Vets groups slam Obama administration's proposed VA disability filing rule

[discocrisco01]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – For veterans seeking disability compensation, the application process is supposed to be so easy that a handwritten note on a napkin will initiate a claim or an appeal. A proposed rule from the Obama administration would change that, and veterans groups are sounding the alarm.

The Department of Veterans Affairs says the many ways that requests for disability compensation arrive actually hamper its ability to administer benefits, and they contribute to a claims backlog that has about 400,000 veterans waiting more than 125 days for a decision. At times, workers spend so much time trying to figuring out what's being claimed and trading letters with applicants that it's slowing down decisions for everyone.

The VA's solution: Require veterans to use a standard form when they file for disability compensation -- or appeal a decision, and throw in some incentives for those who use a computer.

The response to the proposed rule from the nation's major veterans groups?

"Draconian" and "heavy-handed," said the Veterans of Foreign Wars. "A seismic change" that will "poison" the disability claims process, said the American Legion. "The most serious, egregious attack on a veteran-friendly disability claim system in VA history," declared the law firm of Bergmann & Moore, which specializes in pursuing disability clai

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/11/vets-groups-slam-obama-administration-proposed-va-disability-filing-rule/

[George II]

1. WOW! An anti-Obama post with source information from foxnews.com!

Couldn't you at least disguise it a LITTLE bit?????

[lostincalifornia]

12. my exact thoughts, and to put faux news on LBN really is an insult for a progressive forum

[George II]

21. Looking down the list of topics on the left side, coming from Fox it could have been in ......

Entertainment, Offbeat, or even Recreation.

[Veilex]

2. Not sure I agree with all the...

claims about this being a draconian move, or being heavy handed... but I will say, the problem is that the VA is, and always has been, underfunded. Hire more claims processors, and the problem will be resolved.

[cstanleytech]

3. No argument there about more processors however standardized forms can help alot as well so

I am not sure if there is a legit reason to oppose such forms unless of course they actually like waiting 100+ days on average.

[Veilex]

4. I don't oppose form standardization...

I oppose the notion that the lack of standardized form is the sole, or major reason for the backlog. Going to a standardized form is akin to putting a bandaid on a compound fracture... it ignores the real problem.

[cstanleytech]

5. Maybe, maybe not.

They could try going with standard forms for now since its essentially just an issue of printing them and see how it goes and then if it is not enough they could then hire more people to assist in catching up with the backlog.

[Veilex]

6. Where I disagree with you is...

I believe more claims handlers should be hired as priority one. Standardized form requirements can come along with that, or later... I don't particularly care. But more claims handlers are needed.

It should be noted, there is already a standardized form for these processes... what is being proposed, is that they be the sole way for veterans to go through that process. I should also state, for purposes of full disclosure, that I am a disabled vet who has gone through the process.

[RBInMaine]

20. "Draconian" my aching ass. They need to standardize the process. But yes, do hire enough people to

make sure the job is getting done and claims are being processed as timely as possible. And nothing wrong with initiating the process before more supporting documentation needs to be shown depending on the circumstances. But "draconian" to try to better standardize and streamline the process? BULLSHIT.

[Veilex]

29. Indeed.

Truthfully, as I said earlier, there is already a standard form for these sorts of things. Ultimately, this is either a red herring, or someone is trying to slip something through on the coat-tails of "standardization".

[Skittles]

7. um, it has always been more than a "handwritten note on a napkin"

and - Fox News? Could you cite a LEGITMATE NEWS SOURCE please???

[NealK]

9. +1 n/t

[sarge43]

10. Second that

The wad of dead trees I received from VA was impressive -- right up there with the DD Form 398 and old timey morning reports.

Word of advice, OP. Whenever the media reports on the nuances and details of things martial, get out your crap detector, because more often than not, they don't know what they're talking about. They have difficultly with rank vs duty title.

Fox News criticizing President Obama? Pssst, there's gambling at Rick's.

