The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 (Appeals Modernization Act or AMA) improves the appeals process for Veterans and their families. AMA gives Veterans choice over how VA reviews their disagreement with a claim decision and ensures Veterans receive faster, clearer decisions.

Here are four important things Veterans need to know about AMA:

  1. AMA provides Veterans choice and control when they disagree with a VA claim decision.

Under AMA, Veterans can choose from one of three lanes to have their decision reviewed: (1) supplemental claim; (2) higher-level review; or (3) appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. If a Veteran chooses to appeal to the Board, he/she can choose from one of three dockets: (1) direct review; (2) evidence submission; or (3) hearing request.

  1. Veterans keep their effective date under the new appeals process.

Under AMA, Veterans keep their effective dates if they decide to appeal their original decision. The effective date is the date from which benefits begin accruing, which is often determined by the date of the initial filing of the claim.

For example, if a Veteran submits a claim for compensation on May 1, 2019, and receives a decision April 2020, the effective date for entitlement to benefits is May 1, 2019. If the Veteran is dissatisfied with his/her decision, he or she can file a supplemental claim, higher-level review, or Notice of Disagreement (NOD) within 1 year of the initial decision, and still keep the May 1 effective date.

  1. Veterans can check the status of their appeal with a VA appeals status tracker.

VA is committed to providing transparent information to Veterans on the status of their appeal. Veterans can use the appeals status tracker to:

  • View appeals status and next steps
  • Receive alerts for deadlines when action is required
  • Preview the next events in their appeals timeline

Veterans can access information on their appeal status by using the appeals status tracker located on VA.gov.

  1. Resources are available to inform Veterans about AMA

VA is committed to helping Veterans understand and navigate the appeals process. The following resources provide more information about AMA:


Elizabeth Murphy is a special advisor to the Chairman of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

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81 Comments

  1. Thomas Elliott August 13, 2019 at 12:26

    Its just a bunch of cheats VA, Navy, Congress, Senate, This President all play the same game. Don’t pay don’t pay even if you have proof they automatically turn everything down. even after granting pay DFAS messes everything up. DFAS is more powerful than CONGRESS they tell the congress to go to their website just for them and fill out the form. DFAS has had TDRL orders since March 2018. I’ve been eligible for retirement since Feb 2018, Yet DFAS has not paid me correctly yet after tons of phone calls writing email fax’s congress senate and the president. There’s no question its black and white but DFAS would rather lie and deceive than do the right thing and make the correction. The latest My VA appeal was to process the Grants from my appeal by June 2019, then July then Aug then Sept then all of a sudden I asked my lawyer they checked into it. OOPS it went to Aug 2020 then sept 2020 now past that. My TDRL still wrong they said there’s so many dates we are not sure and will be investigating> that’s what they do on and on and on till you die or QUIT! CHEATS ALL OF THEM! CHEATS my heart is broken I worked 21 years for my country to find out its infected with crap!

  2. Gary bakka August 2, 2019 at 11:20

    S.o.s. same old s#&t just different day.why in gods name don’t they understand people are hurting and need compensation for their lives and so they can live a productive life.

  3. Bill Bresnahan July 24, 2019 at 22:20

    First denied in 1993. Appealed decision, denied.
    Not enough information, board said deck logs dont show incident, I’m a bloody Engineer, try hecking Engineering logs. Filed again because I missed appeal deadline by 1 day. Flash forward to 2014, I have everything they have been asking for, have telemed appointment with shrink for PTSD.
    Interview took less than 15 min
    Dianosis sent to board, and of couse its denied, why, WRONG KIND OF PTSD. Yes I have PTSD, but its the wrong kind
    Appeal yet again, they want more proof. I get my files from my civilian drs
    Denied, I missed the cutoff of 60 days. Break out calendar, was in with 3 days to spare
    They said it was over 2 months, hey moron February only has 28 days.
    2 years laterI receice notice I’m eligable.for.ramp
    2 fays after that I get notification I have a date with Appeals judge
    Great right? Wrong
    See judge in July of 2018, he says he will remand it.
    Ok remands take 16-26 montha, My record finally got to the remand pile 31 Dec 18
    So my remand intead of being almost done has never been started
    So 2 more years, yeah the VA is wonderful
    They hope we die waiting for answers.

  4. Michael A. Trexler July 23, 2019 at 23:00

    I have been sending in an appeal for going on 6 years now and every time I do they send me another form to fill out. Why is that? I have also requested to speak to a board about the situation and it has fallen on deaf ears. There is no new information to send them. Ever time I get sent to the orthopedic doctor he asks me why I’m back. I say the doctor referred me, again. I guess the Brass doesn’t really care. I would love this explained.

    Mike Trexler

  5. John F Bjorge July 23, 2019 at 08:24

    What about a claim from 1993? I submitted a list of claims when I got out of the Navy and they were reviewed by the VA Seattle in November. All but one were denied, 0% disability and the one was 10%. Through the years I’ve resubmitted three more times and now my rating is at 50%. As of now I have 3 issues and my VA Provider told me we can only take care of them one at a time. I requested attention on my neck first and got an MRI right away through the Choice program. We moved on to the problem with my shoulders and very quickly got in to see an Orthopedic Doctor again through the Choice program. He took X-rays but needed an MRI. The request has been submitted for the third time and now we are in the waiting process. I was informed by TriWest that it took too long for the paperwork to get through the system so they were “unable to process”. This all took place during the change over to the new “MISSION ACT”. During this same time I tried to get a new pair of glasses and I have been told the request went to the VA in Seattle but was not sent on to the people to make the glasses. The system has dropped the ball on our care and mow we have to wait and suffer with our problems. I’m trying to be “PROACTIVE” with my problems but there have been some issues that it seem people are just covering up. I STILL HURT FROM ISSUES THAT ARE A RESULT OF MY TIME ON ACTIVE DUTY.

