CONTACTS 

SUBJECTS
AMVETS Respond Submit Information Evidence VA Benefits Claim Service

4503 -
4503 -    ..
4504 - Summary/Objective
4505 -
450501 - Follow up ref SDS 33 0000. ref SDS 32 0000.
450502 -
450503 -
450504 -
450506 -  ..
4506 -
4507 -
4508 - Background
4509 -
450901 - On 091218 0541 at 1508 while recovering from Heller Myotomy surgery to
450902 - resolve achalasia, Rodney McClain visited in the hospital room at the
450903 - VA Medical Center in San Francisco. ref SDS 23 X44J  At that time,
450904 - signed Form 21-526 for VA benefits, which Rodney indicated would be
450905 - processed by his Department of Services and Rehabilitation in the
450906 - State of California, which has an office in the Medical Center.
450907 - ref SDS 23 HQ5N
450909 -  ..
450910 - On 100113 1522 received letter from VA notifying that documents filed
450911 - by AMVETS requires information to complete processing. ref SDS 27 4M9K
450912 - The VA sent a copy to AMVETS, ref SDS 27 FP9K, and indicated that
450913 - AMVETS as the veteran's representative, ref SDS 27 D25H, should sign a
450914 - response notice. ref SDS 27 7Y3J
450916 -  ..
450917 - On 100208 sent a letter to AMVETS asking for status of their response
450918 - to the VA letter dated 100106, and received on 100113. ref SDS 28 PP8W
450920 -  ..
450921 - On 100209 0934 called and left message about receiving the letter sent
450922 - to AMVETS on 100208, ref SDS 28 PP8W, asking about progress responding
450923 - to VA's letter dated 100106, and received on 100113. ref SDS 27 4M9K
450924 - asking for information. ref SDS 29 PP8W
450926 -  ..
450927 - On 100211 1139 called and left follow up message on letter sent to
450928 - AMVETS. ref SDS 30 PP8W
450930 -  ..
450931 - On 100212 0823 AMVETS called responding to calls the past few days,
450932 - asking about progress responding to the letter sent to AMVETS by the
450933 - VA asking for information on claim filed by AMVETS. ref SDS 31 PP8W
450935 -  ..
450936 - On 100212 0830 at 0940 received letter saying AMVETS performing all
450937 - filings and so patient not required to take any action on VA letter
450938 - dated 100106. ref SDS 31 AP4L
450940 -  ..
450941 - On 100215 0915 letter asks for copy of AMVETS response to VA
450942 - requesting information on filing, as planned in AMVETS letter to
450943 - patient on 100212, ref SDS 32 PP8W, saying that AMVETS would respond
450944 - for the patient to the VA. 100212 0823, ref SDS 31 AP4L
450946 -  ..
450947 - On 100224 0837 called AMVETS to get copy of response to VA letter
450948 - dated 100106, asking for information on filing, and received on
450949 - 100113, ref SDS 27 4M9K, and to confirm AMVETS letter on 100212 saying
450950 - a memo would be sent to the VA. ref SDS 31 AP4L, call today asks for
450951 - copy of AMVETS letter showing their response was sent. ref SDS 33 PP8W
450953 -  ..
450954 - On 100225 1109 AMVETS called and said a copy of AMVETS letter to the
450955 - VA on 100212 would be submitted to the patient. ref SDS 0 PP8W
450956 -
450957 -
450959 -  ..
4510 -
4511 -
4512 - Progess
4513 -
451301 - Rodney called this morning returning the call from yesterday on
451302 - 100224. ref SDS 33 PP8W  Rodney had not read the letter sent to AMVETS
451303 - on 100215, ref SDS 32 PP8W, asking for a copy of AMVETS letter to the
451304 - VA, which was planned for submission on 100212, ref SDS 31 AP4L, to
451305 - respond to the VA's letter dated 100106, and received in the record on
451306 - 100113, ref SDS 27 4M9K, and which asked for information from AMVETS
451307 - to complete processing the filng AMVETS made for the patient, as
451308 - planned in the meeting at the VA Medical Center in San Francisco on
451309 - 091218. ref SDS 23 X44J
451311 -  ..
451312 - After reviewing the letter to AMVETS on 100215, ref SDS 32 PP8W, and
451313 - AMVETS letter on 100212, ref SDS 31 AP4L, Rodney asked if the request
451314 - on 100215 for a copy of AMVETS letter to the VA was lack of trust in
451315 - AMVETS?
451316 -
451317 -            [On 100225 1544 VA letter dated 100222 reports VA still
451318 -            processing claim, and that veteran will be notified when
451319 -            work is completed. ref SDS 34 4M9K   VA does not report
451320 -            receiving additional information filed by AMVETS, shown in
451321 -            the record on 100212. ref SDS 31 AP4L
451323 -             ..
451324 -            [On 100226 1624 received AMVETS memo dated 100212, and sent
451325 -            to the VA, responding to VA's letter dated 100106, asking
451326 -            for additional information; AMVETS memo is not cited in the
451327 -            VA's letter sent 10 days later on 100222, ref SDS 35 5Q71,
451328 -            as shown in the record today. ref SDS 34 4M9K
451330 -  ..
451331 - Explained that documentation is a common practice to apply management
451332 - standards on traceability to original sources that avoid mistakes,
451333 - reported on 950721. ref SDS 1 1740
451335 -  ..
451336 - Rodney said he would investigate for AMVETS' response to the VA's
451337 - letter on 100106, and received on 100113, requesting information.
451338 - ref SDS 27 SU3X
451339 -
451341 -  ..
4514 -
4515 -
4516 - 1033
4517 -
451701 - Rodney called back and said that his boss told him that AMVETS sent a
451702 - letter responding to the VA's letter dated on 100106, and as planned
451703 - in AMVETS letter on 100212. ref SDS 31 AP4L
451705 -  ..
451706 - Rodney said that AMVETS will send a printed copy to the patient of
451707 - AMVETS' letter showing the date and scope of response to the VA's
451708 - request dated 100106, for information, as shown in the record on
451709 - 100113. ref SDS 27 SU3X
451710 -
451711 -            [On 100225 1544 VA letter dated 100222 reports VA still
451712 -            processing claim, and that veteran will be notified when
451713 -            work is completed. ref SDS 34 4M9K   VA does not report
451714 -            receiving additional information filed by AMVETS, shown in
451715 -            the record on 100212. ref SDS 31 AP4L
451717 -             ..
451718 -            [On 100226 1624 received AMVETS memo dated 100212, and sent
451719 -            to the VA, responding to VA's letter dated 100106, asking
451720 -            for additional information; AMVETS memo is not cited in the
451721 -            VA's letter sent 10 days later on 100222, ref SDS 35 5Q71,
451722 -            as shown in the record today. ref SDS 34 4M9K
451724 -  ..
451725 - Rodney explained that sending an electronic file using email would
451726 - take more time and expense than making a copy of AMVETS letter and
451727 - sending it by regular US mail.  Therefore, cannot get an electronic
451728 - file from AMVETS.
451729 -
451730 -
451731 -
451732 -
451733 -
451734 -
451735 -
4518 -