How do you know when...

[Coleen]

Hi. I rec'd a bunch of papers explaining what benefits are allowed & disallowed & a booklet explaining the same, but have no idea if this means I've been accepted or not. I haven't got the appointment I requested yet, so how do I know when (or if) I've been accepted by the VA?:confused:

[SCI-Nurse]

As I have suggested MANY times before, if you would just work on all of this with your local PVA NSO, you would not have to try to figure this all out on your own. Have you called them? Have you joined the PVA??

(KLD)

[Coleen]

I think I did, but I'm not paralyzed, so how could that help me? I'm almost home-bound now, but I'm going to call American Lake VA & see who I can talk to to get the assistance you're suggesting. Sorry to be so dense, my pych meds slow me down a bit.

I'm also going to go to AMVETS (which isn't far from my house, I found out) and see about more info there. Thanks.

[SCI-Nurse]

If you have damage to your spinal cord or CES, you are eligible for membership in the PVA. It is FREE. Just sign up with the NSO, then sign a POA for him/her to deal with the VA for you.

The PVA is NOT the VA. They are an independent Congressionally chartered veterans service organization (like the DAV or VFW or AMVETS), but one that serves only veterans with SCI/D. You need their help, not those other organizations (which in my experience are much less efficient and effective with all of this). You can certainly call Member Services at the American Lake VA, but if you really want help and to get it in a timely way, call the PVA National Service Officer for your region. For you, this is the contact information (either of these offices). CALL TOMORROW!

National Service Offices

Seattle VA Regional Office

Henry Jackson Federal Building (71)
915 Second Ave., Rm 1054
Seattle, WA 98174
206-220-6149/6175/6176

SCI Office, Seattle

1660 S. Columbian Way, Rm 1-B-163
Seattle, WA 98108
206-768-5415

(KLD)

[skippy13]

AMVETS is good too. If you have already filed the appliction for services, you can call the IRIS line, or send them an e-mail to find out your status. Info is on the VA website. Most likely you will have to fill out the forms (application) for services, but you can take them to American Lake's eligibility office in person if you wish.

[Coleen]

Thank you for your assistance - I will call them first thing tomorrow morning.

[Coleen]

I'm on the phone with the Seattle VA regional office now. (9:10am PST)

[Coleen]

Seattle put me on hold for ever - had an appointment to go to, so I had to hang up. On the way back from my appointment I went to AMVETS & they're assisting me with my claim now.

[Coleen]

Update: I've been accepted as a category 5, will go to American Lake tomorrow to pick up my ID card, but the soonest primary care (step one) appointment they have is October 13th, so I'll still be seeing the non-VA surgeon next week. It took nearly all afternoon to find out that my acceptance letter didn't get put in the envelope with the other informational papers & booklet. Thanks for all your sugestions & help - AMVETS is working on seeing if I qualify for other VA benefits - should take (per AMVETS) one to 6 months for that determination, but that's ok.