  6. Steven Mortensen July 22, 2019 at 17:42

    I was one of the first in RAMP, just another feel good program so the brass can pat each other on the back. It is just like all the changes I have seen in 9 years, first goes to the media, the President claims progress, the veterans know he is lying and on it goes. The main function of the VA is to give us all a second chance to die for our country and that is all they ever accomplish. The first meeting I ever attended was in San Francisco, 2 congress people were grilling the new head of the west coast VA. He promised over and over by 2015 all backlogs would be gone with his leadership, but he has failed miserably and still draws a big salary. The VA is run by boot camp dropouts.

  7. Chad Childers July 21, 2019 at 16:40

    Well I think it’s all smoke and mirrors. I still have an appeal that right at 3 years. Been back and forth between th VA and Board.

    • Wesley Crouch July 22, 2019 at 01:11

      New system my a**. I read va publications that sound good but absolutely nothing changes. Still waiting after years of partial compensation and fighting off creditors by taking out payday loans to pay them thius getting deeper in debt. Not to mention the va is proposing to cut my disability in half. My wife has no medical insurance and needs surgeries. VA is full of unqualified people to do the job. I can’t work due to the agent orange crap they sprayed us with in Vietnam and they wonder why so many veterans are outraged.

  8. Kevin Lamar Carter July 21, 2019 at 11:53

    Been waiting on my appeal for migraines, its been a little over a year now, i was rated 0% even though i average 3 a month and been taking meds for it for 2 years, i should be rated 30%, va needs a COMPLETE overhaul, i see tears for illegals and they get free health care asap but us vets who proudly served gets the middle finger. Good job AMERICA.

  9. James Tobleck July 20, 2019 at 21:44

    Whats it going to take? all out war with the beauracrates of the VA? They only care about their bonuses, their plans, promotion. The Director of Battle Creek VA whoes in charge of 22 counties in Michigan outright lied to a room full of vets at a VFW including me. Ive written every one i can think of to so far mo avail. These people gave me blood poisoning a few months ago. I now have been diagnosed with a damaged heart. I fully intend to go out with my head held high getting retribution.

  10. James tyler July 20, 2019 at 20:17

    If I’m not mistaken Lise Brown, VA RAMP just began n February of this year.

  11. Lawrence Gamble July 20, 2019 at 12:43

    This is what the administrators at the VA does, they get low level personal make decisions as to whether you deserve any kind of legal help, any kind of medical help, and if you do need help you have to take time off work or stop working to go and get some service from them. They have all the information in the computers to tell you who you are and what you need. They give the brush off .

  12. Lawrence Gamble July 20, 2019 at 12:36

    I want them to upgrade my discharge because it has been over thirty years and according to the policy you have to be out of the service form fourteen years and twelve days in order to get your discharge upgrade from a dishonorable to an honorable. I got a General discharge and I think they don’t know how to deal with that type of discharge.

  13. Lawrence Gamble July 20, 2019 at 12:30

    The poor veterans is at the mercy of a bunch of doctors who, to me, rather treat the rich and not the ones who protect this country so they can keep there riches. I’m waiting on cataract surgery and it has been taking months for them to ok the surgery. They to help us get medical treatment through an easier and swift system. The system is clogged up because the doctors are calling the shots.

  14. Lawrence Gamble July 20, 2019 at 11:50

    My name is Lawrence A Gamble and I join the Army back in 1972 on a buddy plan. I completed my first years. I went on reserve because I went to Technical college for two years. I Relisted because I couldn’t find a job back in 1979. I went and got retrained and got stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. One day while on a training exercise(Grenade range) I was involve in a incident that another soldier cause and I got injured. I have been trying to get compensation for this accident since I discharge from the service . I have tried every avenue there is and no one seems to be able to help me with me getting compensation. I tried to upgrade my discharge from a General to an Honorable so I could proceed with getting my benefits. I got injured while on active duty and it seems that the VA do not recognize that I was a soldier and I did serve this country. When the soldiers serve in piece time they get push to the side like we never done anything for this country. I volunteered to do duty to this country as an American.

  15. Robert McIntyre July 20, 2019 at 11:33

    Ok, I applied and I am a Viet Nam Vet, after reading all the above I am now wondering if I should appeal my 10%?
    By all means I know that what I was given should have been more but I never even applied until recently Because we were told to Be Strong, Be Brave, Be A Man…And Now We Pay.
    I paid out of pocket from 1965 when I got out thru now because that was the unpopular war and I have always had good insurance that has taken care me and even my Nam problems including dental.
    Please know that I am a praying man and will pray for the lot of us who are now at the mercy of a system that I am seeing as appeasing the “Ear” of many while only taking care of just a few.
    My Captain aboard the USS Coral Sea said once when we were in a Typhoon while at sea that everything is ok because we are in “Gods Hands”.

  16. Ross Allen July 20, 2019 at 10:18

    trunpinski is nothing but a total embarrassment to America and our Veterans!

  17. Jon turner July 20, 2019 at 08:49

    You are WRONG. They can and do adjust the effective date of your award. My effective date was in 2014. Upon award they changed my effective date to 12/17 costing me about 40 months of back pay. The date they used was the date of my C&P exam.

    • David E Burleson August 6, 2019 at 00:56

      Good thing we have President Trump and not that idiot you posted.

