VA Award Letter Question

GSWarrior2017

PEB Forum Regular Member
PEB Forum Veteran
Registered Member
I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for this question, but does anyone know exactly at what point in the MEB/PEB/IDES process that an AD member being retired/separated with a VA disability would actually be able to download/receive the VA Award Letter? Is it printable/accessible:

- Once the ratings are proposed?
- Once they are made final (when is that exactly)?

Is it true that some don't even get the letter until after they are out?

I just want to know for several financial planning reasons including using the letter for a VA home loan and ensuring we have a place to live. Thanks for any help on the actual VA Award Letter timeline situation!
 
It takes atleast a month after getting out to receive letter from the VA, atleast this is what I've been told by the VA. You'll get the proposed ratings prior to getting out but it is not final.
 
It takes atleast a month after getting out to receive letter from the VA, atleast this is what I've been told by the VA. You'll get the proposed ratings prior to getting out but it is not final.

Thank you! That is what I've been hearing as well.
 
I've been on terminal leave since late July and no letters at all yet. Nothing from the VA via snail mail, and nothing available for download on any VA site. :(
 
I've been on terminal leave since late July and no letters at all yet. Nothing from the VA via snail mail, and nothing available for download on any VA site. :(
That stinks. Sorry to hear that. I had assumed this stuff would be finalized and available earlier for members being retired/separated via Med Board considering that the VA Award letter is essential as proof on income for VA loans. This delayed processing and letter availability can greatly affect those getting out and trying to get a home (if they don't yet have one). Almost forces them to rent or pursue conventional loans initially instead of allowing them the proper timeline to utilize the benefits that they have scarified for when they may need it most.
 
It took about 20 days after I uploaded my DD 214 to receive the letter from the VA
 
Got mine 17 days after submitting my dd-214. I hit the I have no further evidence button and it started moving the next business day. And yes it's available online under my VA letters.
 
I've been on terminal leave since late July and no letters at all yet. Nothing from the VA via snail mail, and nothing available for download on any VA site. :(
Are you still on terminal leave? It is my understanding that the VA doesn't send it to you until you're officially a veteran.
 
That stinks. Sorry to hear that. I had assumed this stuff would be finalized and available earlier for members being retired/separated via Med Board considering that the VA Award letter is essential as proof on income for VA loans. This delayed processing and letter availability can greatly affect those getting out and trying to get a home (if they don't yet have one). Almost forces them to rent or pursue conventional loans initially instead of allowing them the proper timeline to utilize the benefits that they have scarified for when they may need it most.

Just in case you're not aware... you can upload the first few pages of your proposed ratings to ebenefits, in the va certificate of eligibility section, while still on active duty. This will change funding fee to exempt. I know it doesn't solve your income requirement, and it'll still say contingent on staying active duty; but it's one piece of the puzzle to the va loan.

I entered a contract to but a home (va backed ) while still on active duty, and I have now retired and will be closing on Thursday. It's a big pain in the butt, and I'm not sure you could do it with out another form of income to qualify.
 
Just in case you're not aware... you can upload the first few pages of your proposed ratings to ebenefits, in the va certificate of eligibility section, while still on active duty. This will change funding fee to exempt. I know it doesn't solve your income requirement, and it'll still say contingent on staying active duty; but it's one piece of the puzzle to the va loan.

I entered a contract to but a home (va backed ) while still on active duty, and I have now retired and will be closing on Thursday. It's a big pain in the butt, and I'm not sure you could do it with out another form of income to qualify.
Great info! Thanks!
 
Are you still on terminal leave? It is my understanding that the VA doesn't send it to you until you're officially a veteran.
I just need to be patient. :)
Just in case you're not aware... you can upload the first few pages of your proposed ratings to ebenefits, in the va certificate of eligibility section, while still on active duty. This will change funding fee to exempt. I know it doesn't solve your income requirement, and it'll still say contingent on staying active duty; but it's one piece of the puzzle to the va loan.

I entered a contract to but a home (va backed ) while still on active duty, and I have now retired and will be closing on Thursday. It's a big pain in the butt, and I'm not sure you could do it with out another form of income to qualify.
This is great to know. I'll do that!
 
