What To Expect If Getting A Large Award

[tdak]

Hello,

I was wondering what to expect if I were to get a large award. I remember reading somewhere that if the amount was over $25,000, then there had to be an extra signature or 2 or something else time consuming. Does anyone know the specifics?

thanks,

Tamara

Edited March 21, 2007 by tdak (see edit history)

[Objee]

You're right about the extra signature on retro over $25k.

From M21-1, Part V, Chg. 32 of 6 OCT 2004:

Signature #1 - Rating VSR

Signature #2 - "Coach" level VSR (GS 11/12)

Signature #3 - Center Manager's designee with CATH entry authority (Screen 501)

Once that's done, the file data goes to Finance Operations for their approval.

I'm in the middle of the same situation. Decision given on 25 JAN 2007 and nothing since then. Sheesh!

Ralph

[Berta]

Yes- if the award requires 3 signatures that means it is over $25,000 in retro.

Edited March 21, 2007 by Berta (see edit history)

[cloudcroft]

Objee/Ralph,

Yeah, but look at it this way: The longer they take the more $$ in the retro check you're going to get AND the more time you have to plan what you're going to do with all that $$!

-- John D.

Edited March 22, 2007 by cloudcroft (see edit history)

[Pete53]

I know a Veteran who got 96000 Monday. His claim was at signatures for about 3 weeks

[Testvet]

I got my decision on April 3 and about 2 weeks later the money was in the bank

[spike]

I guess I was lucky, they rated my PTSD in November, back paying me a year almost (50%)-70%, then rated the others which put me at 90% in Dec for Jan 1 then in February found my dependency going back from April of the year for my wife and 4 stepchildren. So i think i got lucky with them retroing and doing another...funny thing is...if i didnt keep on the VA like white on rice, they would have keep missing my dependency and it would have been real large....HOW can you miss the form when your doing the rating decisions etc....makes you wonder if they look at anything else in your C-file doesn't it. Losing harddrives and documents....anyone else concerned.

[Cavman]

Mine was over 25 and it took 2 1/2 weeks to get from the day of the decision.

Cavman

[Vike17]

Spike,

"if i didnt keep on the VA like white on rice, they would have keep missing my dependency and it would have been real large....HOW can you miss the form when your doing the rating decisions etc....makes you wonder if they look at anything else in your C-file doesn't it"

Adding a veteran's dependents to an award has nothing to do with the RVSR and the rating decision. The dependents are normally processed when the claim goes to the Post-Determination Team so the decision can be promuligated. The RVSR doesn't look at ho wmany dependents a veteran has, it makes no difference to them when they are deciding a claim.

Many times the VSR in the Post-Determination Team can't add the dependents to an award if the rating is over 30% because the veteran didn't send the VA the required documentation, such as birth certificates ect... This happens more often than one thinks. Many times when a veteran files their 526, they'll fill out section C and list their dependents, but forget to send in the supporting documentation. Then the veteran thinks VA is somehow stalling on paying the additional payments because they "claimed" their dependents already. When in fact they didn't submit the needed documents.

Vike 17

[spike]

vike,

i've been doing this for a while, so when I orginated the dependency I provided copies of birth certificates for the stepchildren, ssn cards, a statement of where they live (with us) and a copy of the marriage liscense as well. They added the wife but did not add the dependent children. I received a VCAA letter stating they do not have BC's so I resubmitted the docs again with memorandum to show the original day. Finally, I spoke to pre determination team on the phone, speaking to the person who worked in that department. She pulled the file out of "files" where they return the file and she found it within a few hours. What I am saying is it was completed once you keep on them. The profficency of Pre-Determination, or VSR still you need to keep on them. They know me well at the VARO, they have admited that they make a lot of mistakes being in such a hurry, and pass over a lot of things.

[carlie]

tdak,

Something else a vet with a large retro (or any SC'd disability) can expect ....

Is to hear some nay sayers, perhaps even family members or what you consider

to be a good friend, complaining behind your back -- that the money isn't deserved,

and you'r taking the gov. for a ride.

My suggestion is always... you don't have to waste your time and emotion defending your position.

That was already done during the adjudication process.

jmho,

carlie

[tdak]

tdak,

Something else a vet with a large retro (or any SC'd disability) can expect ....

Is to hear some nay sayers, perhaps even family members or what you consider

to be a good friend, complaining behind your back -- that the money isn't deserved,

and you'r taking the gov. for a ride.

