THE WELCH COMPANY
440 Davis Court #1602
San Francisco, CA 94111-2496
415 781 5700
rodwelch@pacbell.net
S U M M A R Y
DIARY: January 13, 2010 03:22 PM Wednesday;
Rod Welch
Received letter from VA for benefits initiated last month at Medical Center.
1...Summary/Objective
..............
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CONTACTS
SUBJECTS
Benefits Claim Evidence Requested Service Seperation Form DD214 Medi
1403 -
1403 - ..
1404 - Summary/Objective
1405 -
140501 - Follow up ref SDS 23 0000. ref SDS 22 0000.
140502 -
140503 -
140504 -
140506 - ..
1406 -
1407 -
1408 - Background
1409 -
140901 - On 091218 0541 at 1508 while recovering from Heller Myotomy surgery to
140902 - resolve achalasia, Rodney McClain visited in the hospital room at the
140903 - VA Medical Center in San Francisco. ref SDS 23 X44J At that time,
140904 - signed Form 21-526 for VA benefits, which Rodney indicated would be
140905 - processed by his Department of Services and Rehabilitation in the
140906 - State of California, which had an office in the Medical Center.
140907 - ref SDS 23 HQ5N
140909 - ..
140910 - On 100113 1522 received letter from VA notifying that documents filed
140911 - by AMVETS requires information to complete processing. ref SDS 0 4M9K
140912 - The VA sent a copy to AMVETS, ref SDS 0 FP9K, and indicated that
140913 - AMVETS as the veteran's representative, ref SDS 0 D25H, should sign a
140914 - response notice. ref SDS 0 7Y3J
140915 -
140917 - ..
1410 -
1411 -
1412 - Progress
1413 -
141301 - Today, received a letter in the mail, with a copy to AMVETS,
141302 - ref SDS 0 FP9K, and saying the following...
141303 -
141304 - 1. Department of Veterans Affairs
141305 - Pension Management Center (335/21P)
141306 - Bishop Henry Wipple Fed Bldg
141307 - PO Box 1100
141308 - St Paul, MN 55111 0000
141310 - ..
141311 - 2. January 6, 2010
141318 - ..
141319 - 4. Subject: 335/21P
141322 - Important -reply needed
141324 - ..
141327 - ..
141328 - 5. We are working on your claim for
141329 -
141330 - Non Service Connected Pension
141332 - ..
141333 - 6. Please note that your claim will be processed at the Pension
141334 - Maintenance Center, St Paul, Minnesota and not at the VA
141335 - Regional Office where your claim was initially filed.
141336 -
141337 - [On 100225 1544 VA letter dated 100222 reports VA still
141338 - processing claim, and that veteran will be notified when
141339 - work is completed. ref SDS 35 4M9K VA does not report
141340 - receiving additional information filed by AMVETS, shown in
141341 - the record on 100212. ref SDS 31 AP4L
141343 - ..
141344 - [On 100604 1520 VA approves pension disability claim,
141345 - received letter dated 100601, payments effective 091222.
141346 - ref SDS 38 RJ8J
141348 - ..
141349 - This letter tells you what we will do with your claim and what
141350 - you can do to help us. Please read the enclosure to this
141351 - letter entitled, "Veteran Claim Assistance Act (VCAA)." The
141352 - enclosure explains how we obtain evidence related to your
141353 - claim and teh legal requirements for supporting your claim.
141355 - ..
141356 - 7. What Do We Still Need from You?
141357 -
141358 - We need additional evidence from you. Please put your VA file
141359 - number on the first page of every document you send us.
141360 -
141361 - a. We need an original or certified copy to verify your
141362 - service. Any original documents will be returned to you.
141363 - Our regulation requires that any copy or abstract of the DD
141364 - Form 214 or other seperation document must be certified by:
141366 - ..
141367 - Treatment at VA in San Francisco demonstrates DD 214 form is on file,
141368 - since it is required to get treatment. The VA Clinic in Martinez, CA
141369 - obtained form DD 214 to justify providing medical services, reported
141370 - on 050610 1000. ref SDS 3 KH6I
141371 -
141372 - [On 100208 1611 letter asks AMVETS if all information
141373 - has been submitted, ref SDS 28 BS3T, as planned in
141374 - the meeting at the VA Medical Center on 091218.
