New disability process to expand

[unhappycamper]

New disability process to expand
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Nov 25, 2008 21:36:02 EST

A limited test of a streamlined system to more speedily and equitably evaluate wounded and injured troops is tentatively set to expand over the next seven months from the Washington, D.C., area to 16 other bases in the continental U.S., the Department of Veterans Affairs says.

The test aims to replace the cumbersome evaluation system exposed by the 2007 Walter Reed scandal with a single exam and disability rating system. Officials say the new system will cut in half the time from a recommendation for medical evaluation to medical separation or return to duty.

The program, which officials emphasize is a work in progress, has done just that, said Tom Pamperin, deputy director of VA’s compensation and pension service.

The test began a year ago at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.; National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.; and Malcolm Grove Medical Center at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. It was expanded Oct. 1 to Fort Belvoir, Va., and Fort Meade, Md., and Nov. 1 to Balboa Naval Medical Center, San Diego.

Defense Department officials said an expansion of the final program has not yet been given final approval. “We are considering expanding the pilot, but cannot speak to the details until final decisions are made,” said Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Lainez.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/11/airforce_DESexpand_112508p/%2e