Ok folks, lots to update here and a bit of info for anybody that moves from Notification phase to claim received or gathering evidence....
Update 4 Apr 2013:
Official MEB breifing: 8 May 2012
VA Rep meeting: 10 May 2012
VA C&P appts complete: 6 June 2012
VA narrative received by PCM/NARSUM started: 18 June 2012
NARSUM complete, revisions requested: 2 July 2012
Revised NARSUM complete, MEB package signed: 3 July 2012
MEB package sent to IPEB: 5 July 2012
Package received by IPEB: 12 July 2012
Package checked in to board: 16 July 2012
Package sent from PEB to VA: 4 Sept 2012
Package in process for proposed ratings and generating answer to PEB: 6 Sept 2012
Proposed ratings in, 100% P&T: 04 Oct 2012
PEBLO called today, MEB results back 100% P&T VA, 100% PDRL DoD: 9 Oct 2012
Met with PEBLO/VA MSC to get form 356 (199)/VA ratings pkg brief, 10 day window to concur or appeal started: 10 Oct 12
Signed 356 (199) today: 15 Oct 12
Received orders today, retirement date 28 Jan 13: 22 Oct 12
Final out: 16 Nov 12
Retirement ceremony: 19 Nov 12
Final day in the AF: 28 Jan 13
Retired: 29 Jan 13
----------POST RETIREMENT----------------
Received DD 214 from Wounded Warrior rep: 30 Jan 13
Sent CRSC package off to attorneys in Washington D.C.: 30 Jan 13
VA finalized ratings complete - Ebenefits states notification sent: 8 Feb 2013
VA closed old claim/opened new: 10 Feb 13
VA Ebenefits in pending decision- VA MSC said should finalize within 1 month: 15 Feb 13
First DoD retirement check deposited into my account: 5 March 13
Finalized VA claim changed to Pending Decision Approval in Ebenefits: 22 March
Ebenefits changed to Notification Phase: 28 March
Ebenefits changed back to Claim received!: 1 Apr 13
Called VA and they said that there were deferments/letter is coming to explain: 2 Apr 13
Called DAV VSO, they said that claim is with authorizer: 3 Apr 13 (AM)
DAV called, everything complete/package coming, Ebennies still in claim rcvd: 3 Apr 13 (PM)
Received three letters in mail from VA, including finalized ratings: 4 Apr 13
As you can see, the past wek or so has been rather "eventful". Here is a more detailed breakdown of what happened in case others get in the same spot:
- 28 March, Ebenefits went to notification phase. Good, I'm almost done.
- 29 March, VA opens an additional claim because they state that I didn't complete the dependency paperwork, so I uploaded the 686c and had a copy time/date stamped and sent from my VA MSC (just to be sure). Being that I had completed this at the beginning of this whole process, I thought this might have been an April fools joke, but I quickly realized that the VA doesn't have a sense of humor.
- 1 Apr, original DES claim went from Notification to claim received! Holy crap.
- 2 Apr, called the VA to figure out what the hell was going on, and the rep stated that I was granted benefits, but I need more appointments- how the heck can the VA grant benefits when there are still open issues, I thought. Well, he wasn't allowed to be specific, but said that I was ok and to wait for the letter to explain. I was pretty irritated (although I never let it show to him), thinking that I was going to have to go through the wringer again (tests, poking, prodding, etc.). I hung up with him and called my DAV VSO, who was just leaving for the day and said that he would get in and investigate and let me know first thing in the morning.
- 3 Apr (AM), DAV VSO called me back and said that my claim was with authorizer
- 3 Apr (PM), DAV VSO called and said that claim was complete as of 1 Apr, I should be getting the letter any day now. Lesson here- the VA doesn't do a very good job at tracking or even updating their own systems/notes.
- 4 Apr, I received 3 letters from the VA today; the first was saying that I was eligible for additional $10k in insurance and had a pamphlet, the second one was a letter stating that my claim was still processing and that they apologize and the third one was a BIG BROWN ENVELOPE....my finalized ratings! This was the single best bit of proof to me that the VA is truly lost...
After reading my ratings, everything was as I expected, but they had deferred 2 of my issues because they need "color pictures of the lesion on my chin (lipoma)" and range of motion for my jaw (TMJ), although I had the full dental AT THE VA as part of my C&P exams and this was included on the C&P docs narrative and my PEB results. Good thing, though, is that the lipoma was rated at 0% anyway, and the TMJ at 10%- so not a big deal at all. They will schedule me for the appointments. So, if your case goes from Notification to claim received, this is most likely what has happened. One good way to check if your ratings have been approved (for the most part) is to check Ebenefits (documents, download VA letters section). Your letters should be loaded there and will display your percentage. Additionally, the benefits explorer section will list your ratings on the left hand section where you enter the data (they will prefill it for you).
So, I'm pretty much done for now, if anybody has questions, let me know and I'll share my experiences.
Just kidding. It's hard to believe that I have spent that much time here on the forum during this process, but it has served as an outlet to maintain sanity and direction.
