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Hello, recently entered my 17th month waiting to hear back about my current claim, which is odd given my first two only took 3 months. I wanted to see if anyone has had success or tragic horror stories with their VA claims. Has anyone found any success with any particular method or trick in getting their claim reviewed sooner? I try and call now mostly once a week, I've given up on the daily check ins as nothing changes and they sound pissed to talk to me.
How about it? Anyone have any stories about VA disability they want to share?

Not me personally, but I know/have known a lot of retired/ex-military and what I've heard is that generally speaking retirees, officers, E-7ish and up, are generally treated better than enlisted and junior NCOs. I've known way too many officers that got near or 100% disability for borderline bs while I've known a couple enlisted with long-term injuries from IEDs get treated like gak.

It took every bit of two years to get my spine issues resolved as far as disability ratings go. It may have even been three. I know that the profile process was even harder because I had dickbag Spartan Infantry guys blocking every bit of progress as they view weakness as needing purged and that forcing me into a medical retirement because my Lower on my PULHES went from a 1 to a 2 was "doing me a favor".

FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:
Hello, recently entered my 17th month waiting to hear back about my current claim, which is odd given my first two only took 3 months. I wanted to see if anyone has had success or tragic horror stories with their VA claims. Has anyone found any success with any particular method or trick in getting their claim reviewed sooner? I try and call now mostly once a week, I've given up on the daily check ins as nothing changes and they sound pissed to talk to me.
How about it? Anyone have any stories about VA disability they want to share?

Them sounding pissed means it's working. Keep it up.

Not military, but have worked in politics. Call your representative's office, call both of your state Senators. Politely explain the impact this is having on your life and ask what they can do to help.

Each office has a Veteran's Affairs rep who will contact the VA and figure out the delay. At the very least, they will be able to explain why something is taking so long.

So my current claim is cancer backed up by the Battalion surgeon and chief medical officer. We have had 7 other cases of the exact same gliomas in a 175 person unit. Cancer is an automatic 100% presumptive positive. My buddy works for the VA and said that they are dragging their feet on these claims because they are betting the long game that the vets die before they have to pay off the claim. Hell, it's all back money to me. If they grant it in 25 months, that 25 months at 3,700 a month. I am gonna buy so many titans, lol.