Here we go again!

[Gimpy]

Below are the VA Secretary James Nicholson's response to the just completed VA Office of Inspector General (VAOIG)report, which was investigating why some veterans in Illinois were being paid less than in other places.

As you will notice below from the VA Secretary's response: PTSD veterans will be given a more rigorous time(it's going to make it MORE difficult than it already is-----CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT $HIT!!!!) in trying to obtain compensation, as well as Individual Unemployability, and other 100 percent disabled veterans will also be in for a review.


"Lump sum payments" for veterans rated 20 percent and less will be among the changes to expect. (Like I've stated before in the past...........Can't these a$$holes understand that even a "20 percent disability can INCREASE in degree of severity and pain & suffering over the years? ..This is just a "smokescreen" attempt to disallow military veterans from their right to apply for an increase in disability compensation after their illness or injury becomes worse later on in life!.....)


The Congress and President Bush asked for this VAOIG report in conjunction with the work of the "Veterans Disability Commission" (which Congress created in 2004) merely as a pretense to:

cut veterans from the rolls,

reduce veterans compensation,

and introduce "lump sum payments" to veterans rated 20 percent and less.


The Bush Administration and the Tax-cutter's in Congress are continuing to push TAX-CUTS for the Wealthiest Americans at the expense of the Poor and disabled.

The VAOIG report says: -- 25 percent of PTSD veterans receive their compensation without the proper evidence! Which resulted in over 860 million dollars in VA compensation in 2004. ......


What they FAIL to report however is the FACT that the MILITARY lost their "records" or the VA would not have accepted their "claim" in the first place!


Yea,..........you're damned right..............I'M PI$$ED !!!!

######

Inspector General Review of State Variances in VA Disability Compensation Payments (7.95 MB PDF)--

--- VA Response to IG Report ---

Former Secretary Anthony J. Principi asked for an independent system- wide review of our disability compensation process.

The Inspector General has delivered a comprehensive report that includes 8 recommendations for improving our disability claims process. We are responding to all 8 of those recommendations.

For 75 years now, the Department of Veterans Affairs has honored this nation's commitment to our veterans through a vast array of benefits and services. Whether it's quality health care, home loans, life insurance, education benefits, vocational rehabilitation, disability compensation or burial, our top priority has always been to do what's right for every veteran in our system.

The Inspector General has delivered a comprehensive report that includes 8 recommendations for improving our disability claims process. We are responding to all 8 of those recommendations.

Our actions include:

Secretary Nicholson has signed a directive charging the Under Secretary for Benefits and the Acting Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Preparedness to enter into a contract with the Institute for Defense Analysis to further study ways to monitor and understand differences in disability payments so we can better detect and prevent unacceptable patterns in the future.

Support the Disability Benefits Commission as it considers fundamental changes to improve VA's disability compensation program. Review our rating practices for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, determinations of an individual's unemployability, and other 100- percent disabled ratings to ensure consistency and accuracy.

Expand the quality assurance programs for evaluating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to improve consistency of documentation required to substantiate events that played a part in causing the PTSD.

Improve coordination with our VA health and medical centers to provide more consistent medical examinations to support our disability evaluations, and ensuring all medical and rating staff are familiar with the process.

Reevaluate our human resources to make sure VA field organizations are fully staffed and equipped.

Review prior VA studies concerning lump-sum payments to veterans with disability ratings of 20 percent or less and supporting the Disability Benefits Commission as it considers this public policy issue.

Further, we are currently in the process of studying claims submission patterns from different categories of veterans ? those of different wars and those living in particular parts of the country ? to ensure that all veterans are being properly served and have equal access to VA compensation programs.

Our benefits employees have one goal ? to do what's right for every veteran in our system. The Secretary is proud of their commitment to this cause and the hard work they do every day. We expect every veteran's claim to be treated fairly and equitably.

Claims processing is a complex process that we want to make sure the system "works" for all veterans. The IG findings reaffirm our belief that there is no single cause or simple combination of factors resulting in differences in some disability payments.

A difference in disability payments from state to state does not mean the system is fundamentally flawed. Quite to the contrary ? the IG report found many factors can contribute to differences.

There are more than 20 different demographic factors ? including the number of enlisted veterans living in a state vs. the number of officer veterans; period of service; branch of service; the number of veteran dependents; age of veterans ? and more ? that factor into a veteran's compensation claim.

Some disabilities are more difficult for decision-makers to consistently evaluate. Unlike limb loss or physical injury cases, veterans claiming PTSD present a unique challenge. These cases are rarely cut and dry ? they require a degree of subjectivity on the part of our raters.


http://www1.va.gov/opa/ig/#response

-- END --

Looks like we're fixing to get S-C-R-E-W-E-D again folks!

[MORTARDUDE]

After what I just went thru this past year...bankruptcy, divorce and all the rest...I can see where a lump sum would be helpful to some vets...of course I suppose they would lose all the benefits they had at the 20% disabled level....it sounds like a very cynical and mean spirited attack on disabled veterans...How likely is this to pass ? Where is the legislation now ?

Larry

[Gimpy]

I have been following this crap for some time now and I can tell you (and others) with some authority that we (all disbled vets and their families) need to BEWARE of the "Disability Benefits Commission" that has been created by Congress and the Whitehouse!

As for the "progress" of their(s) and the VAIGO's "so called" recommendations..... it appears that some of the "eight" responses by the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs need no "legislation" to be implemented. Some are merely procedural or staffing issues that need to be addressed.

As for the proposed "changes" to the U. S. Code of Federal Regulations RE: PTSD, Individual Unemployability, 100% rating criteria and the proposed "lump sum" payment(s) .........I will be following this very close and as info is available I will post it.

Everyone needs to write their elected Senators,Congresspersons, etc. to let them know that we are NOT in favor of any "changes" to the current CFR to accomodate the radical and shortsighted proposals of this new "Disability Benefits Commission"!


PS..........You're absolutely RIGHT about that "lump sum" offer. Under this proposal the "awardee" will NEVER....EVER AGAIN....UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES...be allowed to apply for an "increase" in "service connected disability ratings" due to ANY deterioation of their condition or subsequent "agravation" of conditions caused by this "disability"!