  18. Ricky Joe Kinnison July 19, 2019 at 21:54

    I am a Vietnam Vet. I enlisted in 1973 at the end of 12th grade, for 6 years. Basic was in 1974. I injured my back while serving overseas. I was under a large trailer, pegging the legs. As we were tieing down for a Hurricane. Someone released the front before i was clear. Driving the corner of the 3/4 ton trailer into my lower back, as i was standing up. Driving me back down to my knees. I went to hosp. and xrays were taken. There was no such thing as MRI and Ct Scan. So as nothing showed up as, broken. I was told to rest and i would be fine. Which i never was. The idea that i had nerve and soft tissue, it seems never crossed there minds. I was Honorably Discharged, after 6 years service. I always noticed problems in my back during, and after the service it go worse. I put in to be accessed for a disability payment. Which lasted many attempts over many years. Eventually i was granted a 10 percent Disability Pension. Which was at least some, acknowledgement i had a service related disability. Except what it was for. It was sinus related, which has really gotten worse. Constant infections.. My back wasn’t even considered.. Because back then i was told. I had no proof. But was told i could try again.. In 1984 I married an Australian and moved to Australia. I kept trying as Doctors I paid to see were telling me one thing, and the cat scans etc.,were backing them up. Saying i was suffering from a long time injury that dates back to the time i was in the service. So the last time i tried. The American government paid for a doctor here in Australia. To examine me.. My wife and I went into a doctor, i had never met. After asking me a few questions. I was ask to show my range of movement. He was standing beside me. He ask me to bend forward as far as was comfortable. I did, that and he then placed his hand on my shoulders and said. That i can do better then that. Then pushed me forward. At which point i collapsed to the ground. When my wife helped me up after catching my breath. The doctor walked back to his desk. Picked up some papers, he already had typed up. About my condition. Before i even showed up to the appointment. Handing them to me, to sign. It was pathetic. I was then helped by my wife to the office waiting room. Where i basically collapsed in pain again . I had to lay on there couch for 20 minutes or more. Before I was able to get up and leave. After hearing back from Veterans affairs, about there decision on that appointment.. I got back an even more devastating response. i had worked in the VA Hospital, as a Janitor. To help pay for a welding course i did, a couple years after i was discharged.. Through the Local Community College. Then the VA insinuated by insinuating, that as i had the opportunity, (as i worked in all offices, cleaning). That they couldn’t prove, I hadn’t already taken things out or put thing into my records. That they wouldn’t be accepting an upgrade of my pension. At which point. I really just gave up. I mean, whats the point. If my government would stoop to this level? That would have been around 1990, i guess. I’m so disappointed. I believe i was put in the “Too hard basket” because i wasn’t living in the states. Although i have medical proof now, of preexisting injuries now. With the new tech. Which would then leave the issue of back pay. If a new claim, was accepted.

  19. Manuel Alcantar July 19, 2019 at 20:17

    How is a % assignment issued? I have a friend who came home with a missing leg. He was in combat and suffered this injury. He is receiving 80% compensation. The I know another individual who was turned down twice for lying about his claims. Then he goes to DAV, went court again lied about his injury. He now is receiving 80% with 3 years back pay. How does this happen, he claims he has tinnitus, he is 84 years old. How is this justified and who makes decisions like this. Aren’t they checking for accuracy on these claims. Mean while other vets are receiving less compensation for more serious injuries. I am really upset this individual who lied gets more compensation than he is entitled. Go figure.

  20. I served in Vietnam from August 1965 till July 1966 when I went home and was discharged from the army. Three years ago I put in a claim with the VA for PTSD. I was interviewed at a VA hospital by a young women physiologist who was about 25 years old. She was not that interested in my military service, but my life since then. How can someone that is not in the military or never has been in the military relate to 70+ year old veterans who were in life and death struggles? Of course her job was to say NO to me. I appealed her decision. about a year or so later same deal, this time the women was older maybe 35. Of course they were just going through the motions, and their mind was made up before I walked through the door. I appealed her NO decision also. For years I have been being treated by my private psychiatrist with therapy and medication. He wrote a letter on my behalf when my case went before The Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington DC. It didnt mean a thing to them, and of course they rejected my appeal. Thats their job, not help us in any little way, but to say NO, go away. Thats their hope that we just die and go away. These people have no conscience and are a disgrace….

  21. I served in Vietnam from August 1965 till July 1966 And ETS out of the army. Two years ago I put in a claim for PTSD. I was interviewed at the VA hospital by a women physiologist who was about 25 years old. She was not that interested in my military service, but my life since I left the army. How can anyone her age, who is not in the military, and was never in the military, relate in anyway to a 72 year old man who was in combat and experienced what we did there 50 + years ago. Of course her job is to say NO to you.I appealed her decision. A year later, same deal , this time I got and older women . I think she might have been 35, of course the out come was the same NO. I appealed her decision of course. Over these years I have been seeing my own private psychiatrist, he has been treating me for my PTSD with therapy and medication. He wrote a wonderful letter on my behalf, to the Board of Veterans Appeals in D.C. They could care less and rejected me again. These peoples mission is to insult us and say NO to us. They just want us to go away and die. They are a disgrace.

  22. Jerry Shoemaker July 19, 2019 at 19:35

    I see I am not alone. 27 January 2007 is my appeal dated. I think I am in a coma and dreaming the Date is 20 July 2019. It really is time to wake up.

  23. Jimmy C.Ogletree July 19, 2019 at 17:29

    I have been trying to get va disability for at least 7 years for my knees,pseudofalicalitis barbae,and other things since then. They lost my service treatment records so it’s like I’m being punished because they can’t find my service treatment records. I served my country for five years and I give everything I had so I think this process should be easier and less time consuming.

  24. David Harris July 19, 2019 at 16:33

    4 years here & have seen a Doctor, but the Nurse is more interested in helping me out to get all the paper work together. Guess by the time I’m 65 I will qualify or die trying. So if your in a Federal Job like USPS & apply for disability, you can’t get disability from the military? Then there is SSN Disability, are you disqualified from receiving Disablity from SSN?

