Loose Cannon

"The VA said they are aware of the situation and told ABC11 they will send a response at a later time." Is it just me or does anyone else think the above statement sounds EXACTLY like an IRIS response from the VA?? If this wasn't so scary...it would be amusing. Not going to cut it VA...not this time! LC

MOORE COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- Navy veteran Sylvester Woodland said he couldn't believe what he was seeing Wednesday night when he logged onto the Veteran Affairs' E-Benefits website. http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/html5/video?id=9396431&pid=null§ion=null "It gave me a different person's name, each and every time I came back," Woodland said. At first I thought it was just a glitch, but the more I thought about it, I said, wait a minute, this is more than a glitch, this is a breach." Woodland was on the VA's E-Benefits website trying to track down his own history for a bank loan. Instead, windows kept popping up displaying other veterans' medical and financial information. "When you click on these hyperlinks here, it takes you to the bank account, the direct deposit, bank account, last four, what bank is it for," Woodland said. "I'll bet he has no idea that I'm sitting here in my house with his information." Woodland said he called the Department of Defense, the VA, and Senator Kay Hagan's office, but he didn't get any response until Thursday morning. Then, the website went down and an email came from the DOD asking him to scan the few pages he printed out and email them over. "Already I see the blame game going. It's the VA. No, it's the DOD. It's going to bounce back and forth, but can you prove it's an isolated incident?" Woodland said. Woodland wonders if the breech was internal or intentional and worries that there is not enough being done to find out the answers. "I don't want these veterans' private information to continue to bounce around out there in no man's land," he said. The VA said they are aware of the situation and told ABC11 they will send a response at a later time. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense was unable to provide any answers.

Can you double check the website you listed? It asks us to purchase an app from the Apple web store. Looks like a free install but with an $8.99 monthly fee. Is this what you intended the link to be? Just curious. Thanks. LC

Another book I found helpful is: "The Lost Road Home" by Milly Balzarini Deals with PTSD and the Psychological Effects of War on Veterans and Their Families. LC

Don't want to appear like I'm "plugging" any author or book but I am reading an EXCELLENT book right now (in between migraines & eye problems...lol!). I highly recommend it to anyone dealing with the effects of PTSD and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) or anyone looking for more info on these disabilities. Here's the info: "Wounded Warrior, Wounded Home" - Hope and Healing for Families Living with PTSD and TBI Authors: Marshele Carter Waddell and Kelly K. Orr, PhD, ABPP Publisher: Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group Hope it can offer understanding of these miserable conditions many vets & families struggle with. LC

After the initial IU award has been made, the veteran must submit a VAF 21-4140, Employment Questionnaire, on a yearly basis to certify continuing unemployability. The VAF 21-4140 is required unless the veteran is 70 years of age or older, has been in receipt of IU for a period of 20 or more consecutive years (as provided at 38 CFR 3.951(b)), or has been granted a 100 percent schedular evaluation. The form is sent out annually to the veteran from the Hines Information Technology Center and must be returned to the regional office. It requests that the veteran report any employment for the past 12 months or certify that no employment has occurred during this period. The VAF 21-4140 includes a statement that it must be returned within 60 days or the veteran’s benefits may be reduced. Check the Fast Letter link below for additional info: http://www.hadit.com...&attach_id=3920 Hope this helps. LC

Can you be more specific? the website's name?? Trying to sort facts from myths or rumors so any help you can provide is much appreciated. Thanks LC P.S. - you can private message me if you'd rather not disclose it on site.

Care to reveal your "source" at the VA or are you just BSing??? LC P.S. - Never mind. I looked at your past posts & think I've already answered my own question.

Anyone care to take a stab at answering this? Thanks, LC

MOORE COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- Navy veteran Sylvester Woodland said he couldn't believe what he was seeing Wednesday night when he logged onto the Veteran Affairs' E-Benefits website. "It gave me a different person's name, each and every time I came back," Woodland said. At first I thought it was just a glitch, but the more I thought about it, I said, wait a minute, this is more than a glitch, this is a breach." Woodland was on the VA's E-Benefits website trying to track down his own history for a bank loan. Instead, windows kept popping up displaying other veterans' medical and financial information. "When you click on these hyperlinks here, it takes you to the bank account, the direct deposit, bank account, last four, what bank is it for," Woodland said. "I'll bet he has no idea that I'm sitting here in my house with his information." Woodland said he called the Department of Defense, the VA, and Senator Kay Hagan's office, but he didn't get any response until Thursday morning. Then, the website went down and an email came from the DOD asking him to scan the few pages he printed out and email them over. "Already I see the blame game going. It's the VA. No, it's the DOD. It's going to bounce back and forth, but can you prove it's an isolated incident?" Woodland said. Woodland wonders if the breech was internal or intentional and worries that there is not enough being done to find out the answers. "I don't want these veterans' private information to continue to bounce around out there in no man's land," he said. The VA said they are aware of the situation and told ABC11 they will send a response at a later time. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense was unable to provide any answers.

