Mail room full?*update with question #2*

[Esme]

We called and asked if the VA got our medical exam forms that the doctor sent them, they can't tell, they say they have a mail room backup or something like that (not sure what the word was but it basically means the mail room is full and they don't have enough people to open the mail) and it could take up to a month until they even get to open the mail?

Can that be right? It could explain why his initial claim took 3 months to get to them (he turned it in beginning of june '11, the claim date is end of august '11) but how can it take a month to open the mail? I was prepared that we have to wait a few month for the decision but I would love to know if they even got the paperwork or lost it yet again.

[Esme]

His status changed to "preparing for decision" or something like that. What I don't understand: it seems like they skipped "review of evidence" and in the list of things they received from us the forms from the exam are not listed.
I am worried now that they still don't have them and are just making a decision without reviewing them. We can't get anyone on the phone at our regional office and after 2 hours on hold at the normal number we gave up now as it is late.
Is this normal that the evidence we sent doesn't show up on the list in e-benefits and yet they are preparing for a decision? Did anyone have that while dealing with them? I hope someone is even reading here, this forum seems pretty quiet lately.
I'm really worried that they are f***ing things up again with this now, wouldn't be the first time..

[Corey]

I can't tell you what is normal except that they are super slow and mess up a lot. Sorry to say it, but that's been the case in our instance.

[Esme]

Originally Posted by Corey

I can't tell you what is normal except that they are super slow and mess up a lot. Sorry to say it, but that's been the case in our instance.

That was exactly what I was afraid to hear. I am expecting the worst too, I am already prepared to call the senator again if necessary because last time that was the only thing that got them to do their job.
They promised us up and down how they would not decide anything before they get the forms from the exam and how they would email the consulate to get the papers through email if they won't get them soon but I know that means nothing.

ETA: I called the Federal Benefits Unit in the consulate and they said they got a request from the VA just yesterday and forwarded the forms again so they should have them! I will double check and call the VA later today again hoping to get someone on the phone this time around but now I'm a little less worried.

[MarineHusband]

Just keep your expectations on the low side. You might be pleasantly surprised, but probably not.

[Esme]

Originally Posted by MarineHusband

Just keep your expectations on the low side. You might be pleasantly surprised, but probably not.

I never planned with the VA money to begin with since I'm not expecting to see any of it any time soon.
I called the VA again this afternoon and after the guy refusing yet again to talk to me even though DH gave them 3 different authorizations to talk to me and me asking him if he wants me to wake DH up and explain to him that all the authorizations aren't good enough and he needs to wake up and deal with them he finally agreed to talk to me.
First he said they don't have it, then when I said the consulate said they emailed it he said "oh here it is" and told me the time it arrived. I asked again "so you do have the paperwork and you do base your decision on it?" and he said yes, so I hope he is telling the truth (we have been lied to before about some things). I'm still kinda not believing it until I see it..

[Diamondclover06]

I've never done anything overseas but so far so good with dhs va claims. Now I can tell you about the gi bill, I know he had to speak to multiple people and even after them having everything it can take 60+ days to process. I think the only thing that they have lied about up to this point was an appt that dh had to reschedule. He is in the police academy mon-fri and can't miss a day for a drs appointment he'd be missing too much so he was rescheduling for sat and the va rep flat out told him no. That he had to keep the appt it was hard to make a 3 hr long appt blah blah. He called back when we got the confirmation in the mail and that lady had an appt for three days later on saturday no problem.

[Esme]

Originally Posted by Diamondclover06

I've never done anything overseas but so far so good with dhs va claims. Now I can tell you about the gi bill, I know he had to speak to multiple people and even after them having everything it can take 60+ days to process. I think the only thing that they have lied about up to this point was an appt that dh had to reschedule. He is in the police academy mon-fri and can't miss a day for a drs appointment he'd be missing too much so he was rescheduling for sat and the va rep flat out told him no. That he had to keep the appt it was hard to make a 3 hr long appt blah blah. He called back when we got the confirmation in the mail and that lady had an appt for three days later on saturday no problem.

He didn't even apply for the GI bill so far.
They lied to us about the claim not being their jurisdiction several times, they gave us wrong phone numbers to get some questions answered and what not.. Ever since the senator got involved it worked a lot better but I'm still not trusting them at all..

[JessicaD]

Did you husband retire from the Military?

[Esme]

Originally Posted by JessicaD

Did you husband retire from the Military?

No he just got out, he would need some more years for retirement.
Still nothing new on his rating BTW :-/


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