st (when I had my C&P exam". Who do I contact about this error? OR do I wait for them to catch it? It still says it today (obviously, since the VA is closed). But, all the way up to this point, it HAD said GERD. It also has listed my GERD files stuff under the files section of the claim.......

 

 

 

*****NEW EDIT AS OF FEB. 14th....

 

Okay, it says that the HLR review was completed on Jan. 28th. I STILL have not received a letter, and on Monday, the 15th, it will be three weeks. The rating looks to be the same on my e-file, but, when I called the VSO on Friday to see if he could see anything on his end of what the VA said about the HLR, he said that my file showed nothing-not the claim or my disability percent(s), or the HLR. Anyone else run into issues with HLR decisions and taking longer than the 10 days to receive your decision letter? I would like to know why I was denied (I am assuming I was, since the percent is the same)...

Thanks everyone!!

 

 

Good Afternoon,

 

I know the time frame for a HLR is normally about 4 months (they state on their website 125 days), however, I am wondering if anyone has filed a HLR since they opened up the VA more in August? Just wondering if there is a huge backlog now. I have mine just sitting there since September, and no status change, even though I was thinking it would be until January, but, as most others have said, still checking often to see if there has been any updates!

Thanks!!!

Edited April 13, 2021 by flynsolo2

[pacmanx1]

6 hours ago, flynsolo2 said:

All that aside, it said they received the HLR on Sept. 18th, and was closed today, Jan. 31, for those who were wondering how long HLR were taking now, during the pandemic.....

Flynsolo2,

Believe it or not I reopened a claim for sleep apnea sometime in October 2020 and the VA sent me to a LHI C & P exam and the C & P examiner agreed with my VAMC doctor's IMO that my sleep apnea was secondary to my service connected disability and I received my VA rating decision granting my claim. It was less than thirty (30)days. 

[Albsalin73]

On 10/30/2020 at 8:49 AM, flow1972 said:

Well, my friend at the VARO said the same thing as I got if I called the VA Line.  It's in "Ready For Decision" status..and they haven't even called me yet.  And it's been in that status for a long time.  Which means...it's just sitting on someone's desk somewhere; and there's nothing you can do but wait till they decide to process it.

My HLR started on Sept. 21st., no news yet.  I'm 60% on one condition.  My VSO claims they made a mistake when they denied me.

[AFCop2021]

Same here, HLR filed September 22nd, a few days past 125 now, no status update on VA.gov, only that they received it the 22nd and its being reviewed. 

[Albsalin73]

On 2/1/2021 at 1:47 PM, AFCop2021 said:

Same here, HLR filed September 22nd, a few days past 125 now, no status update on VA.gov, only that they received it the 22nd and its being reviewed. 

I have a claim going on a new presumptive.  I called the VSO on that today.  He had news on the HLR instead and told me the IU went thru.  Some VSO's have some special arrangement and they can give you information that you haven't seen on ebenefits yet.  I still have a notice that my IU is under HLR.  You might give your VSO a call, he might have good news for you.

[AFCop2021]

Well that's great news congrats! I wish that was the case for me. I do have an attorney on it tho and full confidence in them, As of now the only news I got is "We are waiting for the VA to respond to the appeal (HLR) submitted against rating decision, requesting conference with a decision review officer."  SOo... the wait continues.

HLR timeline: Day 136

[flynsolo2]

*****NEW EDIT AS OF FEB. 14th....

 

Okay, it says that the HLR review was completed on Jan. 28th. I STILL have not received a letter, and on Monday, the 15th, it will be three weeks. The rating looks to be the same on my e-file, but, when I called the VSO on Friday to see if he could see anything on his end of what the VA said about the HLR, he said that my file showed nothing-not the claim or my disability percent(s), or the HLR. Anyone else run into issues with HLR decisions and taking longer than the 10 days to receive your decision letter? I would like to know why I was denied (I am assuming I was, since the percent is the same)...

Thanks everyone!!