This is not a question but a post on my RAMP journey since not much data is out there.
On the 1st of February I received in the mail the option to opt into RAMP for my legacy appeal.
Based on the goal of 120 days, this should be done if the goal is met by June, 1st, 2018.
If average was counted from the average time for completion starting at when the VA processed RAMP, the estimation of completion was on/around April 6-16th.
On February 8th I opted in to the Higher Level Review with the informal conference option selected through my attorney.
I made that decision based on
- My appeal had already been pending for over 4 years with not a single status update after my NOD was accepted. Even though I do have a lawyer.
-
The Higher Level Review appeal option (OPT-in only) is allowing the evidence submitted since the original appeal.
(NOTE: Future Higher Level Reviews will only be a second look and will not allow new evidence. Only evidence submitted during the legacy appeal is accepted.) - RAMP has a low participation rate, with presumably dedicated assets.
First Milestone: On February 28th of 2018 my RAMP Opt in was finally processed and my legacy appeal was closed out.
*The RAMP appeal did not show up on ebenefits but did show up on vets.gov along with a warning about my appeal being denied for RAMP because it was already slotted for the BVA.
On follow-up with the VA I was told this was an error caused by RAMP not really fitting into the software/application of the online portals and that the only way to get information about the RAMP appeal was through an agent. The BVA error has since stopped appearing and now vets.gov simple says "Your legacy appeal has been closed because you opted into RAMP, at this time it is unknown when this will be completed"
Second Milestone: On May 2nd of 2018 my informal conference was scheduled for the 15th of May. Roughly 45 days after the VA processed my RAMP opt in.