141375 - ref SDS 23 HQ5N
141377 - ..
141378 - [On 100209 0934 called and left message about AMVETS
141379 - progress responding to VA's letter on 100106, asking
141380 - for information on AMVETS filing, ref SDS 29 PP8W,
141381 - and which was received on 100113 1522. ref SDS 27
141382 - 4M9K
141384 - ..
141385 - [On 100211 1139, called and left another message,
141386 - ref SDS 30 PP8W, about AMVETS progress responding to
141387 - the letter on 100208, ref SDS 28 PP8W, and
141388 - transmitting VA's letter dated 100106, asking for
141389 - information on AMVETS filing, and which was received
141390 - on 100113 1522. ref SDS 27 4M9K
141392 - ..
141393 - [On 100212 0823 AMVETS called, ref SDS 31 PP8W,
141394 - responding to several messages left the past few
141395 - days; Rodney reported that AMVETS received the letter
141396 - from the VA dated 100106, but he did not receive the
141397 - letter from the patient sent to AMVETS on 100208,
141398 - ref SDS 28 PP8W, and transmitting another copy of the
141399 - VA letter dated 100106, shown in the record on
141400 - 100113. ref SDS 27 4M9K Rodney will review
141401 - correspondence and call back to present AMVETS work
141402 - plan and schedule for processing the filing in this
141403 - case. ref SDS 31 PK65
141405 - ..
141406 - [On 100212 0823 at 0858 AMVETS called back and sent a
141407 - letter advising that all necessary information will
141408 - be submitted to the VA for processing AMVETS filing,
141409 - ref SDS 31 Q88H, as requested in VA's letter dated
141410 - 100106, and which was received on 100113. ref SDS 27
141411 - SU3X
141413 - ..
141414 - [On 100215 0915 requested copy of AMVETS letter to
141415 - VA, ref SDS 32 4Q36, showing response to the VA
141416 - letter dated 100106, and received on 100113.
141417 - ref SDS 27 RS4J
141419 - ..
141420 - [On 100224 0837 called and left message asking about
141421 - progress submitting copy to the patient of AMVETS'
141422 - letter to the VA, ref SDS 33 PP8W, as planned in
141423 - AMVETS's letter to the patient on 100212, ref SDS 31
141424 - AP4L, planning response to VA's letter dated 100106,
141425 - received on 100113. ref SDS 27 SU3X, all as requested
141426 - in the letter to AMVETS on 100215. ref SDS 32 PP8W
141428 - ..
141429 - [On 100225 1011 AMVETS called and advised that AMVETS
141430 - responded to VA's letter dated 100106 (received on
141431 - 100113, ref SDS 0 4M9K), and would submit a copy to
141432 - the customer. ref SDS 34 PQ9W
141434 - ..
141435 - [On 100225 1544 VA letter dated 100222 reports VA
141436 - still processing claim, and that veteran will be
141437 - notified when work is completed. ref SDS 35 4M9K VA
141438 - does not report receiving additional information
141439 - filed by AMVETS, shown in the record on 100212.
141440 - ref SDS 31 AP4L
141442 - ..
141443 - [On 100226 1624 received AMVETS memo dated 100212,
141444 - and sent to the VA, responding to VA's letter dated
141445 - 100106, asking for additional information; AMVETS
141446 - memo is not cited in the VA's letter sent 10 days
141447 - later on 100222, ref SDS 36 5Q71, as shown in the
141448 - record today. ref SDS 35 4M9K
141450 - ..
141451 - [On 100427 1118 received letter saying VA processing
141452 - pension application, ref SDS 37 4M9K, does not say VA
141453 - has received information requested today, per above,
141454 - ref SDS 0 SU3X, and which AMVETS reported was
141455 - submitted to the VA in a letter received on 100226
141456 - 1624. ref SDS 36 WZ6O
141458 - ..
141459 - 1) A public custodian of records who certifies that it
141460 - is a true and exact copy of the document in the
141461 - custodian's custody, or
141463 - ..
