Has anyone been successful with VRAB? What happens next?

VRAB head office is in Charlottetown, so all correspondence to them will go there. The first "review" hearing will take place at the nearest VAC office to you. At this level you are able to make oral arguments to present your case. If this is unsuccessful, and you appeal VRAB's decision, they will have an appeal hearing in PEI. It used to be that the same lawyer would represent you at both levels, but they have since changed it. Now a new advocate will have to read your file and whatever notes your first advocate provides and they will represent you, basically blind, as the only contact you will have with them is over the phone. You are able to attend that hearing, but at your own expense and you are not allowed to speak, which to me violates the Veterans Bill of Rights that states that we have the right to be involved in any conversation that affects us. To be honest, since the whole process has been proven to be corrupt, I don't think anyone will get a fair trial until VRAB is abolished or the appeal step is more akin to a judicial review, with the Government paying the costs for a judge to hear our case.

As indicated in my note Jan 15, VAC denied me any change to my back condition so I appealed to the advocate and was under the understanding that was they prepared my file we would go in front of a VRAB. A shock today when in the mail I get some paperwork produced by the advocates office but it was sent to PEI for the hearing. The same folks that denied the review last summer. Does anyone know the correct process? Seems a bit biased if one is turned down by VAC Head Office, advised that I could appeal their decision and now my appeal goes back to the same place. Seems one is destined to fail no matter what.

Here is the link to the Table of Disabilities on the VAC website.


Table of Disabilities

Thanx for the advice .. do you have a link to the tables .. I'm lost as where to find them ? thanx Pip.
btw I took a fall in in France 1990 right off my Truck onto my Trailer hitch bamn my shoulder popped right out .. Still remeber laying there hoping some one would walk by omg it took like 20 min's till I was found .. And 8 hr's till I got medical attention ,, Fricking RQ

I was set to a Dr in Nanaimo last summer for reassessment, I was awarded 3/5 pension for my back after taking a fall down a hatch and breaking my back. When I left the military 13 years ago, could walk, bend, dress myself, not a lot if pain unless I overdid things. Now I have to use a cane to walk, wear a brace pretty much all the time, need help to dress, and in pain constantly. Take prescribed morphin and OxyContin like aspirin and was deemed no worse since retirement. My appeal hearing has not been scheduled yet. Good luck, if all goes well you should hear within 16 weeks but may have to appeal. Your own Dr. should look at the tables to give their medical opinion but VAC is all about saving money not about helping he veteran. Good luck hope you make out ok.

I wish all Vac case Mangers were on the same page they all seem lost and never know what there other offices are doing . in the mean time I phoned VAC and ask what's happening with my Pension I won on my Shoulder ? . I was told a letter was drawn up and will arrive at my House in the next couple of Days explaining the next process. that was a week ago and yesterday I got a phone call from Vac to come in for a medical assessment By Vac Doctor in Vic on 21 Jan fo my (R/) Shoulder .. any idea how long the next final stage is ?? thanx Pip

ive only thought about vrab once for my hearing entitlement 2/5ths and was told it these guys were a joke and it would be a waste of time.

situation
1.perfect hearing upon joining the military

2.pentionable hearing loss in right ear only upon realeas entitled at 2/5ths

3.was infantry 20 years as a cpl allways in a rifle battalion ore similar in a fighting position.
fired everything we owned from tow on down and had a lot fired back at me.

4.i just had a reassesment done by dva and i have had no more hearing loss in the last 5 years since releas.

questions:

1.now that i can show that i am not loosing anymore hearing since realeas can i appeal my 2/5ths entitlement to vrab with any chance of sucsess?

2.can i appeal the original entitlement when i was first pentioned for it years ago?

thanks
propat

Once pensioned, your entitled to a reassessment every two years with a VAC doctor. Play there game folks

Thanx for the important info I kinda thought they would pull this same BS ... but it`s way too easy I play ball night before my Medical ... lol that's all it takes ... it `s so criminal how VAC threats us ...

Wow it's like I wrote the above stories myself.....Identical physical pensioned conditions with regards to pain, lack of mobility and range of motion.

I was awarded a 5% at 5/5th back in 2003 and have fought at all department levels to award a percentage that truly justifies the amount of pain I am in on a daily basis. As of today I am now at 15% for my injuries and continue to seek further a higher percentage.

I have over 40 medical reports from specialists/doctors/CT scans/MRI's/etc. and to this day none of it has had an impact on my percentage. VAC tells me I am the same today as I was back in 2003....which is complete BS.

Hang in there, see as many specialists as you can to get different opinions, keep gathering info and keep submitting medical reports.