  25. James O. Bradford July 19, 2019 at 15:52

    People who are COMM,UNIST and working at the VA, should be fired and in prison for what they are
    Continuing during to the VETERANS. VETERANS NEED TO MARCH ON WASHINGTON AND LET THIS
    GOVERNMENT KNOW THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
    SEND ALL THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, INCLUDING CHILDREN BACK TO THEIR COUNTRIES. THEY HAVE NO
    RESPECT FOR OUR COUNTRY OR LAWS. THEY ARE THE CRIMINALS, NOT THE VETERANS.
    GIVE VETERANS THE MONIES THESE CRIMINALS ARE GETTING.
    THE VETERANS AFFAIRS IS CORRUPT.

  26. Ken Keske July 19, 2019 at 15:51

    Their needs too be a quality assurance team that randomly checks on accuracy and if the claim/ was handled appropriately. It seems like mistakes are what causes the biggest problem for the veteran. In my case, my appeal shows closed because I did not respond to the SOC, but I never received a copy and when calling about it the customer service people don’t see where an SOC was ever generated. I’ve been trying too get this corrected for the last 8 months but finding it very difficult too even get an answer. So I began an appeal on 10/17 and should have been decided on 11/18, is now taking 8 months longer with no end in sight, because somebody made a mistake, which the appeal never should have been necessary has again a mistake was made by not reading the last page of the C&P. Imagine how much time could be saved by just having a quality assurance team making random checks and identifying individuals who may need more training. Individuals need too be held accountable. The new appeal process does nothing too prevent what appears to be the biggest problem, human error. If I have too wait on my appeal because of a legitimate issue I’m ok with that, but if I’m waiting on an appeal because someone made an obvious mistake that’s infuriating and unacceptable.

  27. sybil haynes July 19, 2019 at 15:44

    The appeals decision should cover the rules posted when it comes to VR&E ILP. It has taken two years to get a response by the VR&E Officer. Not like the rules of 10 days to see a VR&E. I could have gone for 30 days, but not two years to allow entrance into the VSO Office to continue an ILP I was currently in before all this went sour. WoW! If you hate veterans so much, why don’t you just claim us as enemies vs veterans? The rules are what they are and the rules need to be followed. I took my VR&E to court and now the whole state is trying to make me suffer. Two years is a long time to pursue and not get nothing but ridiculed for being disabled…veteran:( Poor VR&E counselor and poor services. The DVA is a place to see about continuing a program, not eligibility, fill out forms and received the help you need when you lack to skills to do so. I moved from another state to this state. I think an investigation is needed on how to follow the rules on both sides of the coin.

  28. willie wilson July 19, 2019 at 15:37

    been at this 10 years and still fighting

  29. Don Crauswell July 19, 2019 at 15:34

    Can anyone tell me they actually got help from the VA in filing a claim? I have trying to get claims thru since 2007, all i ever get from the VA is form letters and legal jargon. Never got a call never and have had a claim remanded twice.
    secondly VA and its 12 associated illness’s for Agent Orange exposure is very out date, Just survey the VETS records that arte exposed and look at the cancers. Nope the VA is not working for the VET.

  30. Doug Jarrett July 19, 2019 at 14:39

    How many millions of veterans are in the VA healthcare system? We have heard from these Veterans below how the VA is sooooo bad. Why don’t we hear from those that have positive comments? Well, I’ll start some positives: I am perfectly happy and satisfied with the VA services, have a had a few issues with civilian employees working in the healthcare system (bad attitudes, sour looks, and just plain jerks) but I take care of that issue with them myself. As far as the health systems, I have been to Kaiser Permanente, United Health Care, Loma Linda Hospital, and off site Doctors and have found Veterans Health Care on par with all of them and in a lot of instances better than. Administratively, it took a little time to settle my claim (but,I got it) and with back pay from the time I filed for it. I saw combat in Vietnam in 1965/1966. Back in the day we were frowned on, called baby killers, and did not receive our dues, but the system always took care of us and I always found ways to take care of myself and my family. Sometimes we just need to stop complaining and grow up a little. If you have something pending just keep a little pressure on and you will get there.

  31. erasmo sendejo de leon July 19, 2019 at 14:34

    six years and a heart surgery and still waiting, get in line only 98000 ahead, Ill be 75 years old by then, thanks uncle Sam.

  32. Calvin Winchell July 19, 2019 at 14:24

    One step forward three steps back… same garbage new name

  33. ROGER REINER July 19, 2019 at 14:18

    I agree — Vietnam Vets seem to get the shaft. Mine has also been going on for 47 years. They need to go to some kind of FIFO program (first in, first out) rather than current LIFO process. Now I have started over with what will probably be a CUE (clear and unmistakable error) but even that may require legal team to sort out, so more and more years.

  34. Harvey J. Crawford July 19, 2019 at 14:00

    The ’30 day Decision Ready Claim’ is such a joke!! To speed up the denial process they subcontracted to a brother-in-law group called QTC. Their whole process seems to be a quick hatchet job on your claim. If it is not blatantly obvious from your 50 year old service record (most of which is erroneous during the fog of war) you have a rubber stamp waiting >DENIED<. The only way to save any hope for your claim is called a 'NEXUS LETTER' from a reliable (civilian) medical source. Your testimony is supposed to be believed "in absence of overwhelming evidence to the contrary"; but good luck with that!!

  35. Arnold H Fuller July 19, 2019 at 13:55

    I learned last week that I have a total of 4 appeals that have not been answered. They date from 2016 clear back to 1996. How about those that made the appeals not get paid until all appeals are handled. With this incentive program, I bet it would not take long. Also, only those with Military disabilities need to be on the boards making these decisions.

