Special Alert

[spike]

I know this is going to disturb a lot of people. But I guess I should inform everyone. I spoke to a very reliable VSR at the RO in Buffalo named Skip. He indicated that with everything going on and the whole direction of the Vets who are from 9/11 and Persian Gulf are Priority #1. Direction has come very recently internally to VSRs from "HEAD BOSSES" that they are to rate claims of Vets after 9/11 and then DIC claims, then others.

[theotherguy]

Crappy but true. This is the politics of war showing it's ugly head. What is really unbelievable is that it is for all vets that served overseas since 9/11/01, not just veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. I suppose we should all have a category now just like at the VAMC

[Pete53]

Well if its true than they found a new way to split the Veteran Community.

[Tbird]

it probably is true and they will once again try to divide us against each other, we must stand together, be happy for our brothers and sisters who get their rating and hold their feet to the fire about the rest of us.

[Vike17]

This has been policy for some time now. I personally disagree with this, as a veteran is a veteran is a veteran. Having said this though, for the most part the disabilities that these veterans are coming back with are relatively easy, cut and dry claims that go pretty quick. i.e. amputations, traumatic bain injuries and so forth. The VA doesn't really have to go on hunting expidetions for their records because, generally, they are all relatively new and aren't scattered all of the country.

Vike 17

[Berta]

That's good-

I dont see any vets getting much pirority at Buffalo RO-

One of the RO reps told me months ago they were working on Saturdays trying to get VCAA letters out-

Guess this means they will be working Sundays.

The amount of Remands that Buffalo RO has due to improper VCAA notice or even lack of VCAA letters- is just unconscionable and I have griped about it over their heads-

Also a search I did of my POA with claims in Buffalo shows the same problems but it also shows that -although Buffalo isnt complying with the VCAA- my POA has sat back and allowed it to occur.

Some vets with my POA get VCAAs that are specific and some just get a ballpark generic piece of paper-

The VCAA is explained in great detail in the VBM.In my case I found a recent claim from a widow at the BVA similiar to mine and they remanded telling the RO what to do- to tell the widow in a Proper VCAA letter to get an IMO. I got 3 IMos and never received a proper VCAA letter yet.

New combat wounded veteran's claims should be a piece of cake-I think the Ros will use it as one more excuse as to why some claims take years to be resolved because they arent done right in the first place.

Edited March 29, 2007 by Berta

[Ricky]

Don't be to quick to think these claims will be black and white. Remember we are dealing with the VA here. Take for instance a TBI. Yep pretty simple - IED exploded, soldier was in vehicle now he has TBI. HOWEVER, just think about the residuals from such an injury. If you do not think this will take months to years to obtain IMO's etc... then you need to go back to bed and sleep a couple of hours. Past the initinal injury these claims will presented with the same problems our claims now face. jmho