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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2022)
14 MAY 15, 2022 Smoke Signals Chief chat returns MARRIAGES IN TRIBAL COURT Tribal Court is issuing marriage licenses and is able to perform marriage ceremonies for a filing fee of $40. For questions regarding scheduling, contact the Tribal Court at 503-879-2303. 2022 HONOR AND RECOGNITION EVENT Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez CTGR YOUTH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT Grand Ronde Tribal Police Chief Jake McKnight cooks elk burgers and links during a Chat With the Chief event held at the Tribal Police Station on Grand Ronde Road on Wednesday, May 11. It was the first Chat With the Chief event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The chats were started in 2017 as a way to improve interaction between the community and the Tribal police force. Join us July 7th at 5:30pm at Spirit Mountain Casino as we recognize CTGR Tribal Member 8th Grade Promotors & High School Senior Graduates! Turn in a application to be included in the ceremony by June 24th. Health & Wellness Center hours Email youtheducation@grandronde.org for an application. The Health & Wellness Center has additional access for patients during holiday weeks on Thursday mornings. The clinic will be scheduling patients at 8 a.m. every Thursday preceding or following a holiday closure. Urgent care also will be available during this time. The TVSO is here to walk you through this process. You will not do this alone. Come see me! 2022 VA CLAIM TIMELINE * Do you have an hour? It might change your life… It is most important to just get your claim filed! Do not miss your exam appointment. It will delay your claim from being processed. The doctor has specific VA guidelines for exams. Sometimes the exams are very short with a very specific set of questions and tests. Do your best to explain your worst day in-detail and with all honesty during the exam. The information from the exam is used to help VA make a decision about your claim. Answer any letters from VA. Processing your claim takes time to complete. It depends on so many different factors. Try to be patient. Notify TVSO if you haven’t heard from VA by now. Remember: No claim is exactly alike. Step 5 Claim Decision: This part is a waiting period. Try to be patient. Remember: You may be scheduled for a phone exam, a virtual exam, and/or an in- person exam. Be prepared for all options. Helpful, but not required: Your DD-214 & any documentation to support your claim. Contact TVSO to review your claim results. After the exams are complete, everything goes to VA for review and decision. This step in the process can take as long as they need to go through your service records, your medical records, any information you submitted, your test results and anything else VA needs to review. Answer your phone: VA and/ or their contractors will call you to schedule your exam(s), if needed for your claim. Note: You may get calls from unknown or out of the area numbers. Most C&P exams are in-person. However, you may be asked to schedule a phone exam, or a virtual exam. Choose which exam type works for you. VA will notify you of their decision regarding your claim Claim Processing: Compensation & Pension (C&P) Exam Scheduling: Have Ready: List of doctors & their contact information, dates conditions began and why (in- service event), bank account & routing number (required on the claim form). VA is processing your claim and reviewing all documentation. 90—120 days Compensation & Pension (C&P) Exam: Filing A Claim: With the TVSO, you will sign the: 21-22 & HIPAA Forms. Then, we file a claim via a: 526EZ Form and submit with 21-4142 / 21-4142a form, along with any documentation you provide. 60 – 90 days Step 4 Attend your exam(s)! Respond to any letters from VA Step 2 VA will schedule your compensation & pension exam(s) 30—60 days Step 1 Meet with TVSO. Sign a couple of forms. File a claim for benefits and attach any documentation needed for your claim. 30—45 days Step 3 30 minutes to an hour * VA will make a decision. It will be an approval, a denial, or a deferral. The letters VA sends will outline their decision. Make an appointment with the TVSO to review any of these letters. If approved we will go over your benefits, your percentage and payment information. If denied, we need to meet to review why and for you to decide if you want to appeal that decision. TVSO can help with the appeal as well.
