http://veteranveritas.com/?p=932 Hang out for combat veterans and families. Fri, 20 Dec 2013 18:14:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 http://veteranveritas.com/?p=932#comment-10127 Sat, 13 Jul 2013 00:02:00 +0000 http://tucsoncitizen.com/veteranveritas/?p=932#comment-10127 You’re welcome Mr. Brewer. I read my post realized grammatical and spelling errors. My mind was racing with trying to decide how to best illustrate and explain the many steps involved in the process from beginning to end in the simplest terms. I could have authored a better comment but I think I got the point across. I enjoyed your article and yes we have a long way to go. More OT this weekend!

]]> http://veteranveritas.com/?p=932#comment-10125 Fri, 12 Jul 2013 19:03:00 +0000 http://tucsoncitizen.com/veteranveritas/?p=932#comment-10125 Thank you CHUHI. Your thoughtful response is the very reason this blog exists. Veritas only happens via dialogue and correction. We are all on a train running down the tracks and can only correct as we go.

]]> http://veteranveritas.com/?p=932#comment-10124 Fri, 12 Jul 2013 15:06:00 +0000 http://tucsoncitizen.com/veteranveritas/?p=932#comment-10124 This article discusses the use of electronic medium to initiate the claims process. The article does not explain the steps are necessary to arrive at the point in the process to render a decision. When the claim is receive, we are required to send a letter to the vet informing and explaining what we are going to do and what “evidence” is needed in support of the claim. Evidence is documentation of treatment rendered for the disability(ies) being claim. The VA must obtain the military medical record from the military. In our initial letter we inform the vet to provide us with treatment from private / personal doctors or tell us and we will help the vet obtain them. This is the law and we have to do this. The Veteran’s Claim Assistance Act (VCAA) is the law. If we can schedule a medial examination immediately this is done. In many cases we must wait until we receive the medical records, review them to determine if the claimed conditions happened during the military service. Often times during this process, the vet may submit another claim for other conditions….we have to send the VCAA fopr the new conditions. This is what takes time. The gathering of evidence in order to make a decision. This is an example of the basic, simple claim. In some cases we do not get military treatment records….this becomes a long process of process that must be followed before we can make a decision. In summary, although we have electronic mean of filing claims, the process has not been streamlined or modified. It’s the same process. In my opinion and experience, we will not see any gains for a long time…regardless of how many time our agency is restructured, reorganized and implementation of new systems is acccmplished. In fact, the question has been asked of VA leadership of the effectiveness of VBMS and we have received no information, no data of of its usefulness or effectiveness. We have heard from our peers at other stations of the many problems associated with it. Then only way we’ve been able to eliminate the 2 year back log was thru mandatory OT. We accomplished this at our office without VBMS. In addition only the old claims were given priority and nothing else. Former VA Secretary Principi makes a very good argument when he addressed the VA claim backlog. The only way the VA will get out of this enormous problem is thru major reform from the VA and Congress. Otherwise it’s just business as usual with unmet promises. I know because I’ve been dealing with this for 13 years working our claims and it’s always the same rhetoric.

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