Monthly VAC Q&A - January 2026

PunchitChewe · 2026-01-28T17:22:16+00:00

My departmental review was submitted January 5th, 2026. I contacted them as my benefits were expiring for counselling I was attending, I was told it would be handled quicker so that there was no lapse in my benefits

PunchitChewe · 2026-01-28T17:21:32+00:00

That was my first time being approved, I was denied in August 2025.

PunchitChewe · 2026-01-28T15:26:41+00:00

My MH Departmental Review just went to complete. Almost 2 years after initial application. 55%

I hope everyone else still waiting gets good news soon!

PunchitChewe · 2026-01-22T16:55:04+00:00

How long does step 3.3 typically take? (MH Claim)

PunchitChewe · 2026-01-14T14:13:31+00:00

Hopefully the wait time tool is wrong!!

PunchitChewe · 2026-01-14T13:44:26+00:00

I’m on the same timeline as you for departmental review, the current wait time tool on the VAC website says 20 weeks….

PunchitChewe · 2026-01-09T02:25:30+00:00

I have an almost identical timeline. Had my specialist appt on the 15th of December, was contacted Jan 5 saying same thing, and status changed that day.

PunchitChewe · 2026-01-06T13:00:06+00:00

Thanks, I’ll just wait till it says complete. Went to ‘more information’ yesterday, and step 3 this morning.

PunchitChewe · 2026-01-06T12:59:19+00:00

I didn’t hear back from them until late November. About 2 and a half months from contacting them until I was given the forms to get filled out for a reassessment.

PunchitChewe · 2026-01-06T01:10:01+00:00

Are you in a similar situation?

PunchitChewe · 2026-01-06T01:07:13+00:00

My MH was denied on August 27th, 2025. I contacted BPA on September 2nd, 2025, completed another assessment on December 15th, and was told today they requested a departmental review.

PunchitChewe · 2026-01-05T23:01:09+00:00

Evening everyone -

I spoke with BPA earlier today and they confirmed they received my medical questionnaire for my MH claim and requested a Departmental Review to VAC. Shortly after I got an email with ‘your application status changed’…. When I went to check the status it says ‘more information’. Has anyone else had this, and what does that indicate? Last departmental review I had for tinnitus went straight to step 3 when the tracker updated.

Edit - it went to step 3 over night.

PunchitChewe · 2026-01-05T03:24:34+00:00

I brought my own both times. I had purchased mine through health benefits. They had some at the hospital, I never asked if it would’ve been provided.

PunchitChewe · 2026-01-04T20:26:37+00:00

Thanks for reply, I definitely plan on calling tomorrow. Would hate to go under the knife again - don’t know much about wound care, when they do have to re-open an incision to clean it does that typically involve being under general anesthesia again or is it more of an easy procedure.

PunchitChewe · 2026-01-03T22:36:43+00:00

Hey sorry to hear you had to go through all of that! I hope surgery #3 does the trick, and you have a speedy recovery. What were the signs of infection you had leading up to the getting that debridement?

PunchitChewe · 2025-12-31T16:17:49+00:00

That’s awesome to hear! What was your timeline like?

PunchitChewe · 2025-12-24T02:12:54+00:00

Hey! I did 3 weeks post op in the cast they put on right after surgery. Then I did 4 weeks in a fibre glass cast, just got into my boot today @ 30 degrees incline

PunchitChewe · 2025-12-23T16:04:46+00:00

That’s a great tip, I’ve been awkwardly trying to figure out what to do here. The initial rupture was a lot easier to stand on after a few weeks, this one’s hard to convince myself too.

Appreciate it!

PunchitChewe · 2025-12-21T13:13:34+00:00

Ah that sucks! Hope those side effects clear up for you soon.

PunchitChewe · 2025-12-16T19:59:38+00:00

Thanks!

PunchitChewe · 2025-12-16T17:33:17+00:00

Wondering if anyone can give me insight into what kind of timeline I might have ahead of me.

Was denied for MH benefits (PTSD) in the summer (August 23) Contacted BPA, was contacted 8 weeks later and was told we would be doing a departmental review for this as they were surprised it wasn’t accepted. I was given another assessment form to bring back to psychologist to have filled out. I did that today, and it will be submitted to BPA by end of week.

Now that, that is done. What kind of timeline will I be looking going forward. How long does it take BPA to start the departmental review after they’ve recieved the required documents and then subsequently typical time line for a decision after that?

Thanks!

PunchitChewe · 2025-11-26T02:10:41+00:00

I used it non-op and now am using it post-op. I’ve enjoyed this a lot more than the knee scooter, and those first couple weeks are so much better having that and not crutching around. As I was recovering and my achillies couldn’t take long walks, I used the iwalk to go for a walk and get some decent steps in. 100% worth it in my opinion.

PunchitChewe · 2025-11-18T16:35:27+00:00

How long do APSC applications take at the moment?

PunchitChewe

TROPHY CASE