My suggestion is always... you don't have to waste your time and emotion defending your position.

That was already done during the adjudication process.

jmho,

carlie

Carlie,

I am with you there. In my newly posted picture. It almost seems like I have nothing wrong with me. Who'd ever notice that I had brain surgery(unless I keep hair up (which doesn't happen much, because it hurts my head) I also have loss of use to the left side of my body (brain stem damage) and an 11" scar from the top of my head to past c3-4. I had craneonectomy, posterior fossa decompression, laminectomy (c-1) and partial laminectomy of c-2. This was a year ago in Nov. I don't take anything for granted anymore. My step-sister was pissed (Navy Vet), like I did't deserve it, but I set her straight. My only thought to those who want to talk crap about me, behind my back is you are a coward. If they got something to say, tell me straight to my face. I defend myself, very well I might add. I just tell them, see this scar. I'd like to see you go through what I do day to day, just for a week to see how I really feel. It took me from 1989 to 1995 (when I got diagnosed and filed a claim) to find out what was wrong with me. If any doctors knew before that, I would have put a claim in several years ago.

Thanks,

Tamara

Ps. Short story. I was in my car in line to get gas one afternoon when this woman in a car also waiting to get gas, yells to me,"You don't look handicapped to me!" I happen to have my handicap parking tag hanging from my mirror that day. It was only about 8-9 months after my surgery and I was lucky to get round. I looked over at her and yell back, "That's because you can't tell I don't have any dam legs!" Well her face turned completely white then red and she just looked at me and pulled away without getting gas. Gee was she feeling like an idiot that day. Needless to say, I do have legs and because you look at me and at first look, physically don't see anything worng, this doesn't mean I and not handicapped. This doesn't mean you have to look handicapped when you are. Some people just stereotype, including doctors.

Edited March 23, 2007 by tdak (see edit history)

[spike]

i tend to find that it is the people who do not understand what military veterans go through. They typically are the same ones who told you in while in the service, "Hey my taxes pay your salary." without seeing that we paid taxes too.

[Pete53]

If someone is using handicap to park in handicap place I hope that they are the right person. However my position is I don't care to explain to anyone why I am handicapped cause why should I.

Even though I have handicap I rarely use it cause my dogs usually go with me so I park far away so people don't bother them.

[Philip Rogers]

tdak,

Something else a vet with a large retro (or any SC'd disability) can expect ....

Is to hear some nay sayers, perhaps even family members or what you consider

to be a good friend, complaining behind your back -- that the money isn't deserved,

and you'r taking the gov. for a ride.

My suggestion is always... you don't have to waste your time and emotion defending your position.

That was already done during the adjudication process.

jmho,

carlie

You'll also have relatives and "supposed friends" wanting a loan orfor you to give them money. They think you're the bank and get p*ssed when you won't. jmo

pr

[SLEDGE]

From my own experience,

some busybody will tell the whole known world that you flim-flammed the government outa a million bucks.

Whatever you get from the VA, you earned it, and more.

sledge

[jbasser]

" Adding a veteran's dependents to an award has nothing to do with the RVSR and the rating decision. The dependents are normally processed when the claim goes to the Post-Determination Team so the decision can be promuligated. The RVSR doesn't look at ho wmany dependents a veteran has, it makes no difference to them when they are deciding a claim."

Many times the VSR in the Post-Determination Team can't add the dependents to an award if the rating is over 30% because the veteran didn't send the VA the required documentation, such as birth certificates ect... This happens more often than one thinks. Many times when a veteran files their 526, they'll fill out section C and list their dependents, but forget to send in the supporting documentation. Then the veteran thinks VA is somehow stalling on paying the additional payments because they "claimed" their dependents already. When in fact they didn't submit the needed documents.

Vike you are correct as usual. The Dependant form should be filled out and sent in with the claim.

If a Vet applies on line there is a section for dependants and the VA should act off of that information but too often they dont.

If Retro takes longer than 30 days to hit the bank, then someone is either out or sitting on it.

I had mine within 3 weeks of decision. Then I had to file for the dependants and 2 weeks later, I received the extra money.

Edited March 24, 2007 by jbasser (see edit history)

[Cavman]

If ask why I don`t work, I just tell them I`m crazy as hell.

Don`t sweat the small s_ _ _.

Cavman