  36. Vick K Smith July 19, 2019 at 13:34

    I received an oth discharge because the XO on my ship did not like me and he black balled me so i can’t get VA benefits i can’t even get my discharge upgraded. What can I do??

  37. Ari Maayan July 19, 2019 at 13:26

    Hire a law firm!

  38. Ralph Munoz July 19, 2019 at 13:01

    I have to file an appeal for my hearing impairment while serving in the Air Force. I was denied 10 years ago. The VA wants to provide evidence. What a joke! I was around helicopters and aircraft for four years. That was not enough for them. I called 1.800.827.1000 several times to make an appointment but the phone waiting time is close to an hour. This kind of service will make a person commit suicide. Can someone call me to file an appeal or schedule an appointment in Phoenix, AZ? thanks for reading my concerns.

  39. Dan Mackin July 19, 2019 at 12:46

    About 10 years ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and was recommended to have radio active seeds implanted, which I did.

    A few years later I started passing blood and went to a urologist in Stuart because I could not get an appointment with the VA for 6 months. The urologist inserted a scope and said it was caused by broken blood vessels that break now and then.

    My situation worsened and on July 28, 2018, I went to Martin Memorial South Emergency because my bladder was blocked and I could not pass urine. I was told this was due to the seeds causing swelling and ruptures of the veins on my prostate. The coagulated blood blocked my bladder, which I found out later, was holding 4 times the normal capacity. I was in extreme pain and could not make it down to the VA in West Palm Beach.

    July 29, I transferred to main Martin Memorial North where Dr. Beltran inserted the largest catheter he had in order to break up the blockage and drain my bladder. The VA co-payed for the hospital visits and Dr. Beltran’s appointments.

    I attempted to get an appointment with the VA and there was nothing available in a reasonable timeframe, so I went to Dr. Beltran on August 6, where he inserted a scope to look at my prostate and determined that it was so badly inflamed that the only treatment would be 30 hyperbaric chamber treatments to shrink the veins and stop the swelling and vein ruptures which caused my blockage.

    I contacted my Stuart VA Clinic, talked to Miss Wilson’s nurse and sent all the reports from the Urologist and she said she would forward it to West Palm Beach VA for Community Choice Program approval.

    I called Sandra Gallardo at Community Choice and left several messages and learned she was on vacation, but would call me back. I asked to talk to anyone in that department and they informed me they would call me at their earliest convenience, and they never called. I also called Marie Melendez and she directed me to call someone else and he transferred me to Steve Diuguid and the phone just kept ringing with no answering service.

    Meanwhile, I had to go to the emergency room two more times with bladder blockage.

    August 15 I had to start hyperbaric treatments until I finished on September 30. In the meantime, I continued to call the Stuart VA Clinic, and the West Palm Beach VA hospital and went down there, was sent to 4 different departments, spent 5 hours there waiting to see someone with no results. I finally talked to someone in the Community Choice Program and they sent me to see their outside Urologist, Dr. Kaveh Besharat to determine if the hyperbaric treatments were the best course of action for VA approval. The doctor agreed that I had received the best treatment and forwarded his report to the VA for final approval. The VA does not have a hyperbaric chamber or I would have gone there.

    Now, after paying $7,500 out of pocket, I still have not been approved from the Community Choice Program.

  40. Calvin Winchell July 19, 2019 at 12:43

    And Bernie Sanders and other socialists want you to believe a 100% governmental operated medical program is a cure all for our current system? The V.A is a prime example of a failure having the federal Government run our medical care! Appeals Modernization Act 2017 is nothing more than verbage for the same failed system… Hell, if the V.A. Can’t even stand up and admit giving hundreds of thousands of veterans Hepatitus C with Jet Gun inoculations how are they expected to improve anything??? Remember, they knew about the millions of gallons of Agent Orange in Okinawa yet, continued lying and denying this for years! The Veterans Administration needs to begin by telling the truth before they embark on any other improvement programs!!! A tragedy the Veterans that have died waiting for disability they needed or the suicides of war heroes from refusing care to them???

  41. George Wayne Robinson July 19, 2019 at 12:31

    Smoking guns. Trumps way of telling they owe him their vote. Bravo Sierra

    • CHARLES S COLEMAN July 19, 2019 at 13:22

      Can you prove your remark or are you just blowing smoke?

    • Ron Miller July 19, 2019 at 20:28

      Yea, or it could be that he really cares about veterans.

  42. Harry Kirk July 19, 2019 at 12:30

    I have done just about everything I know how to do by myself and very little help with my long standing disability but I fight on because to quit is to lose and I support my family just like I would hope my service to this country would support and defend me.

  43. Bruce E. Hatch July 19, 2019 at 12:23

    I’m a 100% s/c. P&T DAV. I was burned 76% including half way down my lungs. There is a treatment now that is 91% effective in treating C. O. P. D.
    It costs about $11k Why won’t the VA pay????

    • Pamela Porter July 20, 2019 at 07:52

      Mr. Hatch:
      Thank you for your service to our great country. I’m sorry you’re ill & wish you good health (or as good as can be obtained under the circumstances).

      I’m interested in obtaining the name of the treatment you referenced for the COPD. Please email me directly or respond here.

