Fixing The Va

[hurryupnwait]

There's a lot of talk these days about fixing the VA. We have very talented people on Hadit and many know about the problems and issues with the VA, so let's start thinking about how to fix them. A Hadit think tank if you will.

When replying could we keep a format such as;

Issue: Slow processing of claims.

Fix: Hire and train more raters.

Cheers

Paul

[Mcafee]

Testvet I believe we all here are Ex Government Employees at one point or another.Please forgive me if your comment is in GEST. However I do not seeing giving Service for your country and ther after affect because off some incompetent IDIOT that punchess a clock for a paycheck and can careless about the person or persons such as FAMILIES this has a effect on.This is the type of displacement that causes problems.Again Testvet please forgive me I personally do not find any HUMOR in your reply.As for the outlook of LIFE these decisions that are made by decision makers is the end result of SUFFERING.I hope I made my point and again I do apologize but give me a break PAL.

[john999]

TestVet was just kidding me. We are both ex-postal workers if I remember right. We got the boot up our asses so often we began to feel like shoe horns. TestVet knows what it is like to be &^^%%$ over by the VA. You have to either laugh or cry.

[mags1023]

Mags, one of the people on the Obama Transition team is DR Linda Blimes of the "Three Trillion Dollar War" she testified to Congress about a year and half ago (give or take some) that she thinks the best solution to the claims process is for the VA to handle compensation claims like the IRS handles tax returns, approve the claims and pay the people, if any claims stick out like a sore thumb and we all know those claims

(Johhny was a cook, Johnny claims to have won the Silver Star, a DFC, the Soldiers Medal and the Navy Cross, we all know Johhny is full of chit, and the claim is a red flare) these are the claims that VARO's should be investigating before awarding, not tinnitus claims, or other such claims that are evidenced by medical records in service and out (continuity of treatment) she even advocates awarding PTSD claims, the question there will always be at what percentage, but if the VARO's were only playing games with these claims, the process would be faster.

Then if any claims turn out to have been bogus and fraud was committed, which does happen in about 2% of all claims, prosecute the frauds, put them in prison and make them pay restitution.

This is the biggest craw in most veterans complaints about the VA, it is basically making the veterans fight another war, sometimes for much longer than they served on active duty, the appeals process is a nightmare

There are some good people on this transition team, lets see if they pay attention, I do know President Elect Obama is a strong supporter of Linda Blimes, so good things may be in the future, near future for the VARO's.

Testvet, wow thanks for the info. Hopefully, Linda will get to incorporate some of the ideas she has. I think the concept would work. I find myself defending what my doctors and the VA's doctors have diagnosed me with. That is a total crock! With Linda's initiative in mind and if a doctor states that you (the vet) has this condition, the claim should fly through the process. The rater has a little checklist, the veteran says he/she has this condition (/), a doctor has diagnosed the veteran with said condition (/), the condition is service connected or secondary to service (/).............APPROVED! What did that take me, 5 minutes at the most. Now on to the next file. It could be that easy. let's hope common sense prevails. Obama's platform is change, well if common sense prevails in DC, then change has occurred.

s/Mags

[Testvet]

as an ex govt employee myself I totally agree with John I was just being myself if it bothered YOU I am sorry but then you wwere not there in the hospital after my 3rd heart attack in less than a year and a postal supervisor showed up to give me a letter of warning for missing work 3 times in less than a year, I have been messed over by the Post Office and the VA and if I can't make a joke about it I might as well give up now I have worked for the govt either in the Army or Postal Service since I was 17 I am now 53

John is right we are both ex postal employees and when I go Postal is is not from my job but rather the 100% PTSD I have next

[mags1023]

as an ex govt employee myself I totally agree with John I was just being myself if it bothered YOU I am sorry but then you wwere not there in the hospital after my 3rd heart attack in less than a year and a postal supervisor showed up to give me a letter of warning for missing work 3 times in less than a year, I have been messed over by the Post Office and the VA and if I can't make a joke about it I might as well give up now I have worked for the govt either in the Army or Postal Service since I was 17 I am now 53

John is right we are both ex postal employees and when I go Postal is is not from my job but rather the 100% PTSD I have next

Testvet;

I found your post to be funny and could tell you were just blowing off some steam from the years of frustration of having to deal with the federal gov't in some way. You're right, if you can't do it here amongst friends, where can we?? It was not offensive or vulgar and I say, keep em coming!!! We need a good laugh every now and then.

[Pete53]

Ok kids back off and let sleeping dogs lie. We don't want a flame war and will not tolerate it. Its ok to disagree as long as it is done with manners and civility.