Veterans Benefits Network-Timeline from QTC Exam to Award Letter ???? (2024)

=mediumHello Everyone. Im new to the website. Finally got a chance to log in and post some questions I have.=mediumI have an Attorney very familiar with the VA System. My case is currently on appeal. My orginal file date is Oct 2014....so thats a little over 26 months ago. I had a hearing at the VA office Aug 29, 2016. The DRO told me and my Attorney he would schedule a QTC EXAM for my Shoulder Increase (Currently at 10%) and PTSD. 30 days later I was scheduled for my Shoulder QTC Exam. Then 3 weeks ago on Nov 16, 2016 I finally got a QTC EXAM for PTSD and on the paper in Big Bold Red Letters it said the word "EXPEDITE". Yesterday I picked up the report from the VA Fed Bldg. They Diagnosis Me with Code F43.10 which is PTSD, Unspecfied. The word Unspecfied is a bit unclear to me though. They also Diagnosis me with code F33.1 Question #1

Now that I have been Diagnosis, how long do you think the DRO will take to send me my Award Letter.!!!! Starting to get a bit Anxious now that im so close. Do you think he is working on it a bit faster because of the word EXPEDITE he stamped on the letter for the QTC Exam for PTSD. Thx so much for any information you can provide me with.

Question #2

PS When I went up to the VA Fed Bldg yesterday to get my QTCExam Report my eBenfits page under HistoricalClaims now says:12/06/2016Freedom of Information Act / Privacy Act Request12/06/2016

• =inheritAttention: Decision Notification SentDecision Notification Sent

View Appeal Status

Is this because I picked up the QTC Exam report for the VA Fed Bldg or did the DRO make his Descision and I should be waiting for an Award Letter.

Thx Again.

In reference to Question #1, no one can tell you how long the DRO will take, but based on your information about expediting it, a guestimate of within 3 weeks may be sound. Once the DRO makes the decision, internal preparation to prepare your paperwork, any retro pay (if you are not retired) etc have to be completed because you will be issued a Rating Decision. If only a partial grant of sought benefits occurs, then the DRO would also have to prepare and issue you a Statement of the Case (SOC) explaining the reason and bases for the decision(s) which you received. Keep in mind that mailing time could result in about a week for a SOC, and about 2 weeks for a Rating Decision.

Yes, in regards toQuestion #2, the entry was because you picked up your QTC C&P. Your request is handled as a claim under the Privacy/FOIA Act and that was just a way of tracking it for the record.

Retired TopKick
100% P&T + SMC-K
SSDI (Now converted to Regular Retirement)
United States Army Retired (1974-2002)

"Never Make Anyone a Priority Within Your Life Who Makes You an Option in Theirs!"

http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/resour ... disability

What Is the Difference Between a Hearing Officer and a DRO?

A hearing officer will review the previous decision made by the regional VA office, whereas a DRO will look at the veteran's file “de novo,” meaning that the DRO will review the file as if it was being reviewed for the first time -- without considering or giving deference to the previous decision. Also, unlike a hearing officer, a DRO is a senior technical expert and has jurisdiction (the authority to hear and decide) of any appeal.
If a dispute over the veteran's disability rating is one of the issues addressed in the NOD, and is raised by the veteran during the hearing or conference, the DRO will have jurisdiction over rating issues as well (meaning the DRO can make a decision changing a veteran's disability rating).

kentorambo wrote:

http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/resour ... disability

What Is the Difference Between a Hearing Officer and a DRO?

A hearing officer will review the previous decision made by the regional VA office, whereas a DRO will look at the veteran's file “de novo,” meaning that the DRO will review the file as if it was being reviewed for the first time -- without considering or giving deference to the previous decision. Also, unlike a hearing officer, a DRO is a senior technical expert and has jurisdiction (the authority to hear and decide) of any appeal.
If a dispute over the veteran's disability rating is one of the issues addressed in the NOD, and is raised by the veteran during the hearing or conference, the DRO will have jurisdiction over rating issues as well (meaning the DRO can make a decision changing a veteran's disability rating).

What is written is on point. Is there a question here since you apparently have theanswer to the difference?

Retired TopKick
100% P&T + SMC-K
SSDI (Now converted to Regular Retirement)
United States Army Retired (1974-2002)

"Never Make Anyone a Priority Within Your Life Who Makes You an Option in Theirs!"

The word 'expedite' on the exam report has no bearing on how long the claim decision will take. QTC does not determine VA priorities. The DRO will work the case when his/her workload permits.

Once the DRO picks up the case, the factors described by Topkick in post 1 come into play.

Decision Review Officers (DROs) will typically conduct all hearings requested in connection with the appeals assigned to them- I see no meaningful distinction between the term Hearing officer and DRO in the context of a claim appeal.

Nick
USAF RETIRED
100% P&T
100% CRSC

Complete layman - not a VSO and not a VA employee.