Hey all, I wanted to post my timeline and see if anyone else is in a similar spot. I also wanted to share my experience in the process and hopefully help others out who may have questions. So far my process has been relatively smooth. It appears that the VA and MEB/PEB is finally working through the COVID backlog.
The biggest thing I have learned is to be your own advocate! I have stayed in constant contact with my PEBLO, VA Rep, and Docs. The first thing that I noticed was that the VA rep will tell you to wait for a call for your C&P exams. You do not need to wait. I looked up my local QTC office and called them directly 48hrs after submitting my claim. They already had my claim on file and told me they work off a list in the order the claims are submitted, but if you call them they will schedule your appts that day. So I had all my exams 3 weeks from calling the QTC line (first availability). The second thing is that once your exams are back they are posted to your Tricare patient portal. You can see them long before they make it back to your PEBLO. I took the exams and logged into VA.gov and uploaded them myself to my claim. Then you have the option to complete at 5103 notice of acknowledgement that you have submitted all your documents and want the VA to make a decision with only those documents. I did this and within 24hrs my VA portal updated to preparation for decision. Lastly, the VA seems to tell everyone they mail you letters. I have yet to receive any letters via the mail. But once you see on the portal they sent you a letter you can wait 10 days, call the VA hotline and request they email you the letter. I had to do this with my developmental letter and I assume I will end up doing the same thing for my ratings. After speaking with my PEBLO and the MEB doctor its estimated I should have my 199 back with ratings around August (worst case scenario).
I know that this process can be extremely long and frustrating for a lot of people. It seems that a lot of the process is luck of the draw. I have been fortunate to have a great PEBLO who always responds within a few hours of shooting him an email. It also seems to depend on the case and how many conditions you are claiming for the MEB stage. All my claims have been heavily documented in my medical record for over a year. I was told that this is also why my case has been moving quickly, everything was already in my record and the C&P exams concurred with those records.
Timeline:
MEB Referral: 4/22/21
VA claim: 4/29/21
Med Exam: Complete all C&P exams on 5/21/21
NARSUM Completed: 6/3/21
MEB: 6/8/21
IPEB: In process
VA ratings: In process at preparation for decision as of 6/3/21
Claims:
Lumbar Degenerative Arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome (Unfit)
L5-S1 spondylolisthesis lower lumbar (unfit)
Sciatic Radiculopathy, left leg (unfit)
Mental Health (Fit)
Tinnitus (Fit)
Sciatic Radiculopathy, Right leg (Fit)
The biggest thing I have learned is to be your own advocate! I have stayed in constant contact with my PEBLO, VA Rep, and Docs. The first thing that I noticed was that the VA rep will tell you to wait for a call for your C&P exams. You do not need to wait. I looked up my local QTC office and called them directly 48hrs after submitting my claim. They already had my claim on file and told me they work off a list in the order the claims are submitted, but if you call them they will schedule your appts that day. So I had all my exams 3 weeks from calling the QTC line (first availability). The second thing is that once your exams are back they are posted to your Tricare patient portal. You can see them long before they make it back to your PEBLO. I took the exams and logged into VA.gov and uploaded them myself to my claim. Then you have the option to complete at 5103 notice of acknowledgement that you have submitted all your documents and want the VA to make a decision with only those documents. I did this and within 24hrs my VA portal updated to preparation for decision. Lastly, the VA seems to tell everyone they mail you letters. I have yet to receive any letters via the mail. But once you see on the portal they sent you a letter you can wait 10 days, call the VA hotline and request they email you the letter. I had to do this with my developmental letter and I assume I will end up doing the same thing for my ratings. After speaking with my PEBLO and the MEB doctor its estimated I should have my 199 back with ratings around August (worst case scenario).
I know that this process can be extremely long and frustrating for a lot of people. It seems that a lot of the process is luck of the draw. I have been fortunate to have a great PEBLO who always responds within a few hours of shooting him an email. It also seems to depend on the case and how many conditions you are claiming for the MEB stage. All my claims have been heavily documented in my medical record for over a year. I was told that this is also why my case has been moving quickly, everything was already in my record and the C&P exams concurred with those records.
Timeline:
MEB Referral: 4/22/21
VA claim: 4/29/21
Med Exam: Complete all C&P exams on 5/21/21
NARSUM Completed: 6/3/21
MEB: 6/8/21
IPEB: In process
VA ratings: In process at preparation for decision as of 6/3/21
Claims:
Lumbar Degenerative Arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome (Unfit)
L5-S1 spondylolisthesis lower lumbar (unfit)
Sciatic Radiculopathy, left leg (unfit)
Mental Health (Fit)
Tinnitus (Fit)
Sciatic Radiculopathy, Right leg (Fit)