The Roanoke VA Regional Office forces vets to drop service-connected claims by threatening to send their case back to the BVA after it has floated around for years. In March of 2001, I had been told by my service representative that the VA told him if I were to drop several of my service-connected claims they would grant me a 70% rating for total unemployability. If not, they would send my case back to the BVA. I copied the email from my representative. I was desperate for the income due to my health,so I accepted. Later I had enquired about reclaiming the 4 claims, but had been told that if I re-opened them the VA could reverse their original decision or make me take my exam over. Another rep. had told me that what they had done was against the law. The original BVA statement of the case had shown well documentation of professional medical staff backing my claims. Is there anyone that is aware of this practice by the VA? If so, is there any course of action that can be taken?

Who is your rep? Is it with the State of Virginia (Virginia Department of Veterans Services)? Or is it with another organization? If your not with the State of virginia, go to
http://www.dvs.virginia.gov/ and select an agent. If you live in the Northern Virginia Area, click on Arlington/Alexandria. Check out the agent there. Give him a call, he is in Monday/Tuesday/Thursday btwn 0830-1500. He is good! He would be your best bet.