141464 - 2) Service organization representative who has
141465 - successfully completed VA-prescribed training on
141466 - military records, and who certifies that it is a true
141467 - and exact copy of either an original document or of a
141468 - copy issued by the service department of public
141469 - custodian records.
141471 - ..
141472 - b. Please provide medical evidence of your permanent inability
141473 - to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due
141474 - to disability.
141475 -
141476 - [On 100208 1611 letter asks AMVETS if all information
141477 - has been submitted, ref SDS 28 BS3T, as planned in
141478 - the meeting at the VA Medical Center on 091218.
141479 - ref SDS 23 HQ5N
141481 - ..
141482 - [On 100212 0823 at 0858 AMVETS called back and sent a
141483 - letter advising that all necessary information will
141484 - be submitted to the VA for processing AMVETS filing,
141485 - ref SDS 31 Q88H, as requested in VA's letter dated
141486 - 100106, and which was received on 100113. ref SDS 27
141487 - SU3X
141489 - ..
141490 - [On 100212 0823 request copy showing AMVETS response
141491 - to VA letter dated 100106 requesting information on
141492 - AMVETS filing. ref SDS 31 VR3F
141494 - ..
141495 - [On 100225 1544 VA letter dated 100222 reports VA
141496 - still processing claim, and that veteran will be
141497 - notified when work is completed. ref SDS 35 4M9K VA
141498 - does not report receiving additional information
141499 - filed by AMVETS, shown in the record on 100212.
141500 - ref SDS 31 AP4L
141502 - ..
141503 - c. We may ask the VA medical facility nearest you to schedule
141504 - you for an examination. They will contact you about when
141505 - and where to report for the exam. This exam is very
141506 - important. Without it, we may have to deny your claim, or
141507 - you might be paid less than you otherwise would. If you
141508 - can't report for the examination as scheduled, contact the
141509 - medical facility and arrange a more convenient place or
141510 - time. Their letter will give you the phone number to call.
141512 - ..
141513 - d. Send us any treatment records related to your claimed
141514 - condition(s). This includes reports or statements from
141515 - doctors, hospitals, laboratories, medical facilities,
141516 - mental health clinics, xrays, physical therapy records,
141517 - surgical reports, etc. These should include the dates of
141518 - treatment, findings, and diagnoses. If you want us to try
141519 - to obtain any doctor, hosptial or medical reports on your
141520 - behalf, please complete and return the attached VA Form
141521 - 21-4142, Authorization and Consent to Release Information.
141523 - ..
141524 - e. If you have received treatemet at Department of Veterans
141525 - Affairs (VA) facility or treatment authorized by VA, please
141526 - tell us the dates and places of treatment. We will then
141527 - obtain the necessary records if you give us enough
141528 - information to locate them.
141529 -
141530 - [On 100208 1611 letter asks AMVETS if all information
141531 - has been submitted, ref SDS 28 BS3T, as planned in
141532 - the meeting at the VA Medical Center on 091218.
141533 - ref SDS 23 HQ5N
141535 - ..
141536 - [On 100212 0823 at 0858 AMVETS called back and sent a
141537 - letter advising that all necessary information will
141538 - be submitted to the VA for processing AMVETS filing,
141539 - ref SDS 31 Q88H, as requested in VA's letter dated
141540 - 100106, and which was received on 100113. ref SDS 27
141541 - SU3X
141543 - ..
141544 - [On 100212 0823 request copy showing AMVETS response
141545 - to VA letter dated 100106 requesting information on
141546 - AMVETS filing. ref SDS 31 VR3F
141548 - ..
141549 - [On 100225 1544 VA letter dated 100222 reports VA
141550 - still processing claim, and that veteran will be
141551 - notified when work is completed. ref SDS 35 4M9K VA
141552 - does not report receiving additional information
141553 - filed by AMVETS, shown in the record on 100212.
141554 - ref SDS 31 AP4L
141556 - ..
141557 - f. You may also send us your own statement, or statements from
141558 - people who have witnessed how your claimed disibilities
141559 - affect you. All statements subitted on your behalf should
141560 - conclude with the following certification: "I hereby
141561 - certify that the information I have given is true to the
141562 - best of my knowledge and belief."
