How long did you wait between requesting a VA disability assessment and it taking place?

LTC Stephen F. — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 12:05:28 -0400

Back in 2008 it took close to a year between my initial submission of paperwork [thanks to VFW] and me being seen for the initial assessment. on 1/1/2015 I submitted a request for an increase in disability rating for my lower back and heart function VA EBenifits website. I am glad to report that I was seen within 3 months of my request. Yesterday I had my first of two appointments. The VA medical system conducts all of my treatment including physical therapy. I don't think this helps since the VA treatment and assessment branches are completely separate. I was interested to learn that the assessment team had no access to my VA medical system heart test results. Hopefully the process to interface between active military medical systems and the VA medical for all personnel will function well. I also hope that each active duty service member who is wounded or injured while serving starts the process to submit paperwork to the VA well before ETS/Retirement. I waited too long and it cost me.

Response by SPC David Shaffer made Mar 28 at 2015 1:55 PM

SPC David Shaffer — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 13:55:22 -0400

My wife started the process immediately, but we have had 10 yrs of jumping through hoops. I am still having many problems with the VA. They have pretty much lied to me and said my back is fine, but the other night I had to go to the emergency room because I couldn't hold my bladder and could barely move because I was in so much pain. They did a CT scan and told me I had moderate degenerative disease with arthritis in my spine. Most of the reason it has gotten this bad is because of them not telling me I had this problem, while pushing it off like I was lying.

Response by SSG Donald Mceuen made Apr 6 at 2015 4:27 PM

SSG Donald Mceuen — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 16:27:06 -0400

it seems to take 1 year to get threw the system each round except the first that took yrs
but were on a roll now

Response by SSG Michael Scott made Oct 23 at 2015 5:39 PM

SSG Michael Scott — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 17:39:27 -0400

4 yrs

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 5:59 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 17:59:48 -0400

7 months

Response by SFC James Liedtka made Oct 24 at 2015 12:52 PM

SFC James Liedtka — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 12:52:07 -0400

1994 to 2003

Response by SSG James Yellis made Oct 24 at 2015 2:46 PM

SSG James Yellis — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 14:46:11 -0400

380 days Sir

Response by SFC Kenneth Highland made Oct 24 at 2015 6:24 PM

SFC Kenneth Highland — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 18:24:02 -0400

4 MONTHS

Response by LTC Hillary Luton made Oct 25 at 2015 7:24 AM

LTC Hillary Luton — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 07:24:25 -0400

Approximately 6 months.

Response by LTC Gail Daras made Nov 5 at 2015 3:05 PM

LTC Gail Daras — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 15:05:35 -0500

I was very fortunate. I filled out the paperwork in August 2014 and the VA representatives at Fort Gordon submitted my paperwork and I received notification of 3 days of appointments in Sep 2014. I was still on active duty during my appointments on terminal leave. After I completed all of the appointments I would receive letters letting me know my application was going through the adjudication process. In May I got my letter and I received 10% for one condition and was told they were still reviewing one more. It was not the condition I expected for my 10%. Other things have bothered me a lot longer throughout my career. Then in August I got my second letter and my other condition was rated at 30%. I was thrilled. So now I am receiving a decent amount not taxable and when I do apply for civilian positions again hopefully I will stand out more.

Response by SPC Anne Miller made Mar 27 at 2016 9:45 PM

SPC Anne Miller — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 21:45:14 -0400

I never requested it, yet I got it. 100%
Actually, arugued against it.
Go figure!

Response by CPO Amb. Terry Earthwind Nichols made Mar 27 at 2016 9:45 PM

CPO Amb. Terry Earthwind Nichols — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 21:45:52 -0400

I lucked out big time. One month. I had a copy of my health for the VA to keep or lose at their discretion. They kept it long enough to scan it in their computers and I had it back after SOS in the Canteen.

Response by PVT Robert Gresham made Mar 27 at 2016 9:50 PM

PVT Robert Gresham — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 21:50:19 -0400

Almost 2 years.

Response by MSgt William Lucas made Mar 27 at 2016 9:55 PM

MSgt William Lucas — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 21:55:41 -0400

You may need to walk copies of records from one office to the other. (Even though the VA is required to help you get all required records)

Response by TSgt Dawn Premock made Mar 27 at 2016 10:01 PM

TSgt Dawn Premock — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 22:01:42 -0400

Mine took about 7 months, I started the process before I retired.

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Mar 28 at 2016 6:13 AM

SSgt Jim Gilmore — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 06:13:29 -0400

I, again must be a lucky one. My first claim was filed in October 2001 for DMII. It took 18 months to adjudicate but was a guarantee due to a recent presumptive exposure ruling. I was compensated back to the date of the presumptive finding letter since I had filed within 6 months of the ruling. Forty-five months from my initial claim for diabetes and was rated 100% for diabetes, Congestive heart failure and a few other things. I truly feel bad for all my brothers and sisters still fighting for their due....

Response by SSG Michael Scott made Mar 28 at 2016 12:25 PM

SSG Michael Scott — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 12:25:13 -0400

5 f$%^king years of appeals, exams, and a lot of red tape.

Response by SSG James Yellis made Mar 28 at 2016 1:00 PM

SSG James Yellis — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 13:00:05 -0400

I filled in 2004 and it took 6 month for all the Doc appointments for it to be finalized

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Mar 28 at 2016 2:22 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 14:22:16 -0400

Way too long...I got out in 1988 and didn't apply till 2012...now I have to re apply...should have done it already...but didn't know I could until a few weeks ago.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2016 5:31 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 17:31:18 -0400

I have Gulf War Illness (GWI). I didn't start getting sick with it until 1996, two years after I retired, and I didn't even know that's what it was at the time It took until 2008 before all my doctors (almost all civilian, with about 4 VA neurologists thrown in) to decide it wasn't MS, but was GWI. So I filed my first claim in 2008. I have added three extra symptoms to that claim, and filed one more claim in 2010. Both claims were denied - the first in 2009, the second in 2012, and both have been through a DRO Review and were combined and appealed to the BVA.

Six months after the BVA appeal was filed, the VA said I missed the 60-day window for my appeal. Except, they used the wrong date for the 60-day window to start, by about 7 weeks. So they had my deadline established for about 3 days after I found out my claim had been denied on the DRO Review! I appealed that in February 2015, and that appeal has not moved one bit since then. So I'm at almost 8 years total now, and my claim still hasn't left the Baltimore VARO. And these are all supposed to be presumptive illnesses, yet they've been denied every time because there is no "nexus to the illness in my service medical records or of an injury during my time in service."

Response by SPC Peter Cap made Apr 13 at 2017 8:47 PM

SPC Peter Cap — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 20:47:16 -0400

took me 8 months to get my disability approved. its a long process but hang in there and never give up!!!!