Strengthened by innovative tools, VA recently issued a record number of decisions for Veterans appealing their disability benefits claims.
As of July 11, VA’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals has issued more than 64,025 decisions for fiscal year 2018, a record high tied to several efficiency innovations, including a new interactive decision template and a specialty case team, which have allowed the Board to serve more Veterans.
“Decisions made by the Board affect Veterans’ lives and it’s up to VA to keep improving this process,” said VA Acting Secretary Peter O’Rourke. “We will continue to innovate throughout VA even while employing the new tools that are already making the process better for service to Veterans.”
Some examples of those important decisions made by the Board include:
- Collaborating with the Veterans Benefits Administration, within 24 hours of a Board hearing, to begin disbursement of nearly $50,000 in benefits to a homeless widow of a retired Veteran;
- Saving a Veteran from foreclosure due to quick action from VBA, the Board, and a local Veterans Service Organization; and
- Ensuring that a terminally ill Veteran on life support received qualifying benefits quickly after the Board was able to draft, issue and dispatch a decision-granting benefits expeditiously.
“Our goal is to provide answers to Veterans and their families,” said Chairman Cheryl L. Mason, Board of Veterans’ Appeals. “We will continue to do so as expeditiously as possible with improved customer service while employing every efficiency.”
The mission of VA’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals is to conduct hearings and deliver decisions on appeals in a timely manner. Final decisions on such appeals are made by the Board based on all of the evidence, including the Veteran’s medical records, and consideration of applicable provisions of law and regulation.
For more information about the Veterans appeals process, visit www.bva.va.gov/.
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What is the best option if my claim has been sent back for remand. I was informed that it is with the Appeals Mgt Center in D.C. with instructions for VA duty to assist. Should I request my case be tranferred under RAMP or should I leave in the legacy appeals system which has been in appeal status now for almost 5 years. RAMP or no?
I’ve been waiting on a decision on a appeal since 2015. The original claim June 2012. Ptsd TBI mst
My 76 year old Uncle Vietnam Vet has been denied 4x due to his memory loss . He was accused of making things up and then not able to recall all the things that happened in Vietnam. The c&p examiner never documented how he seen body parts all over the place.. how he stood watch and his buddy was killed right in front of him. How he was discharged from Da-Nang and told find his way out of Vietnam on foot. He was then picked up by two airman and taken to the nearest airport and had to wait two days to
Fly out on a small supply plane. No money , food . He could have been killed while waiting to get out. So I’m
At wits end! We won’t stop fighting ! Hang in there!
It would be really nice if the BVA could be consistent in it’s awards and denials. I know the BVA is not precedent setting. But when a CVSO, like myself, does a case search and finds examples of awards for exactly the same condition or cause of death, due to the same place or event as my veteran, and then the next case was denied, the next awarded,…. You get the picture. It gives credence to the delay, deny, hope I die feeling so many veterans have. How the heck can one guy in a unit, on the same base at the same time, doing the same job, right next to others granted exposure to a chemical, be denied.
Appeal Received 11/14/2017. Awaiting Place on the Docket.
How far date wise are they on Appeals? How much longer to wait for decision?
73 yrs old Vietnam Vet Agent Orange 1966-1967.
Thank you
I am a Vet. and have had or am having some of the same problems you folks are having. My best advice is for you to contact a Veterans Service Orginasation like the American Legion, Verterans of Foreigen Wars, Vietnam Vets etc. for help. They have trained Service personal who can help with the paperwork involved in submitting a Claim or an Appeal. The submission is up to you but the help is there if you use it.
Dont loose faith, things will get better. I waited almost 7 years by my inintal claim, the appeal took much less time, and from what I read there are programs such as RAMP available to speed up the process. As I said find an orgaisation and talk to their Service Officer.
Beowolf
My original claim was filed in May 2013 and is now in appeal. I was sent to speak to a so-called VArepresentative who was supposed to help me fill out the paperwork and she intentionally filled the paperworkout wrk g. When I contacted her about it she sent me a letter and copied it to the Congresswoman who recommended her and said she never wanted me to do fact her again and claimed she did do the paperwork correctly. I found an attorney and showed her correspondence also g with the appeal form she filled oh and had me sign and he co firmed that she did not put the information in the wrong place e so the primary problem was left out and she did not know what she was doing. So I have been in pain waiting for treat me t a d now will have to start all I we again. Also I am a female veteran who had a name change after .waving service due to marriage. They claim they cant find my records a d have mysteriously lost the stays that were taken during service in the Army. It has all been a nightmare and hsnt gotten any better. I was in my40’s when I filed and am now in my 50’s. The attorney said that now it will take another 5 years before my appeal is reviewed. I was hurt in the military. I had hope to improve but instead got worse. Instead of full recovery condition deteriorated. When I went to get treatment they said I had to file a claim. I get older and worse and they keep dragging out my claim. I don’t understand d why the government cannot see that the workers are dragging out the process because when the backlog caught up they will be able to reduce the workforce. It is not fair they keep their jobs and are not efficient. Meanwhile veterans continue to get older a d deteriorate and even die.
Please use the link below to find an Accredited CVSO/VSO Rep, with PIV access, near you. We are veterans employed by our Counties or organizations so we do not charge for our help. With a signed release appointing one of us as your representative, submitted to VA, we can read your claim file and may be able to tell you what went wrong and how to correct it.
http://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/
Can someone call me I was hurt aboard ship in 1960 and was in a military hospital for my back I filed a claim for disability and and was turned down my V.A. Lawyer wrote me a letter and said the judge was biased against me. I still have problems with by back from that accidental.
Can someone contact me my name is Edward Cohen my address(redacted)
Phone number is (redacted) please contact me if you need any more information I have all my records from that time example hospital back injury records right up to present.
Than you
Edward Cohen
Ed please use the link below to find an Accredited CVSO/VSO Rep, with PIV access, near you. We are veterans employed by our Counties or organizations so we do not charge for our help. With a signed release appointing one of us as your representative, submitted to VA, we can read your claim file and may be able to tell you what went wrong and how to correct it.
http://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/
This is all well and good but how about doing something about the hearings, I have been waiting almost 3 years. My original claim was entered almost 5 years ago.