      Again God’s blessing for your health!!
      Pamela, a Ranger’s wife

  44. PHILLIP D. MERCER July 19, 2019 at 12:00

    NOT ALL VETS HAVE THE SAME CLAIMS I FEEL LIKE THE VETS FROM VIETNAM FELT WHEN THEY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS THE GOV. PAID 2.5 BILLION TO HIRE DOCTORS TO EVAL. AND DENIE CLAIMS THEN THE GOV. PAID ANOTHER 2.5 BILLION TO HELP VETS BUT IF YOU ARE NOT A VET FROM TODAY CONFLICTS YOU ARE NOT IMPORTANT IF THE DOCTORS WERE VETS THEY WOULD KNOW THAT WHEN OVERSEA OPPS. ARE ASSIGNED THEY DO NOT TELL ALL DETAILS OF THE OPPS. TO THE PUBLIC I HAVE BEEN FILING MY APPEALS FOR 5 YEARS AND I KNOW THERE ARE MORE VETS LIKE ME OUT THERE. AFTER MY APPEAL SET IN WASHINGTON FOR 12 MONTHS IT SET ON A JUDGES DESK FOR 3 MONTHS NOW IT IS AT THE BOTTOM OF A STACK OF 99000 APPEALS IS THAT WONDERFUL

    • Robert Wright July 19, 2019 at 17:10

      “IGNORANCE IS BLISS”! And I’ll go ahead and plagiarize what some of the hardest of the hard warriors said to civilians when they came back from Vietnam as to piggyback on Doctors or someone reading a declassified DD 214 or anything else. “THATS RIGHT, YOU DON’T KNOW BECAUSE YOU WEREN’T THERE”.
      My clearance was high enough not for me to get into it on a public website and my “need to know” was rather broad for a E-5. And ya brother, I have more than 4 accolades awarded that were given in a SCIF (aka classified place) gave a salute and shook hands, only to give the record of acknowledgement back because my “that a boy” was SECRET or TOP SECRET or and can’t be shared on any documents outside of a Secured Information Facility (unless your Hillary Clinton). Maybe I should’ve been a Navy SEAL (no disrespect guys, I’m only poking fun at Hollywood) and I can have a movie about what I did and that way I could buy my way out of my nondisclosure of CLASSIFIED knowledge and then I could get some dental and vision care through the VA. And since I’m not one of the veterans that gets the Post 9/11 GI BILL for life (even though I was there before the “War went public before 9/1” and what is complete bull crap is me and my generation of the US Armed Forces Lead the way and started, fought, and destroyed Afghanistan! However some 18 year old kid (again no disrespect to the warriors that answered the call to serve our country, just a poke at the people who think their important in the VA because they have oversight in deciding the fate of a Veterans’s benifits and life) gets out of high school and joins in 2010 serves 4 years and he/she gets the GI BILL for life? I was in from 1999-2005 (stop loss) and as my post 9/11 GI BILL comes to an end I read about money for school for life? If I would’ve heard anything like that when I got out I just would’ve gone to medical school or something other than being a Commercial Diver in the Gulf of Mexico. lol
      So my point and many people that started the war and put down the Taliban and left a lasting impression “Don’t mess with the USA or your body will just be an addition to the sand in your pathetic holy land”, don’t get recognition for being the pioneers and unleashing hell and setting the standard for the ones after us. I’ve never asked the VA for anything until 2014! But when I saw the unprofessional and the oblivious civilians that worked there, that “controlled battle stress light switch” came on for the first time when there was no danger. I felt like going home and putting on my full dress uniform and coming back with the mentality of Ass chewing Drill Sargent from hell going from one office to the next just chewing everyone out like R. Lee on “Full Metal Jacket”. Hell maybe that’s what the powers that be need? That would involve every veteran pulling one of the biggest peaceful rallies in history. If we all came together like we’ve done before (like in war) and told instead of asking I’m pretty sure everything would be taken care of in an hour. What would be ideal would be a new government division that isn’t part of the VA but also isn’t part of active or reserve Military authority. It would actually take thought and effort within the government so god forbid. Ok I’m done! But my point is to everyone, including the American population. If you stay divided and stay naive like you brain is taught through the media and everything else, everything as we know it will fail, this is apart of my message to everyone. I expect my fellow veterans to understand a little better. Everyone must forget about politics, just like you were on the battlefield. Nobody thinks about republicans and democratic sides, we don’t call a debate in the middle of a time of action, you never hesitate to do the thing that takes necessity over the second most important, your never fighting for your own reason when it all comes down to it, everyone watches each other’s back even if you don’t like the guy in regular life and they watch yours, and you can apply the last and very important one to everything in life, we never leave our people behind and the true reason why we stay in the fight is because you fight for the Guy fighting next to you! Put that into action as a veteran and maybe civilians could observe what power truly is. Every veteran should have every Veterans’s back. If everyone is backing up everyone else, good luck for not getting what you need. As for what you want…don’t abuse it or the camaraderie will fall. It would be something historic if mostly all of the veterans came together in person for America to see. Nobody would need to even talk, not one word. Just stand with millions of veterans just to show Americans “This is the definition of America and this is how it’s done. Put your country first along with family, and forget who voted for who or what politician runs what. Because If American Veterans came together just once it wouldn’t matter who’s in some political office, they can stay at their desk while the power would be evident with 9 million veterans taking up the landscape of the Entire Washington D.C. area. But a peaceful get together just to prove to America that together as one band of veterans proving that being divided is not the way. Being a team is. It would change everything. But it’ never happen! And it sucks!

  45. Reinaldo Pina July 19, 2019 at 11:51

    The system is broken for vets. I been trying to get my knees fix for over 19 years and it’s always the same thing. Let’s control your weight and blood pressure first. We can send millions of dollars to other countries but can’t take care of a Vet. Hopefully we will get someone in the VA who truly cares one day. My claims have been going on for ever. It’s a shame. I know they are over worked doing there best, but that’s not my fault I was injured. God Bless America

  46. Barbara Darby July 19, 2019 at 11:45

    Denie denie, then you die. I been back and forth with VA for three decades, still fighting, appeals back and forth, original claims back and forth. Know good guidance or answers from those representative. Just down right DEPRESSING. I pray it get resolved. My mother know longer here too know if it did. A NIGHTMARE.

