Jim,
First I want to thank you for running this website, it is helping me unravel a disastrous start to my retirement C&P claim.
Real quick, do you find it helpful to write a personal letter to the VA and upload it to the eBenefits site? I have heard both yes and no so wanted an experts opinion. Thanks Again.
Reply:
I don't recommend using the eBenefits site at all. Having said that, I'm not sure what a "personal letter" would accomplish?
VA operates on laws, rules and regulations. They don't pay any attention to pleas of financial distress, family problems or anger. The rater won't personalize a claim, he or she will only look at the law. The way the rater will try to look at your claim is to determine whether or not you are eligible for a particular benefit by law. If you are, you get the award. Otherwise, you don't.
I hear from a lot of veterans who tell me that they want VA to hurry because they *need* the benefit. VA doesn't care if a vet needs a benefit, they care only if the vet is eligible for the benefit. If a veteran is behind on his mortgage, can't pay his child support and his car was just repossessed, VA won't pay that any attention. If the veteran isn't eligible for the benefit award, none of those things will matter.
Sometimes a "buddy letter" will help but those are rare events. Usually a supporting statement will best come from a witness to an event that has some effect on your claim.