Panel Votes To Speed Benefits Appeals Of Vets

[allan]

Panel votes to speed benefits appeals of vets

By Rick Maze - Staff writer

Posted : Wednesday Nov 18, 2009 16:51:12 EST A House subcommittee moved Wednesday to reduce the amount of time it takes for a veteran to appeal a benefits decision, which can add two to five years to the wait for benefits.

http://www.airforcet...ppeals_111809w/

[broncovet]

No offense intended, but I think if the VA/Congress REALLY wanted to speed this up, it would have already happened. Has anyone but me noticed the backlog for VA executive compensation is Zero? There are NO VA executives complaining, "WHY is it taking so long for the VA to process my Executive Bonus application?" Instead, VA executives get their bonuses in days, or even hours, while making Veterans wait years for their just compensation. Maybe they ought to "switch". In other words those efficient employees that now get the VA executive bonuses out promptly should work on Veterans claims, and the ones who are taking 5 years to process Veterans applications should be put in charge of VA executive compensation.

[Berta]

I agree.

They could have done something years ago when the backlog began.

This wont help any vet out there who is dying with a claim in process.

[vmo]

No offense intended, but I think if the VA/Congress REALLY wanted to speed this up, it would have already happened. Has anyone but me noticed the backlog for VA executive compensation is Zero? There are NO VA executives complaining, "WHY is it taking so long for the VA to process my Executive Bonus application?" Instead, VA executives get their bonuses in days, or even hours, while making Veterans wait years for their just compensation. Maybe they ought to "switch". In other words those efficient employees that now get the VA executive bonuses out promptly should work on Veterans claims, and the ones who are taking 5 years to process Veterans applications should be put in charge of VA executive compensation.

Why do we pay the VA exec's bonuses---for failure?? Pay them a salary like other VA employee's and for failure---fire them---just like any one else. We need to start paying a "paycheck" for doing your job the efficient way. "Bonus? Bonuses? Dey dont need no stinking bonuses!!" (A paycheck is payment for doing your job--period!)

[Pete53]

I am hopeful that things are changing. I see signs that it is especially when a Member posts the other day that they had a decision in 20 days on TDIU.

I am hopeful and I am helping a couple of Veterans right now so I guess we will see.

[john999]

Yes, I hope the VA is getting better. There seems to be a plague of greed in the USA. Everybody who does their job wants a bonus, and feels they are entitled to that bonus. You know the VA exectutives don't deserve a bonus anymore than the creeps on Wall Street who ran our economy into the groud. What is shocking is the salary of some of the nonprofits that are pulling down a million dollar salary. Most of the well known charities have very plush benefits and pay packages for the CEO's. Those on top have become leeches on the productive members of society. I am no longer productive economically, but I once was, and I never got a bonus.

The fact this backlog has developed shows that vets are not a priority. Spending a trillion bucks on a credit card to topple Sadam was a priority. Rebuilding Afghanistan from the ground up is a priority. Those who do the dying to make it possible are not a priority.

[broncovet]

VMO..

I agree. 100% disabled Vets get barely over 30k per year, while VA Executives mostly make at least 4 times that amount, and Vets gave MUCH MORE for their country! If anyone deserves a bonus it is not VA executives who delay Veterans claims for years so that they can make the budget work and pay Vets out of next years, or the next years budget instead of this year. Delaying claims makes VA executives look good, as it means they are under budget, so they reward themselves with bonuses.