How long have you been waiting for your VA Claim?

CWO2 B. Sean Fairburn — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 20:01:13 -0400

I put in a VA Claim 15 months ago when Things became very difficult to keep work. I was brought in for "Further evaluation" on my claim and financial status due to lack of work 3 months ago. I have not heard a Peep from the VA since. Now the Home has been Seized and I will be filing BK. So any help I get will be too late for this home to be saved. Thanks VA.

Is a Year + wait normal or is their something I need to do to get things rolling?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2013 11:26 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 11:26:10 -0400

My husband has been waiting about a year and a half. Just finished all those medical appts now just waiting. The whole process takes entirely too long.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Sep 25 at 2013 1:10 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 13:10:45 -0400

I initially filed my VA claim in Aug 2011. I received the VA's findings for the first time in Sep 2011, and then filed an appeal of that determination due to some things being left out of my file. Long story short, my VA claims process is still underway and is estimated to take another 12 months, but my medical packet is atypical. My claims process has been going on for 2 years now. I suppose every individual's process is unique, since he/she has unique needs and claims to make.

Response by CWO2 B. Sean Fairburn made Sep 26 at 2013 2:19 PM

CWO2 B. Sean Fairburn — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 14:19:35 -0400

Yeaaa I just got a Letter from the VA. They must be on RP. It said I was Approved for 50% disability and with 5 kids under 18 that came up to $1,100.00 per month. It was for PTSD but it denied my Hearing loss even though they never tested me they just said that I had no hearing loss.
It said that they could not find my medical records thus there was no record of anything I had ever done in the Marine corps. No Gulf war syndrone no Anthrax exposure no Oil Well smoke inhalation for 3 months was on the record so it all got denied. I will be filing an appeal as I have a Copy of my Medical records and its all documented in the file that they can't find.

Response by CWO2 B. Sean Fairburn made Sep 26 at 2013 2:30 PM

CWO2 B. Sean Fairburn — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 14:30:10 -0400

So Listen up Warriors if you have been putting off putting in a PTSD Claim Please take the time to do so NOW. It will indeed take a while and in the future your situation is likely to get worse. I urge you to file a claim and get some help. Don't let them do the frontal Lebotomy, but get the claim in and seek Counseling and some financial asstance if you are having difficulty finding work due to your hypersencitivity to Caos and disorder. I have Mild to medium PTSD and with Large volumes of Prayer, water, and Christian Music I can drive the roads without the feeling that I need to look at every item on the road as an IED or the need to return fire upon @$$holes that tailgate me. I'm getting better, and the images in my head are also on my Library of HDCAM tapes of the battlefield that I was shooting on. I can't watch them without feeling the rush of adrenalin that brings me back to seeing everything that the camera didnot capture. when I watch it it takes me a few hours to ramp down into a low state of Situational Awareness. So from the Gunner, Go file a Claim for your VA Benefits especialy for your PTSD.
How Copy??

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2013 10:23 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 22:23:33 -0400

I filed my paperwork for CBD (Compensation Before Discharge). It was supposedly an avenue to speed up the process. Yeah that worked like a champ! After my file was at the New Orleans VA until the review time frame expired The VA decided it would get processed faster at the Salt Lake Utah VA. It has been there since July in the same review status. Yes I have many ailments,both combat related and else wise all with documentation. Supposedly the date of completion has been extended until April 2014. Medical paperwork was submitted September 2011. So yeah 15 months your right in line with everybody else. I have a friend who waited 5 years and have coworkers who got theirs in just over a year. Go to ebenefits to possibly see what your status is.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2013 11:51 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 11:51:57 -0400

I filed initially with the help of AMVETS on 1 Feb this year (2013). After getting several letters from VA stating they were "working on" my package, I finally got a phone call on 20 Sept to schedule some medical appointments in Oct. We'll see how it goes from here...

Response by PO1 Victor Rios made Sep 27 at 2013 12:02 PM

PO1 Victor Rios — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 12:02:47 -0400

Wow. I consider myself among one of the lucky ones after reading this. I filed with the help of AmVets January this year, retired April 30, had my follow ups in July and am receiving my first check from them with a 70% rating.

I too kept a copy of medical record and brought it with me to my follow ups. The computer does not have everything on it from your record so carry that in hand with you to every appointment.

On a side note, if you have the opportunity to share anything with those that you know that are getting out, have them do a sleep study! If you can prove that you had sleeping difficulties while serving, you may have sleep apnea. I was diagnosed with it and stop breathing 27 times an hour, had a machine issued to me and sleep like a champ now.

Response by SPC Corbin Doades made Oct 21 at 2013 4:29 PM

SPC Corbin Doades — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 16:29:22 -0400

I initially filed January 2010 and received my benefits March of the same year for tinitus. Now I have been diagnosed with mild depression secondary to PTSD. I have filed a new claim last month and the VA hasn't even started reviewing it yet.

Response by PO3 Jeffrey Martin made May 24 at 2014 8:41 PM

PO3 Jeffrey Martin — Sat, 24 May 2014 20:41:55 -0400

My VA claim is still pending and I am curious of how long will it take before they either deny me or approve me and also what kind of percentage they will give me? I have been told by the psychiatrist that the VA sent me to so that I could be evaluated, that there were military men and woman half my age that were being treated for the conditions that I have especially even while they are still in; so just curious as well and would love to know what I can do to help and maybe even speed the process up.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 16 at 2014 1:30 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 01:30:16 -0400

I feel your pain CWO2 B. Sean Fairburn. I got medically retired at the height of the surge in Iraq under the "legacy" backlog as they called it. Why in God's name does our government allow creditors to ruin us and force us into bankruptcy when we wait for compensation? Why is there no law to freeze payments? I'm not talking Soldiers and Sailor's Relief Act, I mean freeze payments till our back pay comes in! It's almost like Congress is clueless as to what happens when THEIR kids go to war and come back disabled................