[Veilex]

30. I third that. EOM

[TwilightGardener]

8. Wow--seems kind of a no-brainer to make everyone use the same forms.

I guess I'm not getting the outrage--these are folks who should be used to "DD Form This and DD Form That" from their active-duty days. The military, at least, is very standardized in its documentation--why wouldn't the VA be the same way, especially in the internet age when you could easily access or download whatever forms you need, or at least obtain it from a VA or military facility?

[Veilex]

31. Its phony outrage...

The VA already uses standardized documentation.

[madrchsod]

11. here`s a credible source with a full explaination from both sides of the issue.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20140111_ap_ddf482c1e46245a2af04a899725c6639.html

i think it is interesting that one of the complaints is the limited access to computers.

[tazkcmo]

14. Thank you for that link

I can see both sides but we must err on the side of the veteran. Go ahead and standardize the form which should require no supporting documentation and minimal "boxes" to fill in. The form can be available in electronic and hard copy form with no penalty for the hard copy as there are so many homeless vets. Supporting documentation can be provided at a later time such as when the veteran needs to report to the VA for a medical evaluation, for example.

As others have pointed out, the issues with the VA (not just this one) stem mainly from the broken promises made to veterans through inadequate funding of the VA. Fully fund the VA, get real about the modernization of the record keeping system and out law those meaningless magnets that say "Support Our Troops" until it's actually occurring. Every time I see one of those stupid fucking things my blood pressure soars! This country is lucky to even have a functioning military considering the lies we've been told and the lousy treatment we've received since the Korean War. I discourage any young person I meet to commit until our country fulfills it's obligations to the veterans already in existence. Of course the military is becoming one of the few avenues left for a young person today to have anything close to a steady "job" due to the lack of jobs and the types of those that are available. Fuckers.

[madrchsod]

33. agreed

[groundloop]

17. I read that link, and the discontent boils down to money....

Here's a couple of paragraphs from the Philly.com link that sum up what some vets are pissed at. It's not so much that the government is asking them to use a standard form, but that they're afraid they won't be getting money from the first day they contacted the VA, since they'll be forced to get all their ducks in a row before they file.



"Submitting what are referred to as "informal claims" has become a standard practice for veterans because it locks in the effective date of their claim even as they gather supporting evidence such as military records and doctor's exams for the more formal application. Then, if the application is approved, the veteran often ends up getting a sizable lump-sum payment in addition to a monthly award."

"Under the proposal, the first communication from a veteran may not trigger anything. Those veterans who put their claims in writing would have to completely fill out a standard form, and the clock that determines how far back the government will pay, won't begin ticking until the VA receives the successfully completed form."

"The veterans groups say it's perfectly reasonable for the VA to use a standard form to enhance efficiency. But they worry that the time it takes to gather records and successfully complete the standard form could lead to substantially less money for veterans. They worry that the omission of a single entry could take months to resolve."

[tazkcmo]

34. Death by 1000 cuts

You are absolutely correct, it's about money. Money owed to the veteran. Money the VA is trying not to pay out by erecting obstacles in the veteran's path to recovery. I understand and agree about standardization but the VA needs to get it's shit together before making changes that directly do veterans harm and be proactive in that attempt. We have watched our benefits erode away over the years to a trickle while under funding the VA that seems to exist only at delaying pay out of said benefits which frustrates the veteran, delays care and or compensation and at times exasperates the veteran to the point she/he stops seeking benefits which saves the government money. So, yes, it's about money.

[jtuck004]

13. 125 days? The VA chief says they are aiming to clear the backlog by 2015. And that was last year..

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2021669069_vabacklogxml.html

If we really cared we would hire more people to process these claims, not make the application process more difficult.

Haven't we asked enough of them? It's a lot more than we have ever asked of any Wall Street bankster, the ones we have made sure never had to want for anything.

