Seattle Regional VA Timelines:

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Here is the post where I prove my point about the dashboard and Ebenes being pacifiers for the masses. When I say masses, I include EVERYONE including myself.

My Dashboard says I'm still waiting on the PEB to finish.
VA Ratings were complete 7 NOV 13.
Unfit memo was 11 JUL 13.
Ebenefits has said Gathering of Evidence since mid June or something like that.

At exactly 1304ish, I signed my 199 with my PEBLO. He called a lady he knows at the PEB. She looked for my packet and it was sitting on someones desk, waiting for signatures. 2 hours later, I had it in my sweaty little hands being signed. I am not requesting a formal board as I received 50% Army and 100% VA. I have nothing to add that will make them increase the Army rating (its at 51% so I would have to add 20% for it to actually raise my rating) and there isn't anywhere I can go with the VA rating, 100% is 100%).

Like I posted earlier, Im not trying to add to the stress of the waiting game. I am trying to illustrate that all of the sites they direct us to are based on the info people put in them. Of the two, I trust the dashboard more. The longer the dashboard exists, the better and more accurate it will become, but it is still dependent on humans putting info into them.
 
if you have a magical PEBLO like ejtrb, about 2 hours.
He's not magical. He will do what he has to do to help a Soldier and do the best he can. Yesterday when I stopped by his office, I saw another Soldier in his office signing a 199. I told him that I didnt know we had the same PEBLO. Turns out, we dont. That Soldiers PEBLO was out of the office so my PEBLO asked if he could counsel the Soldier to help him out.

The PEB acknowledged receipt of my packet on 14 NOV 13, so it had been actually been there over the time limit. It just happened to be ready to sign when he called.

But if you happen to talk to him..... I'll disavow ever saying he ISN'T magical.
 
if you have a magical PEBLO like ejtrb, about 2 hours.

HAHAHHA no, actually my peblo told me that update her if i see any changes- as for her statement i think i could work as a peblo heck im doing all the work!!!

hahaha but oh well i wont expect less
 
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So I take today as being the last working day this month, or am I wrong? Today is 185 total days and 114 at the VA for ratings.
 
So my claim has been at the PEB for 9 days as of today. The IDES tracker website says Army average is 10.7 days so I really hope to see my 199 soon! Anyone else on this timeframe?
 
199 came in yesterday. They addressed my issues post surgery, but as I expected, they never rated the hip replacement itself. So, knowing that, should I appeal, demand a formal PEB? Lawyer says I have great percentages. 60/90. Not sure what to do.

Here are my disabilities on 199:
9411 PTSD 50%
5251 Strain, left hip, Status Post left hip replacement (scar not unfitting) 10%
8626 Peripherial neuropathy, left thigh, status post hip replacement 10%
5252 Strain, Left hip status post left hip replacement, Limitation of Flexion, Impairment 0%
5253 Strain, Left hip status post Left hip replacement, Impairment 0%

There was a lot on hip replacement, yet no rating on 5054. My 3947 (MEB proceedings) has the diagnosis of: S/P left hip replacement with residual scar.

Not sure how the PEB and VA missed this one. I need help, I really dont know what to do, I want it corrected, but also not interested in staying in anymore. Suggestions?
 
So my claim has been at the PEB for 9 days as of today. The IDES tracker website says Army average is 10.7 days so I really hope to see my 199 soon! Anyone else on this timeframe?
No, Friday they are working too, it is not an extended holiday for Federal employees. BUT it will be a national call-in day for the Black Friday shopping events... So yeah, only the people dedicated to Service Members will be working...
 
Ebenefits just changed to Gathering of Evidence and says Requested Separation Documents. PEBLO called me as well and said the VA rated me at 60%. I was hoping for at least 70% so I may appeal once I see it. But it's so relieving to know that this is almost over.
 
So my claim has been at the PEB for 9 days as of today. The IDES tracker website says Army average is 10.7 days so I really hope to see my 199 soon! Anyone else on this timeframe?
Yeah, I'd say I'm pretty much in the timeframe.

Per IRIS response: My ratings were done on the 19th (Tuesday) and forwarded to the PEB on the 23rd (Saturday). Notification letter mailed the 25th (Monday). That's 9 days, but I'm so close it doesn't matter.