  47. erasmo sendejo de leon July 19, 2019 at 11:43

    Six years and still waiting, so get in line, thanks uncle Sam !!!!!!!

  48. Linda may brown July 19, 2019 at 11:26

    It’s crazy they say it will take 1 year to complete, but the keep push back the date of completion. I don’t get it. I was denied my Todd or depression back 2007. When my record clearly shows what happened while I was in the military. I get out and was granted ssdi, because of my ptsd and depression. Here is the funny part. The Va is treatment my disability and issues medication for my disability. But have to research what happened to me. And yes, this ramp system should be better, but its not. I gets my anxiety up about how they drag their feet, when clearly. My record speaks of this. They should do what has been put in to policy and regulations, they created. But the rules don’t apply, they still handle things as they always do. It’s not fair. The bad thing about this, you can use them.

  49. Michael Meisberger July 19, 2019 at 11:20

    EDITED: I have been awaiting a claim placed over ten years ago for a condition the VA doctors diagnosed me with. We have to remember, with every passing administration and every new Director, there is a massive shake-up of how things are going to be done. With each VA Director and Executive administration, regretfully, the VA practices, policy, and regulations get an over hall which stops the entire machine, sometimes for months. Just know that the Veterans Administration is just that, an administration that is subject to the winds that blow from Capital Hill. Resilience is the watchword, stand fast and be patient, just like you did in the service.

    • Ronald L Peters July 19, 2019 at 13:17

      You are corret that their polices change and proceedures but they take their slow ass time doing anything. You say stand patient . Our Brothers and Sisters are not all able to stand. Many stood tall when their Country Called and now lay silenty horizontal before the VA helped them they did Fall.

  50. Jaime Boseman July 19, 2019 at 11:17

    False hope! The idea of ​​this program is good, but the time it takes your claim remains the same. Meanwhile, we veterans are deteriorating and many of us never get to see a penny of this money that is well deserved!

  51. Michael O'Neill July 19, 2019 at 11:10

    Don’t expect tracking for appeals to Board of Veterans’ Appeals. My packet was received over 5 months ago (according to Fedex), but nothing shows when I go to VA.gov tracking; nothing. A phone call to the VA resulted in a verbal confirmation that the packet is at the board, but they haven’t even bothered to start the tracking process. How about simply showing that the action has been received? I would recommend that the VA use the resources spent on telling us how amazing the system is (like these emails) for actually making the system amazing; or, at least, responsive.

  52. Joseph Kuhlman July 19, 2019 at 11:07

    The appeals status tracker data does not give information specific to your claim instead answers are generic and essentially useless. Adding VA.gov did nothing to improve access to your personal appeals information access onther than making you los into two sites to not get any information.

  53. Anabelis Tirado July 19, 2019 at 11:03

    It’s unfair, my husband’s appeal is on the table since 2014, I had to find a representative to take the case because they did not look at the appeal. Right now. The appeal is on the table of an Appeals Judge evaluating since November 2018, and on the ebenefits page it indicates that a Court of Appeals takes 1 to 2 months to make a decision, and the case still has not taken any action at this point. decision when it is presented the evidence and arguments, is unfair and unsustainable. no program serves or RAMP.

  54. Aiyana Mojica July 19, 2019 at 11:03

    They sent me a letter in November 2018 stating that they received my request in August 2018 to moved my Appeal to the RAMP process. I talked to a VA representative on the phone and he informed me that nothing was done to my case since November 2018. The sent me the letter but did nothing. Now an status inquiry was put in. We’ll see where this goes. Total disappointment. VA has too many untrained people working for them.

    • R A Arnett July 22, 2019 at 01:59

      I had to get an outside lawyer. It was worth it. I used Bender and Bender.

  55. KEN EARL JOHNSTON July 19, 2019 at 10:58

    Have been trying to get my disability for a number of years.

  56. W. Phillips July 19, 2019 at 10:57

    All in Gods time

  57. Cornelius Thomas July 19, 2019 at 10:51

    I think it’s a bunch of bull .They get you in speed the process up true enough but deny you even if the proof is in plan writing .That’s how I was done and a couple of my friends that was waiting on the bva to make a decision .We lost all back pay and now it’s back at the normal stage to be viewed by a dro .So with that being said guys keep your regular process I had a 60percent rating and it caused a secondary condition and was proven but just because it wasn’t in my medical file I was denied .That’s why it’s called a secondary injury because it happen later on from the main injury but if that’s what you want to do take your chance but I wouldnt recommend to no

    • Lawrence Gamble July 20, 2019 at 12:22

      You should feel lucky, I don’t get anything for my injures. I have a long scar and I have PTSD from a Grenade training exercise and the VA will not recognize the fact that I gotten hurt and hospitalize for my injures. I gets nothing for my service .I’ve been battling for my benefits for over thirty years and still no success. They won’t recognize me and they won’t talk to me about it and what I need. I can’t work and draw no benefits too.

  58. James R. Mahan July 19, 2019 at 10:50

    I am retired from VAHS SAN DIEGO CA. I am ashamed that I was affiliated with them. 2017 I retired VAHCS.IN March. I since move to Tucson. SAZVAHCS. I am now convinced that the Medical side of all of VA is Broken! Inadequate Staffing! From medical technicians, to nursing. And phycians! It’s embarrassing! I have left a couple complaints on President Trumps VA complaint line. Very quick response to them, but nothing is fast wher the Government is concerned. President Lincoln is turning over in hi grave! Very sad!!!

  59. Ignacio Mojica Jr. July 19, 2019 at 10:48

    A federal judge approved 3 of my appeals on mar.12, 2019 on issues I’ve been waiting for 49yrs. The board sent the order back down to regional ofc. in Waco for disbursement. Now they’re making me wait and wait some more. The old washington 2 step all over again..

