All Vets Need To Read This!

[stillhere]

This is a new pilot recently selected from this link:

http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1852

This new pilot will put Veterans in control of thier claims- and we want your input.

Hey folks,

The VA has a new pilot program starting up at the Atlanta RO. Basically, this will cover SC claims for increase, presumptives already verified, temp 100% and ALS claims.

Because of the back-logs, we have identified the above type claims mainly due to SC has already been established. We are in the process of creating an application, physicians statements for each disability system and the format on how we will process these claims. The pilot is named Rapid Evaluation of Veterans Claims (REV).

We all know that the back-log is growing, so this pilot is soliciting your help. To qualify for this pilot, you are wanting an increase in SC conditions. For your outpatient treatment records from private physicians-You will obtain them. VAMC records-basically in the application you can inform us which VAMC your treated at and we can get them. Our rating board has developed physician statements that will be made availible for you to take to your treating physician or VAMC doctor. Once you have all your documents together, submit your claim to the RO.

There will not be a VA medical exam, the application has a "waiver" for the VAE so we can rate your claim based on the material you provided to us.We will not send you a VCAA. The only correspondence you'll receive is the rating decision and your notification letter when your claim is complete.

Please give me some comments, concerns and your questions. If successful, this pilot will be launched nationally.

Admins-if Ive posted in the wrong section, please move. DRO's, RVSR's, VSR's etc please chime in also.

Thanks,

Edited February 24, 2010 by stillhere

[71M10]

Does the new program require the rater to read the claim and evidence? A whole lot of problems could be solved by the VA just reading the entire claim and evidence submissions!

Best regards,

Tyler

[Commander Bob]

My optimism for this "New Deal", is tempered by 40 years of disappointment, mistreatment, misdiagnoses, as well as, dealing with disengaged and apathetic VA employees. Yet, I still hope for the success of such a program, because I know there has to be a better way.

...

Edited March 2, 2010 by Commander Bob

[bob_abad]

If this additional pilot program actually goes into effect,

it is due to the following.

http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1852

Public and Intergovernmental Affairs

Shinseki Announces Winners of Innovation Competition for Improving Claims Processing

February 19, 2010

Printable Version

VA to Implement Employees' Ideas to Transform Services

WASHINGTON –

The Department of Veterans Affairs selected 10 winners in a competition that solicited ideas from VA employees and co-located Veterans service organizations to improve claims processing and provide greater transparency to Veterans.

"I commend the innovative employees who submitted these creative ideas," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.

"The men and women of VA and the veterans service organizations who understand the challenges in our claims processing systems have

stepped up to deliver tangible results for our Nation's Veterans."

The Innovation Initiative winners are the

Milwaukee VA Regional Office,

Philadelphia/Wilmington VA Regional Office,

Atlanta VA Regional Office,

Pittsburgh VA Regional Office and

Togus (Maine) VA Regional Office.

Development of plans for implementation of these proposals will begin immediately.

Additional winners are the

St. Louis Records Management Center,

San Diego VA Regional Office (two winning entries),

VA Central Office/St. Paul Pension Management Center, and

Phoenix VA Regional Office.

These ideas are identified for future implementation.

More than 3,000 ideas from VA employees and co-located Veterans service organizations were submitted to the competition.

The finalists were selected by

Adm. Patrick W. Dunne, former VA Under Secretary for Benefits;

Craig Newmark, the founder of craigslist and a well-known technology visionary;

Dr. Peter Levin, Senior Advisor to the Secretary and Chief Technology Officer; and

Garry Augustine, Deputy National Service Director for Disabled American Veterans.

President Obama announced the innovation competition while speaking to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in August. "We're going to fund the best ideas and put them into action, all with a simple mission: cut those backlogs, slash those wait times, deliver your benefits sooner," said Obama.

Veterans Benefits Administration Innovation Competition Winners

Milwaukee VA Regional Office: Streamline the administrative process for documenting actions to obtain evidence for disability claims.

Philadelphia/Wilmington VA Regional Office: Simplify the evaluation process for Veterans claiming pension benefits with aid and attendance.

Atlanta VA Regional Office: Establish an expedited claims process for Veterans who claim an increase in their service-connected disability based on worsening symptoms.

Pittsburgh VA Regional Office: Lessen the need for VA medical examinations by providing Veterans with standardized medical questionnaires to be completed by their treating physicians.

Togus (Maine) VA Regional Office: Align employee performance standards with Department of Veterans Affairs' goals.

St. Louis Records Management Center: Provide regional offices with digital images of claims-related records held in VA's centralized storage facility in St. Louis.

San Diego VA Regional Office: Develop a computer application to calculate entitlement to additional benefits payable to Veterans with the most serious injuries.

San Diego VA Regional Office: Update VA's computer systems to facilitate communication between VA employees and Veterans.

VA Central Office/St. Paul Pension Management Center: Implement rules-based processing for VA pension programs and other benefits.

Phoenix VA Regional Office: Make it easier for Veterans to establish service connection for specific medical conditions.

Xing my fingers while my OSA re-open claim was brokered out in Phoenix to expedite the processing. I belong to Oakland-VARO. Phoenix VARO seems to be more organized. I recently responded to their additional request/requirements which consisted of:

1. VCAA reply

2. IMO from the sleep doctor..Finally!

3. 2 witness letters of my OSA. They even provided a guideline how to close the letters.

4. Medical records from my private sleep doctor

5. CPAP records & medical supply records from VA

Let you folks know the outcome in few months. Praying and chanting everyday!

[Pete53]

Good Luck

[Chuck75]

This is a new pilot recently selected from this link:

http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1852

This new pilot will put Veterans in control of thier claims- and we want your input.

Hey folks,

The VA has a new pilot program starting up at the Atlanta RO. Basically, this will cover SC claims for increase, presumptives already verified, temp 100% and ALS claims.

Because of the back-logs, we have identified the above type claims mainly due to SC has already been established. We are in the process of creating an application, physicians statements for each disability system and the format on how we will process these claims. The pilot is named Rapid Evaluation of Veterans Claims (REV).

We all know that the back-log is growing, so this pilot is soliciting your help. To qualify for this pilot, you are wanting an increase in SC conditions. For your outpatient treatment records from private physicians-You will obtain them. VAMC records-basically in the application you can inform us which VAMC your treated at and we can get them. Our rating board has developed physician statements that will be made availible for you to take to your treating physician or VAMC doctor. Once you have all your documents together, submit your claim to the RO.

There will not be a VA medical exam, the application has a "waiver" for the VAE so we can rate your claim based on the material you provided to us.We will not send you a VCAA. The only correspondence you'll receive is the rating decision and your notification letter when your claim is complete.

Please give me some comments, concerns and your questions. If successful, this pilot will be launched nationally.

Admins-if Ive posted in the wrong section, please move. DRO's, RVSR's, VSR's etc please chime in also.

Thanks,

[JR Reihs]

I am for anything that would improve the system, but as some has already stated, I do not trust the VA, so proof is in the doing not the talking, so we wait to see if this nnew program will do what it was intended for or is it another BS way for the VA to media hype " we are solving the problem" BS.