I also received an Email from my VA-MSC. He told me the same, but the information was not dated like the IRIS had it.
In short:
[proposed ratings sent to Formal Board, you may have already been contacted by your PEBLO, you will receive results from the formal decision soon. Do not contact your PEBLO, your PEBLO will contact you. Once you meet with your PEBLO and accepted your final disposition and/or received your 199, contact me and schedule an exit interview. Gather any medical evidence for medical treatment you have had since the initial meeting and bring to the exit interview. I will deliver this evidence to the DRAS for consideration on the final official VA rating.]

My PEBLO did call me Monday morning and tell me that the ratings were actually sent on Friday evening. That dude has been a great PEBLO. Sorry mug wouldn't tell me my ratings, though. That little bit of information...What's the big deal? VA wont tell, PEBLO won't tell, MSC won't tell. It has to be either really great or it's really low. I'm believing the former.

Waiting on the letter, waiting on the PEB, waiting on phone call from my PEBLO...it all is just waiting. Turkey day is making things better, not worse. I have been waiting enough that two or three weeks, or longer, doesn't matter.
We all have, or will, I believe.

I told my supervisor that when I get that last phone call, I'm going to do a 10-day DTS and hand my keys to him when I get back. Out, gone, done. I'm not being relieved as I should be. It's going to be a mess for them, not having a supply sergeant for 2-3 months. But I must say, I have done everything I could to make things as good as possible so that when I go it is on a very high note, not negative at all. Everything is laid out and will be easy for the next Supply NCO to walk in and pick things up.

But, I am done here where I've been in the same unit since Aug 1993. 5 years, 1 month Regular Army, 8.5 years MDay, 14 years AGR, Add the 1405 time (460 days) and I'm retiring with 20.5 years. I rolled over 27 years of service on 18 OCT, last month. 7 deployments. I was sooooo lucky the MEB didn't happen before it did. Bases were loaded and I hit a home run!!! Now I'm just jogging to home plate...I caught the winning touchdown at the end of the 4th quarter with my toes touching just inside the paint...I love analogies.

Crap. I just remembered: I have to be at DEC Drill to receive my next-to last award, the Saint Barbera's Award. Look it up if you have time, it is a great award, better than any retirement award by a long shot.
Hmm. I'll have to have it all on...ASU's, Stetson, Combat Spurs. One last time. I'll put it in my "I love me" room next to my Supply Excellence Award...
All yall out there need to know that if you've had a great career, leaving it behind is one of the hardest things you'll ever do, but you will always be a soldier.

yeah, I'm in that time frame...LOL


Shane
 
So my tentative drop dead must be out of the Army date is 25 Feburary 2014. Counting back 60 days from that puts me at 27 December 2014. On other note, I gave my last pee test to the Army this morning.
 
Not sure if this information will help anybody but here goes......If you see "Requested Separation Documents" in Ebenefits it could mean:

1) You haven't reached your discharge date (the date on your DD214 is still in the future (you are on terminal leave))

2) You are officially discharged but the VA hasn't finished processing your claim now that your discharge date has passed. They have to close your original claim and open a new one using your discharge date and all the same claims information

As soon as you hit your discharge date and your status in Ebenefits still says "Requested Separation Documents" and you know your DD214 is on file:

1) Scan and email another copy through Ebenefits

2) Request a copy from the National Archives and have them send a hardcopy to your claims office http://www.archives.gov/veterans/

3) Then call the VA 1-800# and ask for you status (they will basically say what you already see in Ebenefits). Then tell them you are officially discharged, ask them to check the codes in Ebenefits to ensure it reflects that you are discharged, ask them to send a note to your claims office stating your discharge documents are on file and ready to be processed.

Trust me, this worked. VA Rep checked my code (keep in mind this was 2 1/2 months after my discharge) and it still had me listed as been active duty. As soon as he changed it and sent a note to my claims office in Seattle, my status changed from "Gathering Information - Requested Separation Documents" to "Pending Decision Approval"

If you just call and ask for your status or what they can do the speed it up, they will just tell you the generic blah.....blah....blah about average wait times" and they won't check the code or send a note which he stated, "they have to open and read it.... meaning it will bring attention to your case faster"

Basically......once you go on terminal leave everything is completed but the VA puts a "hold" on finalizing your claim until your discharge date. The problem is that you end up stuck in "que" until someone comes along and closes your case by verifying that you have reached your discharge date.
 