141564 - ..
141565 - g. We have enclosed a "VCAA Notice Response." We encourage
141566 - you to return this document as it may expedite a decision
141567 - on your claim.
141569 - ..
141570 - 8. Where Should You Send What We Need?
141571 -
141572 - Please send what we need to this address:
141573 -
141574 - Department of Veterans Affairs
141575 - Pension Management Center (335/21P)
141576 - Bishop Henry Whipple Fed Bldg
141577 - PO Box 11000
141578 - St Paul, MN 55111 0000
141580 - ..
141581 - 9. How Soon Should You Send What We Need?
141582 -
141583 - We strongly encourage you to send any information or evidence
141584 - as soon as you can. If we do not hear from you, we may make a
141585 - decision on your claim after 30 days. However, you have up to
141586 - one year from the date of this letter to submit the information
141587 - and evidence necessary to support your claim. If we decide
141588 - your claim before one year from the date of this letter, you
141589 - will still have the remainder of the one yera period to submit
141590 - additional information or evidence necessary to support your
141591 - claim.
141592 -
141593 - [On 100208 1611 letter asks AMVETS if all information has
141594 - been submitted, ref SDS 28 BS3T, as planned in the meeting
141595 - at the VA Medical Center on 091218. ref SDS 23 HQ5N
141597 - ..
141598 - [On 100212 0823 at 0858 AMVETS called back and sent a
141599 - letter advising that all necessary information will be
141600 - submitted to the VA for processing AMVETS filing,
141601 - ref SDS 31 Q88H, as requested in VA's letter dated 100106,
141602 - and which was received on 100113. ref SDS 27 SU3X
141604 - ..
141605 - [On 100212 0823 request copy showing AMVETS response to VA
141606 - letter dated 100106 requesting information on AMVETS
141607 - filing. ref SDS 31 VR3F
141609 - ..
141610 - [On 100225 1544 VA letter dated 100222 reports VA still
141611 - processing claim, and that veteran will be notified when
141612 - work is completed. ref SDS 35 4M9K VA does not report
141613 - receiving additional information filed by AMVETS, shown in
141614 - the record on 100212. ref SDS 31 AP4L
141616 - ..
141617 - 10. What Have We Received?
141618 -
141619 - a. Your claim for benefits, which we received on December 22,
141620 - 2009.
141621 -
141622 - b. VA Form 21-526, Veteran's Application for Compensation
141623 - and/or Pension.
141625 - ..
141626 - 11. What Have We Done?
141627 -
141628 - Verification of Service by the National Personnel Records
141629 - Center.
141631 - ..
141632 - 12. How Can You Contact Us?
141633 -
141634 - If you are looking for general information about benefits and
141635 - eligibility, you should visit our web site at...
141636 -
141637 - http://www.va.gov
141639 - ..
141640 - Otherwise, you can contact us in several ways. Please give us
141641 - your VA file number...
141644 -
141645 - ...when you do contact us.
141646 -
141647 - a. Call us at 1 877 294 6380. If you use a Telecommunications
141648 - Device for the Deaf (TDD), the number is 1 800 829 4833
141650 - ..
141651 - b. Send us an inquiry using the Internet at...
141652 -
141653 - http://iris.va.gov
141655 - ..
141656 - c. Write to us at the address at the top of this letter.
141658 - ..
141659 - 13. We look forward to resolving your claim in a fair and timely
141660 - manner.
141662 - ..
141663 - 14. Sincerely yours,
141664 -
141665 - /s/ TA Olson
141667 - ..
141668 - TA Olson
141669 - Pension Management Center Manager
141671 - ..
141672 - 15. Enclosure(s)
141673 -
141674 - a. Veterans Claims Assistance Act (VCAA)
141675 - What the Evidence Must Show - NSC Live Pension
141677 - ..
141678 - b. VCAA Notice Response
141680 - ..
141681 - 16. cc: AMVETS
141683 - ..
141684 - 21P/005/ZJS
141685 -
141687 - ..
141688 - The second enclosure, ref SDS 0 RN9K, says...
