Dear ceilingfan:
As I understood my Peblo supervisor lady, the way she stated this to me (our conversation being a 5-10 minute phone call), is that when AFTER the phase/stage is done where you've had the opportunity to review the findings for accuracy, or appealed, or IMA'ed, or whatever - after all that part is done, and you have signed off the NARSUM, and after all that part or stage of that process is done, THEN they forward the entire packet to the VA for the ratings part.
So, at the moment, it's taking, on average, 90-120 days turn-around time for the VA rating part of this process.
I spoke with the VA Rep at Ft. Lewis, too. He also confirmed this time frame as an "average" - though some are getting through more quickly. He also mentioned as an aside that there are some VA personnel who have been approved for mandatory overtime - the ideal outcome being that the overtime is suppossed to help reduce the backlog and shorten up this 90-120 day turn-around time.
So this timeframe may be in the process of shortening itself down. Three months from now, the average turn-around time could be shorter IF the mandatory overtime works to reduce the backlog on their end.
That's all I know at the moment about what's happening right today at Ft. Lewis PEBLO/Seattle VA.
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My PEBLO Lady is a high-speed, experienced, and knowledgeable asset - over 10 years experience. I try not to call her very often as she is busier than a one-armed paper-hanger. But I did have the opportunity to enter the PEBLO work space when I went up to Ft. Lewis this past January. And there was literally row after row after row of organized stacks of boxes of case records in every nook and cranny of floor space. The cubicles of the MEB technicians are cramped, their work areas are extremely confining, and yet, the cases continue to pile in on them on a daily basis. It's really ridiculous that personnel are being located in such a confining space. I mean, anyone with half a brain can obviously see that they need more space and personnel to handle this never-ending load of incoming. I half-jokingly asked my Peblo lady if they have issued everyone bladder bags. She laughed and said that my coming to see her was the first break she had all day - and it was 2 pm when I stopped in to see her! (I live 140 miles one way from Ft. Lewis, she knew I was coming that day, but not what time, as I had other appts prior to seeing her).
But I had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with my PEBLO supervisor for 10-15 minutes. She explained things to me on areas of question I had at that time, gave me straight and honest answers, presented handouts to me to take back home with me, and was courteous throughout our interchange - in spite of these stressfull environmental working conditions (10 pounds of S*** in a five pound sack).
This was my impression of what their place looked like back in January. I don't envy any of them.
v/r,
nwlivewire
I'm trying to get home to my husband who is in Japan by August at the latest and I'm just trying to see if that is even possible! Please help...any advice is welcomed.
