Jim,

I just talked to a vet who got a DRO decision granting an increase. He is owed roughly $20,000 in back benefits. The 1-800 VA people told him the retro would not be issued until he either submits a Form9 to continue to the BVA or lets the 60 day period lapse and ends the appeal.

This is a new one to me. No matter what he does, he is owed the retro now. What am I missing?

Reply:

I'd have to guess that the people of the toll free number are the weak link. As is so often the case, those people really have no clue what they're talking about.

This is one of my great frustrations with the way the system performs. EVERYBODY believes they are an expert.

I hear it daily..."The social worker said..."; "My doctor told me I was at least 100% disabled..."; "A VA rep informed me..."; and on and on. The toll free number and the VONAPP site do more harm to more veterans than any other thing I can think of. That EBenefits site is right up there for mass distribution of misinformation. I urge veterans to avoid all of that and stick to the methods we know work best.

If because of a recent favorable decision, that veteran is waiting for his retro to be deposited, he should stay away from the phone and wait patiently.

To my knowledge, once the veteran has received his award letter, the process of retro payment is in motion. When he gets the deposit will depend on the cycle his VARO is in to process his payment. Or it may be the phase of the moon, synchronized to the tides. Either one is about as reliable as the other.

I tell vets to wait for the first of the month following the letter. If the letter arrives within 10 days of the end of the month, the vet may wait until the next 1st of the month. If he hasn't seen it by then, he must write a letter, not call the toll free number. Or he can contact his Congressional representative and that usually works well.

The answer he was given by the toll free number staff proves that old adage that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

The folks at the toll free number usually have a little knowledge...very little.