141689 -
141690 - 1. VCAA Notice Response
141691 -
141692 - We provided a notice to you about the evidence and information
141693 - VA needs to support your claim for benefits. At this time, you
141694 - may choose to indicate whether you intend to submit additional
141695 - information or evidence that would help support your claim.
141697 - ..
141698 - Your signed response will let us know whether to decied your
141699 - claim without waiting 30 days or whether we should give you the
141700 - full 30 days from the date of the letter sent with this notice
141701 - repsonse before deciding your claim.
141702 -
141703 - [On 100208 1611 letter asks AMVETS if all information has
141704 - been submitted, ref SDS 28 BS3T, as planned in the meeting
141705 - at the VA Medical Center on 091218. ref SDS 23 HQ5N
141707 - ..
141708 - [On 100212 0823 at 0858 AMVETS called back and sent a
141709 - letter advising that all necessary information will be
141710 - submitted to the VA for processing AMVETS filing,
141711 - ref SDS 31 Q88H, as requested in VA's letter dated 100106,
141712 - and which was received on 100113. ref SDS 27 SU3X
141714 - ..
141715 - [On 100212 0823 request copy showing AMVETS response to VA
141716 - letter dated 100106 requesting information on AMVETS
141717 - filing. ref SDS 31 VR3F
141719 - ..
141720 - [On 100225 1544 VA letter dated 100222 reports VA still
141721 - processing claim, and that veteran will be notified when
141722 - work is completed. ref SDS 35 4M9K VA does not report
141723 - receiving additional information filed by AMVETS, shown in
141724 - the record on 100212. ref SDS 31 AP4L
141726 - ..
141727 - 2. Your signature on this response will not affect:
141728 -
141729 - a. Whether or not you are entitled to VA benefits.
141730 -
141731 - b. The amount of benefits to which you may be entitled,
141732 -
141733 - c. The assistance VA wil provide you in obtaining evidence to
141734 - support your claim; or
141736 - ..
141737 - d. The date any benefits will begin if your claim is granted.
141739 - ..
141740 - 3. Response
141741 -
141742 - I elect one of the following: (Whichever box you check, you
141743 - have one year from the date of the notice to give VA any other
141744 - information or evidence you think will support your claim.)
141745 -
141746 - a. I have enclosed all the remaining information or evidence
141747 - that will support my claim, or I have no other information
141748 - or evidence to give VA to support my claim. Please decide
141749 - my claim as soon as possible.
141751 - ..
141752 - b. I will send more information or evidence to VA to support
141753 - my claim. VA will wait the full 30 days from the date of
141754 - the letter sent with this notice reponse before deciding my
141755 - claim.
141757 - ..
141758 - 4. Claimant/Representative Signature Date
141759 -
141760 - [On 100208 1611 letter asks AMVETS if all information has
141761 - been submitted, ref SDS 28 BS3T, as planned in the meeting
141762 - at the VA Medical Center on 091218. ref SDS 23 HQ5N
141763 -
141764 - [On 100212 0823 at 0858 AMVETS called back and sent a
141765 - letter advising that all necessary information will be
141766 - submitted to the VA for processing AMVETS filing,
141767 - ref SDS 31 Q88H, as requested in VA's letter dated 100106,
141768 - and which was received on 100113. ref SDS 27 SU3X
141770 - ..
141771 - [On 100212 0823 request copy showing AMVETS response to VA
141772 - letter dated 100106 requesting information on AMVETS
141773 - filing. ref SDS 31 VR3F
141775 - ..
141776 - [On 100225 1011 AMVETS called and advised that AMVETS
141777 - responded to VA's letter dated 100106 (received on 100113,
141778 - ref SDS 27 4M9K), and would submit a copy to the customer.
141779 - ref SDS 34 PQ9W
141781 - ..
141782 - [On 100225 1544 VA letter dated 100222 reports VA still
141783 - processing claim, and that veteran will be notified when
141784 - work is completed. ref SDS 35 4M9K VA does not report
141785 - receiving additional information filed by AMVETS, shown in
141786 - the record on 100212. ref SDS 31 AP4L
141787 -
141788 -
141789 -
141790 -
141791 -
141792 -
1418 -