    • Barbara Medlin-Givens July 19, 2019 at 15:34

      I am sorry to hear this. I was offered a new knee in Basic Training and then would be sent home on a Medical Discharge. I didn’t join to go home! They told me I’d need a new knee by the time I was 40 and 40 years later I need it. I am probably a youngster, didn’t serve during War time like so many of you; however, I’m still a Veteran. I still stand true to the Oath I took. I defend and honor Veterans. Thank you for your service. God bless you and your family

  60. Thomas G. Estes July 19, 2019 at 10:48

    I was a 80% Vietnam (Agent Orange) Disability.
    Type2 Diabetes nerve Neuropathy. Diagnosed
    With 50% Disability. My rating now is 90%. My Hodgekin Lymphnoma is in remission. The way the
    VA calculates ratings is really confusing.

    • Thomas G. Estes July 19, 2019 at 10:50

      I forgot the 50% was sleep apnea

    • Pamela Porter July 20, 2019 at 08:15

      Mr. Estes.
      Thank you for your service. It’s confusing but think if it this way. An example: You start out 100% able. Then you are service connected (sc) 30% which means 70% abled. Then you are awarded 10% sc for hearing loss so it’s 10% of the 70%= .7%. Therefore you don’t received pay for the loss because A only compensates for 10% sv. But then you are awarded 50% for PSTD. So it’s 50 % of 70% = 35% so the give you a combined rating of 30% + 30%=60% sc which makes you 40% abled.

      Then you get awarded 20% for diabetes. So it’s 20% of 40% able which is .80 so VA will round that up to 10%. Add this to your 60%= 70% sc.

      May I suggest that you consider filing for the following if they apply:
      1) hearing loss
      2) depression & anxiety secondary to you cancer
      3) fatigue or other physical changes since your cancer.
      4) Un-employability if you are unable to work
      6) total & permanent

      These will get you either go 100% or a payout of 100%.
      Good luck and I apologized if my I requested suggestions are intrusive. I just want Veterans to be educated about their potential awards.

      Good luck
      Pamela

    • Curtis Wilson July 20, 2019 at 14:26

      The rule of thumb on calculating VA compensation is this: a whole person is considered 0% disabled, 100% whole. I have muliple disabling factors, the largest of which is 70%. This makes me 70% disabled, 30% whole. My next highest disablement is 30%. This percentage is deducted from my “whole” number: 30% of 30% = 9%. My ratings are 79% disabled, 21% whole. The next highest disability is also 30%. 30%of 21% = 6.3%, but fractions are not normally calculated in. So, 85% disclosed, 15% whole. And so forth, largest percentage rating to lowest.
      I have 200% disability in rated issues, but am 100% compensible with no permanent and total yet on my records. Took 32 years to get that.

  61. KEN EARL JOHNSTON July 19, 2019 at 10:46

    How do I file my claim with veterans appeal moderation act?

  62. William Wise July 19, 2019 at 10:45

    I agree, why the hassles? I can’t breathe worse plus there are more issues so why don’t I get the increase? All these “acts” prolong in hope of death of the veteran!

  63. Jorge L. Del valle July 16, 2019 at 23:00

    You are not alone mine has been 4.5 years and they keep asking for my dates of service and federal rule states that for pension benefits it applies but for claim dIssability you qualified if honorable discharged.Even if you were active duty for training and became injured the same week you joined you must qualified .

    • Tony Acosta July 19, 2019 at 10:39

      Yes. The VA reps are not full trained therefore, our rules get convoluted because of the bad advise. I do not see a change in the competency of the VA. The VA does is tell congress something different than the true reality of it all.

      I recommend the we (Veterans) use our Congress person to report such untrue and incomprehensible assistance by the VA.

  64. Ted Simmerman July 16, 2019 at 10:57

    I’m 100% permanent and totally disabled Vietnam Veteran wh has been attempting to have my local VA dental Services to refer me to a local dental implant Center. This has been going on for 5+ years!! THEY do not even return my calls or faxes. The Vietnam War is the war everyone loves to hate. This includes the VAs Medical Center in Boise

    • john jaklich July 19, 2019 at 10:49

      Agree with you on that…had 4 claims over 40 + years and I was intimidated, accused of lying and expected to provide photographs and evidence which would be virtually impossible to find if it even existed. The VA is going through a “makeover” of their image and they really don’t care about the men and women who suffer a life of misery because of their wars and the nightmares servicemen had to go through….it is all a show. They refused the evidences and witnesses I presented while accusing me of lying about the conditions….they won’t ask my wife or family about the symptoms and facts of what that war did to me. I feel sorry for the soldiers fighting these endless wars around the war while our country is being invaded by enemies who can come in and get better benefits than we did.

    • Victor Sellers July 19, 2019 at 11:34

      Vietnam Veterans are the vets that all of government hates to have anything to do with. My benefits and my medical records proving Exposure to Agent Orange was more likely than not the cause of me being hospitalized in Vietnam for a month. I never recovered, never got the “ time ordered “ to stabilize, never had a PEBLO assigned, never given one minute of legal assistance, never received my medical treatment records, and I am still asking for them 48 years later. They are waiting me out, because I originally filed in 1983 and never received a single a single record from our requests. We are waiting for justice as death is winning the race. Good employees forced to sh*t on us because management don’t want their name involved

  65. Lise Brown July 15, 2019 at 21:07

    Just another bad program. My RAMP has been going on for 3 years with no answer. They keep asking for the same information from the doctors over and over. My hearing in front of the appeals judge was more than 3 years ago, he sent it back to the original deciding entity, it went to RAMP in October 2016 and they apparently can’t get it done. I get no answers. This has been going on for 7 years now. The VA needs to get it together!

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