A good source for obtaining "buddy statements" and unit assignments may be at TogetherWeServed.com This site has a "find" feature that allows members to type in a unit, etc. and then lists members of that unit who served with you during that time! It might be worth a look to see if it might refresh your memory. It sure has helped me. LC

I hear you MRRRR5. The daily fight takes a lot more out of us than we sometimes realize. Hope you can take a break to re-charge the batteries & just enjoy yourself. Thanks for your sacrifices...God Bless! LC

I spoke to the local news reporter in Raleigh, NC tonight. His name/info is above. They have confirmed on their 6pm newscast that the VA has responded to their question and have admitted there was a breach. The VA told Jon Camp they have no further comment. http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/html5/video?id=9396431&pid=null&section=null This could be big...Stay tuned to your major networks. Once they get word of it they will run with this story. Call Jon Camp at Channel 11 News. Don't just take my word for it...no hard feelings here:-) LC

Congrats to you Proudvet! Great news to hear. LC

Hollis- Screaming doesn't help. If it's combat related...Your son should to apply to his branch of service for CRSC. CRSC is TAX FREE while CRDP is taxable. CRSC - combat related special compensation. CRDP - concurrent receipt disability payment. It was beneficial in my case to apply for CRSC since 80% of my overall disability was found by my branch of service to be actually "combat related." That said, there needs to be a distinction made. The VA still owes me $$ as confirmed by DFAS. Been waiting since October 2012 but hope to get retro paid soon. Best of luck to your son. Please thank him VERY much for his service. I'll keep him & your family in my prayers. LC

SERIOUS UPDATE: Just saw a story on my local ABC 11 newscast at 4:30pm regarding a breach of information on the VA ebenefits website. The investigative reporter named Jon Camp interviewed a veteran from Durham, NC who experienced the same issues many here have reported last night. In the news report, the veteran called the VA, DOD, and Senator Kay Hagen's office in effort to inform them of the breach so they could take the site down...ALL IGNORED THIS VET. Sounds familiar, huh? I apologize to all for my comment (#6 of this thread) as it was unprofessional and insensative to make light of this they way I did. I also sent a private apology directly to Radio_Dog last night. Hope the silver lining will be that this raises awareness as to how unresponsive the VA has been regarding ALL THE ISSUES we have had with this crappy website. Also hope no vet winds up suffering what appears to be a legitimate info breach. Suggest all stay off eBenefits until the "all clear" is sounded. LC P.S. - Here is the reporter's info. If anyone wants to contact him directly to relay your experience regarding the breach. He will keep your info confidential if you ask him...Highly advisable, especially if you have pending claims or business with the VA. I look at it this way. If Lauren Price can stand up and fight the VA in the final years of her life, we have a duty to report the info about this horrible breach...just sayin. LC Jon Camp Reporter mobile: 919.972.1234 twitter: @JonCampABC11 jonathan.camp@abc.com ABC11-WTVD 319 Fayetteville St., Suite 107 Raleigh, NC 27601

StreetWalker - Glad to hear it went well...Sorry it was painful. Things will go your way so keep the faith and keep fighting. Best of luck as you move forward. Keep you in my payers! LC

Kudos to the American Legion for this info: Even as federal agency heads howled about the dire impact of the sequester, a well known newspaper, reported on a string of eyebrow-raising expenditures by the executive branch: $562,000 worth of artwork for the Department of Veterans Affairs. $144,000 on toner cartridges for the Department of Agriculture, in just one day. $178,000 on "furniture rehab" for the Coast Guard. The end-of-year year spending frenzy is largely a function of the federal budget process' use-it-or-lose-it incentive system. "The way we budget sets it up," says Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., "because instead of being praised for not spending all your money, you get cut for not spending all your money. And so we've got a pervasive incentive in there." As further evidence, it was reported that the federal government spent $45 billion on contracts in the last week of September, which coincides with the end of the fiscal year. "That was more than any other week- 9 percent of the year's contract spending money, spent in 2 percent of the year." Interresting, huh? LC

WB - Everyone here has given you solid advice, plus it is obvious that you have done much work preparing your claim. Good for you brother. I was wondering what RO you are going through if you don't mind posting it? Hope you know by now that here at Hadit you are among many friends with much in common. Like you, I flew as a crew member in OIF/OEF and I totally can relate to what you experienced behind the gun. Small world...isn't it? Thank you for your service Devil Dog! SEMPER FI, LC

I fall into this category. Although I rate the benefit under the law they continue to make me wait...and wait...and wait. Seems like the answer's always the same, much like getting retro pay. Their answer: sorry, you rate this payment under the law but since your already receiving compensation payments we want to focus on the backlog and pay people for claims who are not yet receiving monetary benefits first. Believe me, I've tried every avenue known to mankind but I've been stonewalled. All I can do is wait and hope to see the $$ before I die. To those like me who are waiting...let's hope the VA gets to us sooner...than later. LC

It is a random automatic occurrence. Not sure exactly how or why they select cases/claims to do a quality audit on. I'm afraid this is just another one of the wonderful mysteries of the VA and its' operating procedures we deal with. Sorry I can't give you more to go on but this is all I know on the subject. Good Luck Philgrenier. LC

Hey...I just logged on too & it asked me if I wanted pepperoni on my pizzas! It's a mass conspiracy. The whole world's against us...Don't watch FOX...Don't shop at Target...Hire a lawyer. Take a breath people, please! LC

Yes. That's what I was informed. The way it was explained was that a decision was made by a rater but that it had to be double checked for accuracy internally by a senior member at the VA. A Quality check done by the VA on themselves if that makes sense? LC

Hmmnn....Never had that problem as they've always replied. Each response says "if you have additional questions please reply within 14 days". Your experience doesn't surprise me. Keep fighting for answers. LC

Congrats big time to you!! Been in the same boat as you since October 2012. Still waiting and hoping it's soon since the farmed out the claim last month to another VARO. **In the meantime, I called my DFAS Pay center and requested a copy of the audit they sent to the VA. They were able to confirm WHEN it was sent to the VARO as well as WHEN it was received by the VARO. About 2 weeks after my request, the copy of the audit came in the mail...VA owes me upwards of 25k. And now I have proof! Very happy for you roses15534. Hope to buy the drinks for all when mine arrives...Enjoy! LC