VA Disability claims

[MustangSteveGT]

In 07 it took 8 or so months, my appeals in 09 took only 6 months. I thought things would get better, tried to add a dependent in March of this year and no contact what so ever to date.

eBenefits is great for adding dependents to your disability rate. and the website gives you some sort of status updates when they happen by logging in and checking as well as an estimated date of completion. The eBenefits premium account (which doesnt require you to travel to a VA regional office, medical center or military base in order to activate anymore) is a great source for all kinds of stuff. Also good place to see what contact info the VA has for you, to ensure the contact data they have is truely correct. You can also update addresses/phone numbers if you move or whatever through the site.
My request to add dependents to my rate got expedited after I submitted for it again through eBeneits (like 4 months faster). Thats long after my original request via Vet Service Officer was done by paper method.

Also activated my post 9/11 gi bill through the eBenefits portal that links you with VONAPP which contains the eletronic internet benefit request forms.

[91 whiskey 209]

eBenefits is great for adding dependents to your disability rate. and the website gives you some sort of status updates when they happen by logging in and checking as well as an estimated date of completion. The eBenefits premium account (which doesnt require you to travel to a VA regional office, medical center or military base in order to activate anymore) is a great source for all kinds of stuff. Also good place to see what contact info the VA has for you, to ensure the contact data they have is truely correct. You can also update addresses/phone numbers if you move or whatever through the site.
My request to add dependents to my rate got expedited after I submitted for it again through eBeneits (like 4 months faster). Thats long after my original request via Vet Service Officer was done by paper method.

Also activated my post 9/11 gi bill through the eBenefits portal that links you with VONAPP which contains the eletronic internet benefit request forms.

Very helpful. Thank you.

[laabstract]

Looks like I am in for a 14+ Month wait with the Los Angeles VA. I am already at 13 months with no status change.

[91 whiskey 209]

I created a Premium account with eBenefits today. My mailing address was incorrect and I had zero dependants accounted for. I called the number provided and they were only able to help me with the address change.... The website itself does not allow me to edit any of my personal information. I'll have to call tomorrow and see if I can get that squared away.

[SoCal_Sapper]

After two years I finally got mine approved. I got the letter in the mail on Wednesday and I found the 2 years of back pay in my bank account this morning. I guess the letters I've been sending once a week for the past year have finally worked their magic.

[BajaJames83]

Is there a way to check the status of a claim?
Number?
Web site?

[SoCal_Sapper]

Is there a way to check the status of a claim?
Number?
Web site?

You can call the national number (good luck) 1-800-827-1000 or you can get the number to your regional VA office and call them. I find the best way to check on the status is to go to the VA and ask the person working on the case directly.

[BajaJames83]

You can call the national number (good luck) 1-800-827-1000 or you can get the number to your regional VA office and call them. I find the best way to check on the status is to go to the VA and ask the person working on the case directly.

great thanks, I have a VA medical appointment next week I will inquire then.

[NastyNate]

ebenefits is a great tool for may reasons. Mostly, because it provides an alternative to calling the 800 number which I suspect adds to the backlog. I think we are all guilty of hounding the VA about claims but imagine if everyone used ebenefits and all those VA employees weren't tied up with fielding calls, how much effort they could redirect to processing claims. Just sayin'.

[NastyNate]

and to answer the original question, I filed a claim 10/29/2010 that was just resolved on 09/01/2012. Damn near 2 years, but well worth the wait. I got a fat backpay check. Cha-Ching!

[MustangSteveGT]

ebenefits is a great tool for may reasons. Mostly, because it provides an alternative to calling the 800 number which I suspect adds to the backlog. I think we are all guilty of hounding the VA about claims but imagine if everyone used ebenefits and all those VA employees weren't tied up with fielding calls, how much effort they could redirect to processing claims. Just sayin'.

That's why I really got interested in it. Tired of calling the 800 number.
Plus I imagine, as a younger guy seeing all of these elderly Korean and Vietnam vets who have never touched a computer in their life, I can at least attempt to use the website to cut down the waiting lines for everyone. eBenefits has actually proven to contain the same, if not more relevant information than the phone line has had for me in the past.

[MustangSteveGT]

I just want to put out there, if you have been waiting way too long, have heard nothing about your claim for months or are just lost, please contact your local CA County Veterans Service Officer for your county. Some places have more than one.

http://www.cacvso.org/page/2011-1-22-13-52-31/

If you plan to start a new claim or need an 'insider' to get an inquiry a little better than what the 1 800 number can give you, they are very useful people to talk to. With services at the county and state level being cut everywhere, do not be afraid to use the service they provide. We certainly dont want to lose it.
I know the one in Humboldt County here resides at our court house and I need to take off work to get in during their hours but it is absolutely nessesary to use them to get results sometimes. Ours is 100% walk in with no appointments, so be ready to wait. But like I said it is important. If I hadnt of consulted with my local VSO 4 months after getting out, I wouldnt have known my claim was completely derailed and needed to use them to get that message to the proper people to prevent my claim from getting delayed further. The VSO's have access to the system that the regular joe does not have and can light fires under peoples asses to get stuff done, as was nessesary in my situation.

[PyroFox79]

I got out in august 09 and received my first payment in october 09. But I had the DAV or the VFW (cant remember) do my claim. They make it go much faster.

[todd2968]

Just got one of those little love notes from the Va claim apologizing for it taking so long and that my claim will be handled as soon as possible. Today I went online to ebenefits and they pushed the expected date back a month, from jan to feb. makes me wonder if that's what the love not proceedures dictate.

[m1a1driver]

I've been waiting over 2 years, since september 2010.... I recently gave the DAV power of attorney to figure out what is going on. Still havent got any appt's yet either.