It took about 20 days after I uploaded my DD 214 to receive the letter from the VA
Hi again, so the good news it that I now have all the letters. The bad news is that even though I was rated P&T for DoD, and I thought I was rated P&T for VA, it says "NO" for my letters for P&T. Is there a mistake? I am anxiously awaiting the letter from the VA via snail mail to hopefully get an explanation of what is going on. I saw you had something similar and I'm hoping to be able to request p&t online, but I'm scared it'll open up the whole can of worms again. The VA labeled my prognosis for the unfitting condition as "Guarded". Thoughts? Should I enlist the help of an attorney to request VA P&t? I don't want to make a mistake.
 
Hi again, so the good news it that I now have all the letters. The bad news is that even though I was rated P&T for DoD, and I thought I was rated P&T for VA, it says "NO" for my letters for P&T. Is there a mistake? I am anxiously awaiting the letter from the VA via snail mail to hopefully get an explanation of what is going on. I saw you had something similar and I'm hoping to be able to request p&t online, but I'm scared it'll open up the whole can of worms again. The VA labeled my prognosis for the unfitting condition as "Guarded". Thoughts? Should I enlist the help of an attorney to request VA P&t? I don't want to make a mistake.
PDRL and VA P&T are two different things. If you believe you are permanent and total you can always appeal the VA rating.
 
PDRL and VA P&T are two different things. If you believe you are permanent and total you can always appeal the VA rating.
I know they are two separate things. So if the VA says temporary, and take it all away (from 100% now to 0%) what happens to the DoD rating? Do they take away my retirement and put me back on active duty? If it was going to be temporary, why would the DoD say permanent when they go off the VA ratings to make their decision? I think I need an attorney. The ups and downs and the yes's and no's are going to make me batshit crazy. I'm so tired of thinking I'm done with the fight only to have to keep going round after round.
 
Did the MSC tell you P&T, like you had Chapter 35 benefits? Or did he just tell you had 100%?
 
Did the MSC tell you P&T, like you had Chapter 35 benefits? Or did he just tell you had 100%?
I signed my 356 which said 100 P&T, but my MSC didn't tell me anything. Apparently the actual VA ratings don't get completed until after you're already out. So I'm not sure what the MSC would have told me if anything, since it wasn't complete yet. The letter my PEBLO got (from the VA) also said it was preliminary and said 100% service connected, but gave no indication one way or another if it was temporary or permanent. With any luck, the letter with the actual final deposition will come to me in the mail this week.
 
I signed my 356 which said 100 P&T, but my MSC didn't tell me anything. Apparently the actual VA ratings don't get completed until after you're already out. So I'm not sure what the MSC would have told me if anything, since it wasn't complete yet. The letter my PEBLO got (from the VA) also said it was preliminary and said 100% service connected, but gave no indication one way or another if it was temporary or permanent. With any luck, the letter with the actual final deposition will come to me in the mail this week.
Ok. My MSC specifically told me P&T and talked to me about Chapter 35 bennies. My 356 didn’t say anything about my VA ratings just my AF ratings...in fact the paperwork that I got from the VA didn’t say anything about it but the MSC pulled it up in their system when I did my exit brief. Maybe you should call him and check.
 
Ok. My MSC specifically told me P&T and talked to me about Chapter 35 bennies. My 356 didn’t say anything about my VA ratings just my AF ratings...in fact the paperwork that I got from the VA didn’t say anything about it but the MSC pulled it up in their system when I did my exit brief. Maybe you should call him and check.
I'll do that. Thanks!
 
I chose to accept the permanent DoD rating and a mixture of permanent and temporary VA ratings because I had so many ratings with the VA I would be 100% VA no matter what.

After I was retired, I filed an appeal with the VA to have the ratings made permanent. Seven months later the V concurred with my contention and made the VA rating permanent.

The reason for 100% permanent vice 100% temporary is with 100% permanent you are dental eligible.
 
I chose to accept the permanent DoD rating and a mixture of permanent and temporary VA ratings because I had so many ratings with the VA I would be 100% VA no matter what.

After I was retired, I filed an appeal with the VA to have the ratings made permanent. Seven months later the V concurred with my contention and made the VA rating permanent.

The reason for 100% permanent vice 100% temporary is with 100% permanent you are dental eligible.
Thanks for the reply, chaplain. In the state of Virginia, VA 100% P&T vs just 100% without P&T is the difference between paying property taxes and not paying property taxes. I realize that it'll be what it is, and hopefully I'll be able to appeal to have the rating changed to permanent as well. Thanks again!
 
Top