Ebenefits– Too Cool For School

After Menalteed’s long battle with the VARO in Seattle, we decided to join the cutting edge of VA access and enlist in the Ebenefits program (See Timeline for Life is Getting Short). We have tried the Myhealthevet and found its promises far outweighed what it delivered. We assumed the same would be true of the benefits site. The jury is still out, but one facet seems to be working marginally. I had my Board hearing on April 5th and the site showed my claim as sitting in Limbo at the RO awaiting snail mail transmission to D.C. Thursday evening I went on and checked it. Bingo. I’m at stage 2. The post office delivered it and it is now there. Since I represent myself I will be skipping Stage 3. 3 is when you have a VSO and they cart it off and leave it on their desk for a month before “reviewing” it. The National organizations all have SOs in D.C. Its a posh assignment. You get to hob nob with all the bigwigs. Nothing meaningful is accomplished but lots of alcohol is consumed in the pursuit of justice.

When Bozo finishes his review, the C-file is returned to the BVA and they set about deciding the claim. He may attach some reasons why you should be granted SC, but they aren’t lawyers so the argument is usually lame and devoid of any legal rationale. If you, the Vet, submit some new evidence late, the SO will grab your file again and more delays will ensue. Stage 4 is when they finally assign this to a VLJ unless you had a Board hearing in person or by video. In that case, the judge who heard your case will be your VLJ on your appeal. Stage 5 is the decision and Stage 6 is the steno pool and mailing of the decision. My appeal was advanced on the docket like Menalteed’s as I am circling the drain, too. The VA tried to kill me to avoid paying me over the course of 4 operations in 2009-10. I’m still alive and I guess they finally decided to face the music and get it over with. We here at Ask Nod think the Ebenefits thing is going to be a big plus for Vets if and when it gets airborne. You will be able to do a number of things on the site. It does require going to a VAMC or the VARO with I.D. to register. You cannot do this on line. VA never makes anything easy. You have probably figured that out by now.