Not until Veterans are finally given"the benefit of doubt" in accordance with VRAB policy will Vets have a level playing field....and the other tricks that VRAB plays. And the low-balling of percentages...don't get me started on that one!!!!!!!
cheers

I went in front of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board on Nov 7/12 for my Right Shoulder in Victoria .. I first applied in 2004 and was Denied . This time I got really good advise and letter's from 2 witness;s and up todate Xray's.Ultra sounds and a up todate letter from my Civi Doc . I wasn't really advised from my appointed Lawyer to much .. The lawyer seemed a bit lost!! lol.. The Board members (one ex military) thank God and seemed ..to be very Caring and talkative but my Lawyer was f** kinf lost omg .. They made many notesthat I had so many injuries and operation's that I had in the Military and why I was denied ?? They were stunned!! And also Dnd left out 5 years out of my Medical doc's !! .. After 1&1/2 hr's it was over .. They told me a decsion will bemade in about 6 weeks and I'll be sent a letter .. I thanked them for thier Time .
And 4 weeks and 3 days I recieved a letter 5/5 -full pension 3 Years back pay to 2009 .. I phoned My Case Manager and ask what Now .. She seemed lost .. I guess I wait for a call for Medical assesment on injury ? not sure ..

i think to kill 2 birds with one stone so to speek all vrab judicators should be fired and neither vrab ore vac should not be allowed to hire any civi as long as there is so much as one diabled vet out their that is still able to work without a job.yes thats right i mean ejuticated buy a jury of your peers.i know its a crazy idea and something like this may never lead to any kind of justice but heck since the current system if so flawed lets give it a shot.
just my thoughts
propat

Morning! Those guys at VAC make a lot of mistakes and it seems like one hand doesn't know what the other is doing at times. It will get sorted but it just takes time. Something that works in their favor not ours. I myself am not a candidate for surgery because I have the disc disease in 2 consecutive discs which would result in too much restriction in the back. Therefore, I have intractable pain but the VAC doctor never said that. He just gave me credit for loss of mobility, and nothing else. This besides the fact that there is sensory loss in the legs and muscle strength loss between the legs.The BPA assistant told me that he dis not think it was very significant so he made no mention of it. The TOD doesn't require a specific amount, only that the symptom is there so he screwed me - no surprise there!!! I am waiting to see a physiatrist who will be doing a special test to show that there is nerve damage before my doctor will right his report for the appeal. It still boggles me that with a protruding disc at L-5,S-1 (third time too), L4-5 degenerative disc disease, L3 & L2, L-3 & L4 - arthritis, and L-1 degenerative disc disease, the VAC doctor assesses me at such a low rate that I either starve or work in severe pain and aggravate and thus worsen, my condition. I cannot stand for more than 10-15 minutes at most before the numbness starts going down my legs, and cannot sit for very long without shifting around all the time and having to get up and move around as well. Who the hell would ever hire me with those conditions and at my age (50). Last year to add to my whoes, I was diagnosed with diabetes because I am now overwheight because I cannot lead an active lifestyle!
You are very lucky in one aspect - your MP is Peter Stoffer. He is a great guy and wonderful person to have on your side. He tried helping me last year but the Minister of VAC just doesn`t want to know. This man is useless as a Minister and almost always ignores pleas from veterans.I wish you all the very best in your struggles with VAC and the VRAB. It is not easy and really drains you after a while!

Johnee

I have significant narrowing with stenosis at L5-S1, and had 2 major hernitaions that had increased to one massive hernitaion last week at L4-L5, resulting in emergency surgery on Saturday to remove the disk, and fusing the vertebra. The 1/5 was awarded by VRAB, so I was only waiting for VAC to determine the percentage. That was until I received a letter from them saying that they didn't have enough information to make the decision and required to submit a completed medical questionnaire and QoL form. I left a message with the woman working on my claim, since she's out until Monday, saying that they already have that info. After all, my claim would not have been processed without them. If they still need these forms, delaying payment even further, not only are they going to pay more now instead of me waiting for a reassessment in a few years, I'm going to be going to the ombudsmen and my MP, Peter Stoffer over this BS.

Hey bigrex, when I read your post I was struck by some similarities you have with me. First of all, I assume that VAC gave you the 1/5 entitlement/ Now they will set you up with an appointment with their doctor. He will assess you and send the forms in to head office and they have 16 weeks from the day of the appointment to send you a letter. If you appeal the 1/5 entitlement, you will have to appear before 2 members of the board and beg your case for more entitlement.They can reaffirm the 1/5, take it away, or increase it so be careful. They make the decision that day but you wont find out for 16 weeks.I see your condition is degenerative disc disease, so the assessment will not be much, and then they multiply the percentage of your assessment by 1/5 and the small amount that equals is your payment amount.How many discs are affected? I have 2 discs with the disease, one protruding disc, degenerative facet joint change on another and arthritis on the last - so all 5 vertebrae in my lumbar spine are screwed and my assessment under the 2006 tod as of Feb 21 this year was 15%!!!!! Obviously I am going to appeal this because I cannot work, can hardly move, have numbness in my legs, cannot stand or sit for more that about 15-20 minutes at a time without shifting or sitting. The doctor knew this, and had a copy of my CT scan which shows the various conditions in the lumbar spine and STILL assessed me as 15%.My medical was on Feb 21 and I got the reply on July 11.
I also have a fully pensioned right knee and for the last 17 years have been developing a problem with my left knee. VAC refuses to accept my 4 different doctors letters which support my claim that limping for 30 years has caused my left knee to wear out. As well, during my medical, the doctor and I discussed an apparent leg length discrepancy and he was placing mags and flat books under my right foot to see if he could straighten out by back alignment issue (right shoulder is lower than left), yet he put NONE of this in the reports to head office. These VAC doctors are a sham and break their Hippocratic oath all the time - do no harm- by leaving out important information and thus causing lower assessments than should be.