HELP!!!! VA needs more info!!!

[kimmyk]

Hello...I have posted on here before and now I need someone to help me.  Background: My father is a WWII veteran, 87 yrs old, and has my disabilities. My mom just recently passed away. They are well under the cap for income requirements.  I mailed the A&A package on 10/13/11 and sent in my intent to file a claim on 9/08/11. Well on 11/04/11 I received a letter from the VA asking for the following information: Interest income from CD's for the dates of 9/08/11 thru 9/30/12. Now how in world can anyone predict interest rates that far into the future. So I went to the credit union and they gave me a statement of interest received up to the end of November.  The clerk wrote a note on it stating "cannot predict future rates". She stamped it and signed her name. OK, so I have that.  They also want a Medical Expense report because, dumb me, forgot to include it in the package. So I sat down and typed everything in the report that they had expenses for regarding the claim. They would like statements from witnesses who can attest to my father's disabilities. My father is on Hospice so the nurse and doctor are writing these as well as the caregivers. Now the part I am confused about is I sent the VA form 21-22A (Appointment of Individual as Claimant's Representative) signed by me and my father but they tell us that I am NOT accredited with the department and therefore they have not appointed me as my father's rep and that I can only help him with this claim one time only. So, can someone please tell me what they are talking about here? How do I become accredited with the VA? The have also sent a request to my fathers doctor asking for copies of treatment records and I sent to them a VA form 21-2680. Does anyone understand and can give me some answers? I really would appreciate it.  Thanks in advance. Kim

[vetadmin]

Kim,

Don't worry about the 21-22a.  The VA doesn't really work with that form anymore.  You must have missed the info on that.  What you need or needed is the VA form 21-0845 Approved 3rd Party.

They should not need treatment copies if the 21-2680 was completed properly.  If your Dad gets his medical treatments from the VA, they can get the copies themselves.  If his Dr. is a private physician, just have them make copies of his last physical or anything realvant.  I would include a letter stating that he is entitled to expediting processing, and that they have his physician's assessment of him along with the fact he is on Hospice.

Let us know how things turn out, and good luck.

[kimmyk]

Hi Debbie and thank you for your response.  I did mail the 21-0845 also. Sorry I did miss the info on the 21-22a. Also, my father has a private doctor and the VA is requesting treatment records from him. I will call DR tomorrow to follow up with them since the VA said it is our responsibility to make sure the VA receives it. I am also including letters from caregivers and witnesses stating my fathers disabilities which the VA suggested. I have prepared a letter on the statement of claim and I was wondering if I could email it to you so you can see if everything looks OK. I feel so overwhelmed with this especially after just losing my mom. Any help you can provide would be most appreciated. By the way they are only giving us 30 days to reply so I am getting everything together this week and then having it FEDEX to them before 12-4-11. Again thank you for your help.   

[vetadmin]

Kim,

You are welcome, and you can email me for a review, but keep in mind that I can't really advise you on this, but I can make a "suggestion" or two.

Send it to me at vethelp@veteranaid.org