Pending Decision Approval

my package is at the VA for ratings, and has been for 2 weeks. I just bought a house and it closes on May 17th...hope I'm out by then...

I hope you are, you might be able to save yourself thousands in VA Funding Fee's if the loan is a VA loan as a veteran.
 
my package is at the VA for ratings, and has been for 2 weeks. I just bought a house and it closes on May 17th...hope I'm out by then...
I bought my house in feb 2015 and moved my family back. My stuff has been sitting in storage for over a year now wouldn't hold my breath. I definitely did not see it taking this long for a package that some are getting back in two -three months. VA held mine for almost 6 months before it moved. That part of the process was only suppose to take, i think it was a month... you can send em a question through ebenefits asking if they lost it, that is what I did, and low and behold it started moving that same week.
 
they'll refund the funding fee, FWIW.
If the closing happens once one becomes a veteran, if the closing happens while still in service, then fee's are collected.
 
I called the VA, and they said that if I use the home loan guaranty, and later have a service connected disability rating of 10% or more they'll refund it.
 
Uhmmm, not sure about that. What I was told by the VA department that controls home loans is that as long as the closing takes effect after being issued disabilities benefits (meaning after getting out from the service and becoming a veteran) then fee's are excluded.

Otherwise, they still will collect fee's because at that point on time one is not a veteran receiving any disability benefits yet.
 
I am still going through the process, I had my fee's waived in January of 2015. I am however a Reservist and had 100% P&T rating when I closed.

To me it is unfair that Active Duty SM are not "Technically" considered a Veteran until they are discharged. It is one of the few things that the Reserve and Guard SM can take advantage of earlier than Active Duty. That being said it does create a lot of issues for Reserves and Guard as well. Unless you go through the IDES on active duty, we do not receive a DD-214 stating we are Medically Discharged under proper conditions. This effects things like the post 9/11 GI Bill, even if you are 100% P&T your family and yourself are not eligible for the automatic 100% since they only accept a DD-214 for that particular benefit.

Getting back on subject, my ebenefits changed from pending decision approval to preparing for decision, so I am guessing they received the preliminary fit/unfit memo. I have been 100% P&T since 09/2012(Award in 9/2014) am also receiving my SSDI since 7/2015. So I claimed all the exact same conditions, trying not to rock the boat, yet my "New" disabilities are listed as requesting 3 for Increase, 2 as new and 1 secondary to one of the "new" conditions. Found that a little odd. I have the same problem as everyone else, can't get any information from my PEBLO.
 
Uhmmm, not sure about that. What I was told by the VA department that controls home loans is that as long as the closing takes effect after being issued disabilities benefits (meaning after getting out from the service and becoming a veteran) then fee's are excluded.

Otherwise, they still will collect fee's because at that point on time one is not a veteran receiving any disability benefits yet.

Indeed, they will collect the fees. Then, later on you can apply for a refund, and they will refund them to you (as long as you have a claim in the works)

https://www.veteransunited.com/valoans/va-funding-fee-refund/
 
1-800-827-1000 you have to listen to a voice recorded message and select the one for compensation and benefits

Do you get to talk to a live person when you call or is it all automated? And will it give you a fit or unfit rating or just let you know where you are in the process?
 
I usually do the call-back option, it is usually around they say it will be. Information depends on the person you talk to as far as getting info. When ebenefits closes your initial claim and opens another one in preparing for decision, blow-up your PEBLO until they get you a copy of the preliminary memo from the iPEB, because at that point the VA already has it.
 
Do you get to talk to a live person when you call or is it all automated? And will it give you a fit or unfit rating or just let you know where you are in the process?
its a live person, they could tell you what they want but nothing is official until it goes to PEBLO and is signed by the member. When I did the online question they told me I was found unfit in the email response...but most wont tell you anything over the phone.
 
How long does the VA have to rate once they receive it from the PEB?
 
Do you get to talk to a live person when you call or is it all automated? And will it give you a fit or unfit rating or just let you know where you are in the process?

VA will not get involved with "fit/unfit" determinations, their job is to rate disabilities. The PEB in the other hand should be able to assist you and let you know the final decision but I urge you to talk to the PEBLO prior to contacting PEB. Its their job to keep you up-to-date.
 
Indeed, they will collect the fees. Then, later on you can apply for a refund, and they will refund them to you (as long as you have a claim in the works)

https://www.veteransunited.com/valoans/va-funding-fee-refund/

I wouldn't take that route. Not necessarily because of VA but due to the red tape, time and grievances involved, nevertheless having to have the lender to request for the fee's on your behalf. That's just asking for trouble. I rather wait until totally out to deal with VA with a certificate of eligibility that clearly states fee's are exempted.
 
VA will not get involved with "fit/unfit" determinations, their job is to rate disabilities. The PEB in the other hand should be able to assist you and let you know the final decision but I urge you to talk to the PEBLO prior to contacting PEB. Its their job to keep you up-to-date.
This is true; however, I talked to the PEBLO today. He said that the VA has been jumping the gun as of late sending fit or unfit with purposed ratings to people in the mail. He also said he is going to address it with the PEB president since "nothing is official until the service member receives it from their office and it has been signed" .The gunny at Pendleton is awesome he doesn't sugar coat anything and he is honest about the process, if he is available will help you out. The Msgt just comes off as a jerk, and expects you to wait around until the day he calls you with findings.
 
The VA has a GOAL of 15 days, This means jack and sh*t to them. The VA gives the same one liner "sorry for the delay, we have been experiencing high volumes of calls/ emails". PEBLO said the packages have been having a faster turn around time as of late though. It has been roughly 150 since acceptance of my package and well over 200 days since it was sent out for what I was told would be back in 3 months at the beginning . So there is that to take for consideration of their value for a timeline.
 
VA has had my package since Feb 29th...(at least, that's when the VA found me unfit.
 
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