Va Fraud.."smoking Gun"

[broncovet]

I recently got a VARO decision from Cleveland RO with a St. Petersburg RO cover page. This seemed more than a little peculiar, and I have been thinking why would this would happen? I am fairly sure these decisions are printed on computer, with the "default" cover page, being the local Regional Office.

Of course, this is a mistake, and I cant help but wonder why one RO would log into another RO's database? To help Veterans? To speed up the claim? Frankly the RO does not give a rip about Veterans.

(Yes I know RO's "farm out" their claims to other RO's, and mine has been farmed out to Virginia and Philadelphia. However, in each case, they told me about it. This time, they did not "farm me out" to St. Pete) Also, when I was "farmed out" to Roanoake RO, Roanoke did all the development and leg work, but then it was sent back to Cleveland for a decision.

I think the most likely reason is VA employee related fraud. To me, it is a "smoking gun".

When I put it in context, the whole thing makes sense: The VARO's denies deserving Veterans, funnels this money into "fake" claims, with large retros, (they have already been caught at doing this!), then "covers it up" by spreading the fake claims, with large retros over multiple Regional Offices, so it does not look like it is coming from one particular VARO. Of course, this would take lots of people in different cities all working this fraud together, but the "fraud pie" would be big enough for many to partake.

YES, I know this all sounds crazy, BUT WHY ELSE would regional Offices be so motivated to delay and deny our claims by the bushel basket full and even shred them? I would like opinions! I have no proof..just a decision from Cleveland with ST. Pete cover page and THOUSANDS of DEserving VETS being denied and delayed.

Edited January 11, 2009 by broncovet

[broncovet]

Yes, RonII, I agree that they probably used the wrong template. The ST. Pete template was probably used by a previous person who used that computer. Question is, of course, is why would the St. Pete Template be put in there in the first place, unless, someone was working on a ST. Pete decision in the Cleveland Office OR that decision was actually done in ST. Petersburg? It really looks like one Regional Office is logging on as another regional office.

Its a tell tale sign.

[Berta]

"Does anyone else have a theory as to WHY the VA regional Office is so determined to deny and delay our claims other than a purely greed motive on their part?"

After the shreddergate indicent (the VA IG revelations)

it was determined that many claims were denied simply to take an EP End Product code.

When Iraq war vets were having problems with their claims,the VA was quick to state that claims were averaging 180 days from start to finish.

The stats revealed that it took VA in many many cases, 180 days or less to deny the claim without even reading the evidence.

Vets were asked to send letters to the H VAC and the Subcommittee on Investigations (VA)after the October shreddergate incident-

-they can still do that-

there was quite a hoopla at first by the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs and then VA issued a Fast lettr for any claimant to have a procedure to have their claim readjudicated if their evidence had been lost or destroyed by VA.

The hoopla sure seems to have quieted down- still any vet whose probative medical evidence was not listed as Evidence in thewir SOC and therefore not considered by the VA in their denial- should immediately send a letter to their RO under the auspices of the "October Incident" Fast Letter at the VA web site-and ask the VA to re- decide thir claim based on all of their evidence since it appeared from the SOC they got, that the evidence was lost, misplaced or destroyed.

The IG in 2005 reported the same problems that the recent October Incident uncovered- this isnt anything new-

but this time veterans protested to the H VAC and the VA came up with a procedure for any claimant denied due to missing or destroyed evidence.

[Mcafee]

Hello All Hope All Is Well. I have recently been incontact with General Counsel in Wash DC. Re: FOIA Request.Which has been insuffcient or lots of missing documents and currently a claim at BVA.Any way in disccussion with this Lady at GC.she keeps mentioning Clevland VARO as well, I have mentioned to her I dont live in Clevland.She said she is going to look into as why they keep RE; that my file is in Clevland? CURIOUS TO SAY THE LEAST,Maybe thats where the man behind the CURTAIN lives? WOW!!

[broncovet]

Berta..

Thanks for your input. May I ask what is an "EP End Product Code", and why would VARO employees deny deserving Vets to get this?

Also, more evidence has been brought to my Attention: The Cleveland RO is one of 4 RO's where the VAOIG found instances of shredded documents. If the RO would break the law and shred Veterans evidence, why stop there? Why not just fake claims, divide the pie, and spread these claims all over the country so that the RO manager does not have to take the heat. To do that, one RO just needs to be able to log onto another RO's database.

Finally, what does the VA do when the RO is caught shredding evidence by the VAOIG? Why they promote the manager, of course! Shredding Veterans evidence is the fastest way to get promoted in the VA. No kidding..here is the link:

http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfdec08/nf120408-1.htm

[Pete53]

Berta:

Tried and true VA technique for VA to jump into a controversy almost as if they are on the Vets side and claim that they will fix it and study it and after awhile people forget and nothing changes.

Its not what they say it is what they do.

[jbasser]

"Does anyone else have a theory as to WHY the VA regional Office is so determined to deny and delay our claims other than a purely greed motive on their part?"

After the shreddergate indicent (the VA IG revelations)

it was determined that many claims were denied simply to take an EP End Product code.

When Iraq war vets were having problems with their claims,the VA was quick to state that claims were averaging 180 days from start to finish.

The stats revealed that it took VA in many many cases, 180 days or less to deny the claim without even reading the evidence.

Vets were asked to send letters to the H VAC and the Subcommittee on Investigations (VA)after the October shreddergate incident-

-they can still do that-

there was quite a hoopla at first by the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs and then VA issued a Fast lettr for any claimant to have a procedure to have their claim readjudicated if their evidence had been lost or destroyed by VA.

The hoopla sure seems to have quieted down- still any vet whose probative medical evidence was not listed as Evidence in thewir SOC and therefore not considered by the VA in their denial- should immediately send a letter to their RO under the auspices of the "October Incident" Fast Letter at the VA web site-and ask the VA to re- decide thir claim based on all of their evidence since it appeared from the SOC they got, that the evidence was lost, misplaced or destroyed.

The IG in 2005 reported the same problems that the recent October Incident uncovered- this isnt anything new-

but this time veterans protested to the H VAC and the VA came up with a procedure for any claimant denied due to missing or destroyed evidence.

Hi Berta. I think the reason things have quited down is the sheer fact that the information was swiftly passed from RO to RO and now they have figured out a better way to hide their trechery.

I have hoped for years of some sort of change as I was always optomistic. But now I do realize the meaning of false hope as it is enevitable that the status quo will proceed Long afeter we are all dead and gone.

We will continue to see some signs of improvement but not until they have full Quality awareness and an outside source watching their every move will we stand a chance.

John