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VA MS Disability Help

Cleveland Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is one of the slowest in the nation

WHY CAN’T I GET HELP!!! I have tried my senators but……...

Cleveland Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is one of the slowest in the nation newsnet5 Cleveland

I have secondary progressive Multiple sclerosis (MS) and am on Social Security Disability. My VA Disability claim is 211 days old. Unfortunately, I can not speak with anyone at the VA concerning my claim. The 800 number is NOT knowledgeable! 18 Feb 2014 -  Informed by VA 800 number -said that she did not "know if they were working on my claim.”  According to the VA eBenefits the VA is waiting for the following:

What Do We Still Need From You?   Your Attention is Needed

Your Authorization and Consent to Release Information to the VA from did not contain an address or contained an incorrect address. Please tell us the address of , so we can request medical information. You may want to obtain and send us the information yourself.

Date Requested: 11/18/2013
Due Date: 12/19/2013  

Mailed forms 26 Nov 2013 and uploaded the forms to eBenefits on 26 Nov 2013

What Do We Still Need From Others?

This is a list of all items that have been requested from 3rd parties.

Items From Date Requested Due Date Follow-Up Dates
Requested service treatment records. 08/03/2013 09/02/2013
Requested entire service personnel file. 08/03/2013 09/02/2013

The VA has been gathering this evidence since Aug 5 2013! How long do they wait to update eBenefits? The VA 800-827-1000 individuals state the same results that the VA is waiting for this information and that the average time for a claim is 15 months and nothing else.

The VA - "If an individual had symptoms of MS in the military, or within seven years after honorable discharge, he or she may be eligible for service-connected disability. http://www.va.gov/MS/multiple-sclerosis-veterans-benefits.asp"

The VA details "Service-Connected Benefits for Multiple Sclerosis (MS): MS is a presumptive condition and benefits are based on the presumption that the disability is service-connected (SC). Veterans with symptoms of MS in the military or within seven years after honorable discharge may be eligible for SC disability.  

http://www.va.gov/MS/articles/What_Are_My_VA_Benefits_for_Multiple_Sclerosis.asp"

2 Responses
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645800 tn?1466860955
Sorry to hear this, but not surprising at all. It took me over 5 years to get S/C for PTSD even though the P & C Shrink said it was S/C with the first exam after only 1 year of waiting. Even when my appeal went before the appeals judge the VA conveniently didn't include the P & C exam results in my file that they sent to the Judge. So the judge ordered a new exam for that and some others claims. After the new P & C shrink said they same thing as the first they knew they couldn't get away with denying my claim any more so they finally granted S/C for the PTSD.

I know another Vet from MI on another MS forum that has been fighting for S/C of his MS for 27 years even though he developed MS while in the service. I think they are trying to use the same tactic as the SSA does in denying claims in the hope the person will give up.

There was also a report that the Congressional Budget Office is trying to get Congress to change the laws so that MS, COPD, CAD and other common illnesses that Vets get will no longer be considered S/C even when they are developed while in the service. They also want it to be retroactive so those vets that are getting S?C for them will lose the disability they get for them

Dennis


Dennis
  
Helpful - 0
667078 tn?1316000935
I am so sorry. Our local chapter of the NMSS is pretty good at helping veterans. Each chapter is different. You could try them I am not making promises. Any big bureaucracy stinks.

Alex
Helpful - 0
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