Claims And Va Computer Programs

[Honibe]

There seems to be a lot of speculation about VA and the computer programs they use.

I would like to share the following information.

For claims development the VA uses a variety of programs. These programs over the years have been intertwined or "programmed" to work with one another, kind of like stacking blocks. Here is some background info that might be of interest.

C-Folder numbers are usually the Veteran's Social Security Number. However, for those veterans who filed their claim using their service number (very old claims), VA continues to use their service number not their SS#.

In 2006 or so, the VA started doing a conversion called, the "VETSNET conversion". No surprise there.

During this conversion time the VA paid benefits and worked claims out of TWO "sort of separate systems" of programs, BDN and VETSNET. As the VA received NEW claims they would be entered into VETSNET. The initial data entry is done in a program called "SHARE".

Over the past few years the VA had been doing "major" conversions of thousands of files at a time, and with the exception of "problem" cases, the VETSNET conversion is mostly complete. VETSNET is just how it sounds. It is a network of different programs. VETSNET is the "system name", no one talks about VETSNET by name, they reference or talk about the "individual programs" that make up VETSNET, (which are many).

All new claims since about 2007 are in the new system , and the older cases where the Veteran still receives benefits or payments, have mostly been converted. New employees are being trained in using the NEW system of programs and not the old BDN. Converted does not mean all your paperwork, or letters are accessible. If it is something prior to 2007 they may need to pull the paper file to answer your question, if it is a complex matter.

The two systems at once, combined with the ongoing conversion process, may explain why there were so many veterans getting conflicting information. During the conversion process it was difficult to figure out what system was being updated. Especially if you were on a development team for a new issue but awards that are processed by a Post team were being prosessed in the old system. With the completion of this conversion I do think the information stream will continue to improve for the better with a bit more time.

Hope this is of interest- :D Honibe

[Commander Bob]

My phone rang about lunch time. There was no caller id or who was calling but they stayed on for 17 seconds and it rolled to my cell and so I answered it. To my surprise it was my lovely RO in Waco Texas who asked me quite pleasantly if I had requested service connection for pronation of my back and I said what?

Than I remembered I had filled out online that I wanted to see if my back pain and pain in shins and knees was secondary to my pes planus as a Voc Rehab type in Waco had said if I got my 30% pes planus raised that he might be able to swing a grant to fix my bathroom.

So I told the nice lady yes I wanted to look into secondary for my pes planus and she said she would send me a VACC letter pretty soon and that they would look at secondary and everything else.

This is an out of the blue and new experience to me although I have seen others post here that it happened to them.

Honibe welcome to Hadit and thanks for an explanation of what is up with the VA.

Congratulations Pete, you deserve it. I hope the improvements to your BR will help the quality of your life. I always thought that a VAMC rehab Dr. had to sign off on those type of grants. I need to check into it. Every day I have to do the "leap of death" every time I leave the shower stall. It's just a 6" ledge, however , having only one leg, and the good leg with a bad knee, I know it's just a matter of time before I'm peeling myself off the floor. I need to apply for such a bathroom grant.

[Commander Bob]

There seems to be a lot of speculation about VA and the computer programs they use.

I would like to share the following information.

For claims development the VA uses a variety of programs. These programs over the years have been intertwined or "programmed" to work with one another, kind of like stacking blocks. Here is some background info that might be of interest.

C-Folder numbers are usually the Veteran's Social Security Number. However, for those veterans who filed their claim using their service number (very old claims), VA continues to use their service number not their SS#.

In 2006 or so, the VA started doing a conversion called, the "VETSNET conversion". No surprise there.

During this conversion time the VA paid benefits and worked claims out of TWO "sort of separate systems" of programs, BDN and VETSNET. As the VA received NEW claims they would be entered into VETSNET. The initial data entry is done in a program called "SHARE".

Over the past few years the VA had been doing "major" conversions of thousands of files at a time, and with the exception of "problem" cases, the VETSNET conversion is mostly complete. VETSNET is just how it sounds. It is a network of different programs. VETSNET is the "system name", no one talks about VETSNET by name, they reference or talk about the "individual programs" that make up VETSNET, (which are many).

All new claims since about 2007 are in the new system , and the older cases where the Veteran still receives benefits or payments, have mostly been converted. New employees are being trained in using the NEW system of programs and not the old BDN. Converted does not mean all your paperwork, or letters are accessible. If it is something prior to 2007 they may need to pull the paper file to answer your question, if it is a complex matter.

The two systems at once, combined with the ongoing conversion process, may explain why there were so many veterans getting conflicting information. During the conversion process it was difficult to figure out what system was being updated. Especially if you were on a development team for a new issue but awards that are processed by a Post team were being prosessed in the old system. With the completion of this conversion I do think the information stream will continue to improve for the better with a bit more time.

Hope this is of interest- :D Honibe

I think the VA computer ate my C-file....

[Chuck75]

Many of the Vietnam Vets have paper files going back to the 60's and 70's for initial claims.

Somehow, I'm not surprised to find out that the VA's "modernization makes this older information difficult to access.

I did notice that some paperwork that would substantiate an "inferred" claim and possible retro pay magically vanished from the last "copy" of my "C" file sent by the VARO to the lawyer. An earlier copy sent to me before the possible inferred claim issue surfaced included the records. (The copy to me was sent before the VARO got their hands on the file. Hmmm! (Atlanta VARO, forty years of retro at ~10% or so.)

I think the VA computer ate my C-file....

[Pete53]

Congratulations Pete, you deserve it. I hope the improvements to your BR will help the quality of your life. I always thought that a VAMC rehab Dr. had to sign off on those type of grants. I need to check into it. Every day I have to do the "leap of death" every time I leave the shower stall. It's just a 6" ledge, however , having only one leg, and the good leg with a bad knee, I know it's just a matter of time before I'm peeling myself off the floor. I need to apply for such a bathroom grant.

The leap of death starts with stepping down to get into my shower. Than because there are sliding doors there is a rail to trip me up. Its actually more of a problem for me stepping down but I know that one of these days I am going to trip myself up and get a good thumping bouncing off tile shower and floor.

I may not have written this up right I am now trying my third end around to get my shower and it is by no means a sure thing.

What makes things even hinkier to me is VA is willing to send people out to help me shower which I don't want and will cost them more in 6 months than just helping me put a walk in or roll in shower.

[john999]

My original claim is written on papyrus with strange signs and people figures with bird heads. I have a pretty old claim I think. There is a curse that falls on anyone who opens it. Many VA emplyees have died after viewing my file.

[LarryJ]

My original claim is written on papyrus with strange signs and people figures with bird heads. I have a pretty old claim I think. There is a curse that falls on anyone who opens it. Many VA emplyees have died after viewing my file.

I love it. I truly do. :D