Disability Claims

[Scuba Steve33]

I did a search and nothing popped up. I filed claims about 7 months ago when I got out. Since I have received quite a few letters from the VA informing me that they have my claim and if there is any need for follow up evaluations they will let me know. I know Oakland is the worst in the country so I expect it to take a while but I am just wondering if there is anything I can/should do or anything like that. I claimed seven things and I know some of them I will have to come in for review. Hopefully some of you guys with experience can give me some info. Thanks.

[llamatrnr]

Hurry up & wait rule is in effect, Steve; expect 12/13 months for finalizing.

The Good News: When your first payment does arrive, it'll be a fat one . . .

[Scuba Steve33]

Hurry up & wait rule is in effect, Steve; expect 12/13 months for finalizing.

The Good News: When your first payment does arrive, it'll be a fat one . . .

Thanks, I figured it was going to be around that lone, just wasn't sure if I should do anything in the meantime or just wait it out. Yes, that first check will be quite nice.

[todd2968]

You can look up the status on ebenefits.com

[rooster85]

The VA is backed up right now so if you dont put in your claim before you EAS it takes much longer. You'll receive some back pay though.

[rero360]

I've been waiting on mine since early september, not a peep from the VA other than a few "we haven't forgotten about you, just backlogged" letters.

[OIF0708]

It took me a year after filing and that was in another state. I was told when I moved here to California that they were back logged for 12-18 months.

If you/they dispute anything it could take considerably longer.

Thank you for your service.

[Scuba Steve33]

You can look up the status on ebenefits.com

Thanks, I'll check that out.

The VA is backed up right now so if you dont put in your claim before you EAS it takes much longer. You'll receive some back pay though.

I did it before I separated. I know I'll get backpayed from the time I filed, that's not an issue I was just wondering what all the rest of you vets had done/gone through with this.

I've been waiting on mine since early september, not a peep from the VA other than a few "we haven't forgotten about you, just backlogged" letters.

Same story here. There was an article in the San Jose Mercury recently about the Oakland VA branch and just how bad they really were.

It took me a year after filing and that was in another state. I was told when I moved here to California that they were back logged for 12-18 months.

If you/they dispute anything it could take considerably longer.

Thank you for your service.

Thanks for the info and thank you too.

[PyroFox79]

Like the others have said you just have to wait. I put my claim in about 2 weeks before my EAS and I received my first payment within 2 or 3 months. It really helps to have it done by the VFW or the DAV like mine was. They really help speed the process up.

[MustangSteveGT]

I just got out in spring 2011. It took 11 months, just short of 1 year to get my first check. It was worth the wait.
I was an active duty member working AT a VA hospital (very unique circumstances) and did my claim before even leaving active duty, and it still took almost 1 full year.
If you are uncertain that everything made it where it's supposed to go, I suggest going to your local Veterans Service Officer. In Humboldt County, ours is at the courthouse. You can google that. Drop in and meet them and have them check the status. There is also the 1-800 number (prepare to be on hold for 30 minutes) that has helpful people that can check on claim status. You should have status updates sent every 2 months or so in letters to you. My claim went through Salt Lake City as an active duty Navy separation type claim. In my local region where I am at now in Nor Cal, claims can take about 17 months average right now. In the meantime, KEEP ON going to the VA every month or so and keep getting them to document that the problem is continuous. You can put a mountain of initial evidence together but if your condition doesn't require additional treatment (that is documented in the VA computer medical record) then they will just assume you became miraculously cured and that will hurt your payout.

[laabstract]

I did my first claim as i was separating from the military in 2010, needless to say the VA lost it, so I went round 2 and yet again it got lost. Finally I went to the DAV and had them do it in September, I now get letters saying they are still processing the Claim.

[tanksoldier]

It took me 9-ish months when I retired in 2006, my brother retired a few years later and it was over a year.

Finally I went to the DAV

ALWAYS use an advocate to help file and stay on top of your claim, there are several but the DAV is best IMO.

[chris]

Are PTSD claims different for Reserve Soldiers?

[NYsteveZ]

Truthfully....PTSD claims take a LONG time, but be patient. I put in a claim in 2009, and after an appeal, a "Comp-Pen" exam, and doing my homework all on my own, I was FINALLY granted 70%...this year (three years).
Also-I found the VSOs (VFW, DAV etc) at least around me didnt want to touch my claim. PTSD claims are a LOT of work, waiting etc. Funny, they want to be my friends after they blew me off and I got my claim on my own. They want you to give them $$ for a lifetime membership fee, and thats what its about.
Go buy this book-The Veterans Guide to PTSD Claims by John Roche, study it, that book is your best friend.

[MustangSteveGT]

^I used the DAV to get mine started in IL before I got out and they worked fine at getting the process started with the comp and pen exams but after that I didn't get much use out of them beyond what the VA 1800 claims info line could already tell me. But locally we have a great veterans service officer at our courthouse that can single-handedly do more than entire organizations can evidently based on many local people's experiences and my own. I've learned that not all of them are created equal. I think it just has to do with people that not only care, but also know the system and have the hookups within to know who to go to for what.