VSO Screw Up / What do I do now?
Today I had my HLR informal conference from my first claim (Aug 2024).
They said they'll send it back to the examiner as they missed a couple things, but they did not receive my personal statement (that I sent to VSO to put with my package), and that to maximize my rating I may need to do a supplemental claim.
Questions:
Do I provide my ORIGINAL personal statement with three month IBS/pain tracker that my VSO failed to submit, or do I need to make a new one?
- My thinking is I submit my one with my July 28, 2024 signature... as I don't have 3 months of data to do a new tracker
As long as I get my supplemental in within the next few months, does the decision backdate to my original ITF date? or the date of the supplemental filing? It's already nearing one year past the decision date.
Is there ANY recourse on the VSO or any way the VSO can say, "oops - my bad, veteran sent this to me on July 16, I missed including it" ?
Is the HLR person 'helping' me by letting me know I'll likely have to do a supplemental?
Lessons I've learned: (Learn fro my mistakes)
- once you get over the guilt and take the first step, it's hard, but not as hard as you think
- no one cares about your claim as much as you do
- ask questions (here or elsewhere), people are willing to help
- you learned to 'hurry up and wait' in the military, just do it here too and time passes easier