Vietnam Veteran Bob Marshall is fighting his failing health as VA ‘misplaced’ his disability claim

BY SHANE SIMMONS | WQAD8 | June 18, 2014

Prophetstown, IL  - Bob Marshall has seen better days.

The Vietnam Veteran of Prophetstown, IL is fighting his failing health and also what feels like a losing battle with the VA’s Regional Benefit Office in Chicago. In July of 2013, Marshall was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In 2014, nearly two years since his wife’s death, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

In August of 2013, he filed a disability claim with the VA.

“They would send me letters every month telling me that they had received my paperwork,” Marshall said, his right hand trembling while gripping a letter from the VA.

In March of 2013, seven months after he filed the claim, Marshall received a letter from the VA’s Regional Office. The letter stated: “The disability claim has been misplaced.”

“I had to start all over from square one,” Marshall exclaimed.

His second claim, now in possession of the VA, is awaiting approval.

“That’s where everything stands right now,” Marshall said.

A spokesperson with the VA’s Regional Benefit Office in Chicago said the average wait time for a disability claim in the Chicago region is 147 days; Marshall’s claim has nearly doubled that time.

“We answered our country’s call, now we need our country to answer us.”

A special thanks to WQAD8 in Moline, Illinois for this report.
http://wqad.com/2014/06/18/va-misplaced-local-veterans-disability-claim/