More Va Spin

[Berta]

http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfNOV07/nf112907-1.htm

from "Timely decisions hard to find at Veterans Affairs

By CHRIS ADAMS

McClatchy Newspapers"

88 % accuracy rate? where are these figures coming from-

and how do those figures account for the VCAA error rate as found at the BVA web site-

I am waiting for James Terry's annual report from the BVA-last year's report hit the nail on the head as to the Real backlog problems-

and

"The agency said it took an average of 183 days to process a claim in fiscal 2007, longer than in any of the five years tracked in the report. Processing exceeded its 2007 goal of 160 days and its long-term goal of eventually reducing processing time to 125 days"

183 days to 'process' a claim- dont they mean 183 days to said Denied! without even reading the evidence?

The VA seems to have better Spin doctors than medical doctors.

"Under “Positive 2007 Outcomes,” for example, the VA highlights “accurate claims processing” and said the “accuracy rate ... was maintained at 88 percent, helping to ensure that veterans receive the proper level of monetary benefits.” Only elsewhere does the report note that 88 percent is below the agency’s goal of 98 percent"

Edited November 29, 2007 by Berta

[timetowinarace]

88 % accuracy rate? where are these figures coming from-

I would hazard a guess that these figures are comming from the claims of veterans that don't have a great knowledge of VA practices and have not appealed their denials and lowball ratings.

The only accurate way to get an accuracy figure is to have independant reviews of a large number of claims from all VARO's. I'm confident this will never happen.

Time

[Pete53]

Berta:

If you believe that the VA is 88% accurate on its first swipe I have a lovely bridge in Brooklyn that you can have cheap.

[sixthscents]

Honestly, what percentage of claims really ever get contested? I mean... it's basically a percentage game and the VA has house odds. Most veterans simply cannot do all the paperwork, deal with the injuries etc.... even if they can, most often in my experience they dont. So, I would bet that 88% of all claims filed go uncontested... to be honest I think that's low... I'd say 5-10% vets contest their awards, and 3-7% actually stick it out....

That just the kind of numbers I see... so it's just a personal observation.

[theotherguy]

The 88 percent number comes from an internal monthly review of claims called STAR (I don't recall what that stands for). Anyway, a portion of the work completed by each of the VARO's is requested by VA Central Office in Washington DC for these STAR reviews.

I know this might seem like a loaded gun to some of you, but I will say that STAR did call a CUE on a denial for Wolff-Parkinson White syndrome on a guy I was helping a couple of years ago. It was completely unexpected and we were both glad they were able to resolve the issue right away.

How often this sort of thing occurs is obviously a rarity since that number is so high.

[timetowinarace]

My file went to STAR. AFTER my claim was approved. Not during any of the number of denials I had recieved over the years. Star isn't independant and I believe the VARO's pick which claims they send. If these numbers come from STAR they are very skewed in the VA's favor.

Time

[john999]

The only people who believe these numbers are those who want to believe. I am quite sure the VA numbers could never pass the smell test. It is a fraud on the American people and on vets.