VA, in collaboration with Veterans Service Organizations, Congress and Veterans, has worked tirelessly for years to reform the broken legacy appeals process. On Aug. 23, 2017, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 was signed into law and finally, after 18 months of hard work, the full implementation of the new law is on the horizon.
The Appeals Modernization Act goes into effect on Feb. 19 and VA will sunset the Rapid Appeals Modernization Program (RAMP) ahead of full implementation. VA will not accept RAMP elections after Feb. 15.
However, a Veteran whose appeal is currently in the legacy process is encouraged to opt in to RAMP before Feb. 15 to take full advantage of the benefits of the new process. Currently, decisions in the legacy process average three to seven years. VA has set a goal of providing decisions in RAMP in an average of 125 days. Veterans who have a legacy appeal after Feb. 15 will be able to opt in to the process when they receive a Statement of the Case or a Supplemental Statement of the Case after the new law is effective on Feb. 19.
Veterans who participate in RAMP can choose to have their VA decision reviewed in either the Supplemental Claim or Higher-Level Review lanes that were created under the new law. In the Higher-Level Review lane, a more senior VA decision maker will conduct a new look at the previous decision based on the evidence previously considered. Participants who select the Supplemental Claim lane may submit new and relevant evidence, and VA will assist in developing new evidence under its duty to assist.
VA is pleased to offer Veterans greater choice in how they resolve a disagreement with a VA decision, and is continually striving to provide excellent customer service.
For information about Appeals Modernization, visit https://benefits.va.gov/benefits/appeals.asp and https://www.bva.va.gov/.
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This is the timeline of my claim. I am trying to find out if this is a hoax. When I call the 800 number they say there is no information to support what is listed on va.gov claim status.
What I want to know: Is the information listed on va.gov trustworthy?
February 12, 2016 – February 08, 2019
VA sent you a claim decision
on February 12, 2016
VA received your Notice of Disagreement
on January 16, 2017
VA granted one or more issues
on October 25, 2018
VA granted one or more issues
on February 08, 2019
Current Status
The Veterans Benefits Administration granted your appeal
The Veterans Benefits Administration agreed with you and decided to overturn the original decision. If this decision changes your disability rating or eligibility for VA benefits, you should see this change made in 1 to 2 months.
This appeal is now closed
Claim received
Oct. 11, 2018
Thank you. VA received your claim
Initial review
Your claim has been assigned to a reviewer who is determining if additional information is needed.
Feb. 20, 2019
Your claim moved to Initial review
So it took over 130 to just give it to assign it to someone. This is the RAMP that stands for Rapid Appeals Modernization Program. What happened to this one, average time to complete As of 07/04/2018
Number of cases in the RAMP program:148 (this number includes some that aren’t RAMP eligible or were completed by VA prior to the VA getting the RAMP letter). Number of Higher Level Review cases: 114 Number of Supplemental Claim cases: 34 Date most cases RAMPed in:approximately 05/10/2018 (for HRL lane cases). SC lane cases resubmitted 05/24/2018 (see below) A handful of cases before and after that date.
Average days to complete on 04/18/2018: 53 days.
Can anyone tell me where mine sat for over 4 months?
Under the Appeals Mod Act will the DROs actually follow 38CFR3.303–3.309 for service connection or will they continue to make up their own regulations? How can a vet with a listed chronic disease and sound at entry be denied SC based solely on lack of complaints in the STRs? How is it that lack of STR complaints overrides all affirming medical and lay evidence without some reference to regulations?
Three to Eight yrs. to process a claim is a disgrace! But, it is better than the time it took my claim for 100%, to reach a Judge that read, understood and applied the guidelines to get to the conclusion that I was right in claiming the 100% rate. Now, I’ve been waiting for Five months to process the paper work to update the system and release the retroactive payment, and still waiting. If anything needs to be privatized it’s this process, from Start to Finish.
Three yrs. to process a claim is a disgrace! But, it is better than the time it took my claim for 100%, to reach a Judge that read, understood and applied the guidelines to get to the conclusion that I was right in claiming the 100% rate. Now, I’ve been waiting for Five months to process the paper work to update the system and release the retroactive payment, and still waiting. If anything needs to be privatized it’s this process, from Start to Finish.
I’m 76 the old brain is still working in analog. Having problems finding real help in Hawaii.
If RAMP was so great why is it changing. I had some real problems with RAMP. I would recommend not using it.