Actual Start Date Of Treatment

[carp48]

I have some basic questions concerning my claim. I filed my claim for PC based
on my exposure to AO in Vietnam 69/70. I filed it on Oct. 29 last year. Due to
my ignorance in regards to PC being a presumptive disease, I could have filed it
earlier as my actual diagnosis was in August 07.
I recently received from my RO requests for medical records etc.. My treatment
have all been by private Doctors so I filled out the 4142 forms, got the information and sent all to my regional office by certified mail.
Here is my questions. Should I let the claim continue as is through the rating process and award and then try to get them to go back to the actual date
of diagnosis for compensation? Is it even possible to get them to go back to
the actual date and not the date of the claim?
I would appreciate any answers or input from these forums.
Thank you, Mike

[TinCanMan]

Mike:

The VA will make the effective date of your claim the earliest date they became aware or should have been aware of your intent to file a claim. Your date of diagnosis is irrelevant unless some one told the VA about it back then.

At the moment, initial claims filed by folks participating in GWOT are being given priority in the claims process which means it will take much longer to process than you'd like. On the up side a PC claim based on AO presumption where a veteran clearly has service in the Republic of Vietnam is a slam dunk and a decision maker with a small window of opportunity on a given day might be inclined to slip it in.

[carp48]

Thanks TCM for the info, as always I appreciate it.
Mike