Please help!

[Jax8025]

Hi everyone,

I am currently on the stage of the IDES process and waiting on my DA-199. I talked with the MEB Attorney the Army let’s you see. He reassured me that I will be getting 100% VA and medically retire from Army. He didn’t give me a % but he said it will be over 30%. I had 1 SC disability that brought me to the IDES but after the MEB they it turned into 7 SC disability’s. My injuries is my back, neck, shoulder and eyes (because I had PRK and they cooked my eyeballs to long, and caused blind spots). The bad news is I am closing on a house back home and I was counting on the % the MEB attorney told me. I called the VA about the funding fee and to get the exemption fee on my COE. The VA rep said he had to look into it and said my ratings were closed on DEC 8, 2017 and it’s showing 60%. I told him that the MEB attorney said I was gonna be a 100%. He said that it could be 60 or a 100% (That doesn’t help me in trying to see what my budget will be) he did say he showed 50% sleep apnea (CPAP required) and 50% Severe Anxiety/Depression and I also have my back, neck and shoulder that he didn’t give me percentage for. So in short I have 31 disability’s that I am claiming from VA. My question is how accurate is the MEB attorney that the army provides to you to determine what percentage ratings you will receive? My other question is if I’m fact I do receive 60% from the VA, how hard is the process to request a appeal for an increase in ratings?

 

[RonG]

Re: "...he did say he showed 50% sleep apnea (CPAP required) and 50% Severe Anxiety/Depression and I also have my back, neck and shoulder that he didn’t give me percentage for."

A combined rating of 50% plus 50% = 75% and rounded up to 80%

A new appeal process: Rapid Appeals Modernization Program (RAMP)
See
https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/appeals-ramp.asp

"

• In November 2017, we launched RAMP with the goal of providing eligible appellants with the earliest possible resolution of their disagreement with VA's decision on their claim.
• RAMP is voluntary and will provide you with the opportunity to enter the new, more efficient review process outlined in the historic Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 (Appeals Modernization Act), which the President signed into law on August 23, 2017.
• Under RAMP, you can expect to receive a review of the decision on your claim much faster than if you remain in the legacy appeals process. The program will allow participants the option to have their decisions reviewed in the Higher-Level Review or Supplemental Claim Lane outlined in the new law.
• RAMP will run through February 2019, when we plan to fully implement the Appeals Modernization Act. Further, we will continue to process RAMP elections as long as necessary to continue to accelerate resolution of legacy appeals."

Many veterans have benefited from the assistance of a certified veterans service officer associated with a veterans service organization such as the VFW, DAV, etc. Their services are free.