Ivan Walks and the TDRL Process

[Soldier110]

Just to get feedback on member's thoughts about the company Ivan Walks and Associates (IWA). As a servicemember on TDRL for the past 3 years, I have personally been involved with IWA who acts as my Veteran Liason Officer or "VELO" . Here are some of the questions that I have about their organization:
1. Is it difficult to get in touch with them?
2. Are your Appointments conducted by workman comp doctors?
3. Are you Appointment conducted by workman comp doctors that are not specialists in a certain injury?
4. Do you have trouble in getting feedback (like no exam report/summary) from the exams conducted?
5. Do you get a feeling that the TDRL exams are pushed through and not as thorough as the DOD or VA?
6. Do you get the feeling (through Situational Awareness) that this organization does not have the SM 's intrest in mind?
7. Are you confused about how the process works with IWA and what occurs with the evaluation process?
8. Are you confused that if the 5 year mark hits, you have no idea on what will occur?

If you answered "yes" to all these questions, welcome to the club. If anyone has solutions, feedback, experience (Good or bad) or ideas on how to turn the key to this kingdom, please add your thoughts.

 

[jhopkins76]

My husbands experience with them was awful and so much to the point that we had to get an ombudsman involved because they would let paperwork sit around and never return phone calls or emails. When they finally got to the point that they started ignoring the ombudsman our next action was we contacted our senator from my husbands home of record in Michigan and then he started looking into it. Once that happened they started processing his case and his stuff was passed along to the PEB board. We still had issues with them because he filled out the paperwork to attend his appeal hearing in person and his VELO told him that it was not possible because it was not turned in 3 weeks in advance. The whole process was so frustating that after his 2 appeals and the VELO telling him that his travel paperwork was not turned in on time either time. He gave up the fight and took the severance pay. I was so annoyed every time we talked to them that I just wanted to drive out there and have a nice face to face with this dumb woman but my hubby was like dear I need you as my care taker and you can't do that from county lock up. I hope things get better or they lose their contract which is getting ready to come up for review.

 

[NDBravehart84]

 

[jozzz123]

I am terrified for my family after I get my first Eval.
I am 60% DOD 80%VA TDRL. My NARSUM stated my conditions were not likely to improve in a five year
time frame even with being away from the Army BS. I have severe PTSD and need both knees replaced. Hips are bad, wrists are bad because of the cane. I am just going to get worse. If they take me off TDRL and just give me severance pay I, nor my family will be able to make it.

 

[LrrpScout]

To answer questions 1-8......... YES !

 

[Warrior644]

Based upon the feedback from the NCRPEB SPEBC Chief Attorney a couple of weeks ago, I am definitely not looking forward to the IWA re-evaluation + USAPDA PEB process within six months after my forthcoming DoD TDRL military retirement.

Thus, I quite often comment "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!