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2014 8:42 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 08:42:37 -0400

I initially started to post a suggestion for each person posting on this thread - but I think I'll go this route.

Folks - don't deal with the VA on your own. Too many of us do this and end up as so many of you are describing. Find a Veteran Service Organization (VSO) of your choice (i.e. - VFW, DAV, etc.) speak to one of the VSO's Service Officers and sign a VA Form 21-22 to permit your selected VSO the authority to look at your file within the VA while it is being processed. Sometimes it's a simple thing - like signing a form 5103 and mailing it in that's holding things up.

A couple of words of caution - (1) expect your claim processing to take time. (2) getting a lawyer will not make things any better unless your claim is in the queue for BVA, etc. (3) never give the VA original copies of military records - give them copies. (4) Don't be afraid to challenge VA findings - use outside doctors and the VA's own DBQ forms for help your case. (5) you can challenge the VA decisions ad naseum - take advantage of it.

I can't answer all the questions you have - mostly because I don't have your case file in front of me. What I can provide is some specific suggestions and tactics on what to do. If you have specific questions, please do NOT put them here on the forum. PM me and I'll get with you and make suggestions. Again, I don't have all the answers, but I'll bet I can find someone that does....... even if you might not like the answers

Response by PFC Thomas Graves made Sep 16 at 2014 2:12 PM

PFC Thomas Graves — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:12:28 -0400

Over a year, 8 month on the appeal. :-(

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made Sep 16 at 2014 2:22 PM

PO2 Rocky Kleeger — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:22:32 -0400

I waited 25 months for the initial, and they still owe money. I have been waiting for what they owe since May 2013

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 12:44 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 00:44:36 -0500

VAPC3 is a program, where Congress gave the VA a Billion dollars to clear out the back log...keep pushing forward, I'm thinking it's time to finally file a claim.

Response by SFC Nyla Newville made Jan 2 at 2015 7:58 PM

SFC Nyla Newville — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 19:58:05 -0500

My first claim to a while then I have to put another in because they over looked some of my issues I am at 80% but they never covered my PTSD and a couple of other things but after reading about that they can take back their rating I thought I don't need that as it is with my back and my right shoulder(which was total replacement but still hurts at times) kidney damage and badly healed Lt wrist which hurts, it hard to find something I can do for meaningful employment I have been doing college courses online to use my benefits. Also my shoulder surgery all most killed me blood clot in the lungs VA hosp they say that it was unusual so they didn't think about it.

Response by SSG Michael Hale made May 31 at 2016 1:01 PM

SSG Michael Hale — Tue, 31 May 2016 13:01:16 -0400

I suggest you call them at least once a week, that way they will have to pull your file up. If you don't bug them some times it just sits there. That is what I tell people to do

Response by SrA Jimmy Conant made Jun 12 at 2017 7:03 AM

SrA Jimmy Conant — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 07:03:33 -0400

My first claim I waited over three years my current claim since oct 16 and I am at prep for decision

Response by Sgt Brent Eaton made Aug 2 at 2017 1:26 PM

Sgt Brent Eaton — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 13:26:34 -0400

It's been over a year waiting for a determination of NOD for an incorrect start date on my award compensation, proof they have had but required NOD, claims status still shows intake processing. Hurry up and wait.

Response by SPC Phil Hardwidge made Aug 27 at 2017 7:04 PM

SPC Phil Hardwidge — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 19:04:13 -0400

One year to get 50%, on appeal since feb 2015. Today is aug 27 2017.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2017 8:46 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 20:46:49 -0400

My claim or appeal was submitted in 2011 and still no word checked status on e-benefits it has been in preparing decision since June 2017

Response by SP5 Harry Skidmore made Nov 26 at 2017 10:35 AM

SP5 Harry Skidmore — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 10:35:58 -0500

I was diagnosed "by the VA" with Type II diabetes. Having been exposed to Agent Orange while serving in Nam, I applied for benefits. Denied once, but sent additional information and asked for a review by a Senior Examiner. Last A1C was 7.4. It has been nearly a year from first application.

Response by SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter made Nov 26 at 2017 8:48 PM

SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 20:48:10 -0500

I had a claim pending from the time I filled it in June of 2015 until September of this year. Fortunately it was in my favor and they owed me back pay. However I have had them ruled on in a matter of a few months. I guess it depends on the Regional Office. The one in my area Oakland California has been consistently rated in the top ten of the worst.
I am done now however the last one they ruled on for me awarded me 100% for meniere's disease (VA MEDICAL CODE 6205). That was a new one to me I had never heard of it. However it's not contagious just annoying symptoms. It's a combination of hearing loss, vertigo and tinnitus. The VA service connected me as being related to noise exposure while on active duty.

Peace!

Response by SPC James Duggin made Jun 25 at 2019 12:19 PM

SPC James Duggin — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 12:19:59 -0400

They tell me to jus suck it up!!!

Response by Maj John Bell made Nov 4 at 2021 8:26 PM

Maj John Bell — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 20:26:23 -0400

Unfortunately a mouse made it into the file box where I keep the important papers. I requested a new copy of my DD214, February 2020, yes 2020. Evidently a DD214 makes excellent bedding. On my last check, I was told Ishould expect a re-issue of my DD214 in the next 4-9 months.

Response by SGT Herbert Bollum made Nov 5 at 2021 9:08 AM

SGT Herbert Bollum — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:08:52 -0400

have you been checking online at VA.gov ?