Ebenefits just changed to Gathering of Evidence and says Requested Separation Documents. PEBLO called me as well and said the VA rated me at 60%. I was hoping for at least 70% so I may appeal once I see it. But it's so relieving to know that this is almost over.
You have to find out if that 10% increase is going to be worth your time. I don't know how they figure math but from what I understand you need a 20% increase overall to increase your final ratings 10%.

For me 60% is no big deal because my retirement check trumps my VA by $500, so it is pointless for me to try and bump my disability rating.
 
You have to find out if that 10% increase is going to be worth your time. I don't know how they figure math but from what I understand you need a 20% increase overall to increase your final ratings 10%.

For me 60% is no big deal because my retirement check trumps my VA by $500, so it is pointless for me to try and bump my disability rating.

Brett, I was reading your SSDI stuff and got some words of wisdom for you:

As soon as the Army started the MEB process, you were considered unfit. The Social Security Office knows this and knows that a Soldier can't be sent home right away. They actually called me and asked for a letter from my supervisor stating that all I was responsible for was going to appointments and being accounted for each day. In fact, they sent me an example in the mail. So they don't hold it against us and realize we have limited duties (ie: unit accountability, appointments, etc.).

Here's my case:

23 October 12: MEB initiated
Dec 12: I filed for SSDI but used the MEB initiation date
1 September 2013: my official retirement date
15 Nov 13: My SSDI was approved with 23 October 2012 as my onset date (online application denied, appeal denied, and finally an Administrative hearing before a judge and I was approved)

Per Social Security Regs, you won't receive SSDI until your 6th full month of disability. So, my 6th month was April 13 and I am getting 9 months of back pay (April-Dec 2013).

Looking at your stuff, you should change it to 9 June. So your back pay will start in December 13 vs. May 2014. That way you get a jump on the 6 months.
 
Brett, I was reading your SSDI stuff and got some words of wisdom for you:

As soon as the Army started the MEB process, you were considered unfit. The Social Security Office knows this and knows that a Soldier can't be sent home right away. They actually called me and asked for a letter from my supervisor stating that all I was responsible for was going to appointments and being accounted for each day. In fact, they sent me an example in the mail. So they don't hold it against us and realize we have limited duties (ie: unit accountability, appointments, etc.).

Here's my case:

23 October 12: MEB initiated
Dec 12: I filed for SSDI but used the MEB initiation date
1 September 2013: my official retirement date
15 Nov 13: My SSDI was approved with 23 October 2012 as my onset date (online application denied, appeal denied, and finally an Administrative hearing before a judge and I was approved)

Per Social Security Regs, you won't receive SSDI until your 6th full month of disability. So, my 6th month was April 13 and I am getting 9 months of back pay (April-Dec 2013).

Looking at your stuff, you should change it to 9 June. So your back pay will start in December 13 vs. May 2014. That way you get a jump on the 6 months.
Thanks for the advice, I am still learning about the whole SSDI deal. My official "disability," date is October of 2012, being the date I could no longer climb on an aircraft or use tools. That was the last date I actually did my job and since then I have only been doing administration work. With that I will have my six months covered, and my back pay should be based off of April 2013. I now realized that I had October 2013 as my last date of SGA, it was October 2012.

I am fully expecting to have the usual failures with being in the military and denied SSDI initially. I will be switching offices soon as well which I am sure will impact my process.
 
Happy thanksgiving all
 
Just received a call from my PEBLO. 90% DOD 90% VA TDRL!
That's great news but as I was talking to him, He made the comment that since I'm NG I won't get a pay check until the VA ratings are finalized. :eek:
Now I've been on this forum for a while and I'm pretty sure he is wrong by saying that since I'm guard and haven't reached 20 years for retirement that DOD won't pay me but I'm looking for anyone to give me the right answer.

Indeed, congratulations on the recent receipt of IPEB findings inclusive of DoD TDRL and DoVA proposed ratings!

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!
 
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