[dotymed]

15. Yes, we need to process these claims

much faster.
However, our government needs to employ much more average people (as we used to do) to do the massive amounts of work that needs to be done. The aristocrats want to keep government employees to a minimum. There is less chance that their crimes will be exposed if we have few: mine inspectors, procurement personnel, meat inspectors, personnel to really examine the contracts that usually screw us, etc..
They want everything privatized. They can pay their people low wages, tell them what they are allowed to report, of course make massive profits through no-bid contracts to supply services to our military personnel, etc.. it has become the status quo, allow these crooks to "oversee" themselves, prevent average people from earning a living wage...in other words, the corporatists are the government.
These corporatists refuse to pay taxes, hire adequate personnel, etc...
Our government entities have proven by past actions that they can do a better job, pay living wages and still save us massive amounts of money. All of this while creating living wage, Union jobs where people are treated as professionals. Fuck the privateers whose only motive is profit. This is why America is circling the drain...

[dicksmc3]

16. Have no Idea where Fix so-called news gets their "NEWS"

I've listened to Senator Bernie Sanders on the Thom Hartman program Fridays at 2PM central. Bernie does acknowledge that there is a BIG problem with the back log and explains that his office the Veteran's Affairs, is doing what is humanly possible. But, let's look at the real deal here. If we'd stop all these God Damn wars with no end in sight, perhaps the problems would get fixed. No more wars = no more war casualties!! As a Viet vet, I'm glad I don't need the VA but, I understand the frustration with those vets that do need the VA.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

18. It's not JUST about the beer ...

... a vet who needs help navigating the processes can wander into a VFW or American Legion hall, and pretty quickly get connected with someone who has the forms, knows how to fill them out, and knows where to send them.

Yeah, it might involve names and numbers written on bar napkins.

Or, your local police department, county commissioner, mayor's office can point you in the right direction.

You can even Google "how to get my DD214".

[sarge43]

22. The 214 can be requested on line from the National Personnel Records Center in St Louie

If online order is a problem, write a letter, including all necessary info.

Public libraries can help out with this, too.

For the record, a few veterans bring this crap down on their heads without any help from the eeevil gubmint. I've had a couple of dischargees toss their 214 in the File 13 next to my desk. Had one ball up his and throw it at me. "Fuck this chicken shit!" Seldom see that level of stupid.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

25. So the govt (VA) is making things easier, not harder

When I got my DD214 from St Louis, there was no internet. Finding a form, filling it out, mailing it, I can see how some would be frustrated.

Kids these days have it easy.

[RBInMaine]

19. Oh what a BUNCH OF SHIT. One simple standardized form is not "draconian". GROW UP PEOPLE !!

[L0oniX]

23. OFFS ...and a Fux link ...geee whodathunkit

[tabasco]

24. BOLLOCKS. Obama has funded the VA better than any president in history.

I know. I'm a disabled vet and a member of the VFW.

THANKS PRESIDENT OBAMA!

[enlightenment]

26. Apparently, the issue is not as important as the source of the report, so

here are some other sources. Perhaps one will pass DU's muster:

Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/11/veterans-affairs-disability-_n_4581490.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

Columbus Dispatch
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2014/01/12/vets-groups-oppose-proposal-to-alter-disability-filing-rules.html

Detroit Free Press
http://www.freep.com/article/20140111/NEWS07/301110077/Veterans-groups-disagree-proposal-formalize-disability-applications

The Day
http://www.theday.com/article/20140112/NWS13/301129914/1044

West Hawai'i Today
http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/nation-world-news/va-under-fire-proposed-disability-filing-rule

You know what's funny? The titles are different, but the content of the articles (including the Fox version) are virtually identical - because news agencies borrow from single sources these days - the AP, UPI, etc. Yes, Fox does certainly go for a more inflammatory title, but the content is what's important - isn't it?

[George II]

32. The title is false and has little to do with the content, I think that's what some are peeved about

[Joey Liberal]

27. Screw the VFW and the American Legion

How is a standard form "draconian" and "heavy handed"?

[Sunlei]

28. lol, if Rfox lies hates the change...must be a very good for Vets- efficient change.

Thank God President Obamas admin. started to get off the old paper files Vet system and on to computers- the first week he took office.