Jim,

back in 2006 and 2007 I was getting 50%. In 2006 I put in a claim that was denied and I appealed it. I recently had a medical appointment and VARO approved the claim as service connected, which upped my disability back from the date of appeal to 60%. I even got a letter from VARO saying it was approved and that my percentage in 2006/2007 is 60%. In jan 2008 I received 80% with UI. So the bottom line is that VA owes me the difference between 60% a month vice 50% a month (CDRP) for the two years with 3 dependents, and it comes to a little over $5,000.

The letter was dated June 13 and the letter said I would get the compensation the first of the following month (July), by direct deposit in my bank account. Well, it did not show up so I sent an email to both VARO and DFAS. VARO said they sent the letter to DFAS for appropriate action. DFAS said words to the effect that VARO is responsible. Finally today I got an email from VARO that they are working with DFAS. Jim, they do this for a living. I got the letter, read it, and it took me 15 minutes to go back on line, figure out the monthly disability benefit in 2006 and 2007 for both 50% and 60% with 3 dependents and 5 minutes later I had the result. Hard to believe it takes them so long to resolve the issue. Is this normal? When I got the 50% I got my disability the following month, and the same with 80% with UI and also a pretty good chunk of back pay. Is DFAS ultimately responsible for the amount of payment on CDRP and getting it deposited in the bank account? Thanks.

Reply:

Normal? That depends on the standard you use to define normal.

Is it the way services for our military veterans should be handled? No, of course not. Is it the way it is and what we have to deal with? Yes, unfortunately, this sort of service is exactly what veterans have come to expect.

Without being able to review all of your records, I can't offer an opinion on just what you may be owed. DoD (DFAS) and VA don't play well together at any level. This is true of pay issues as well as medical and other records.

The best advice I can offer is that you shouldn't use email. I urge vets to always use certified mail, RRR with all communications. Beyond that, you have to keep the pressure up. It may take months or even years to reach a proper resolution. Many veterans give up and a lot of vets believe that this is the intent of making the process so difficult.