Akaka Introduces Legislation To Improve Veterans’ Disability Claims Processing

[ranger11bv]

AKAKA INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE VETERANS' DISABILITY CLAIMS PROCESSING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) introduced legislation today to make much-needed improvements to VA's disability claims processing. VA provides disability compensation to approximately 3.1 million veterans across the nation.

"VA's system to provide veterans with disability compensation is well intended, but it is broken. This bill will move the Department closer to fulfilling its obligation to provide every eligible veteran with timely and accurate disability compensation," said Akaka.

As Chairman, Akaka has held a series of hearings on improving the veterans' disability compensation system (to view the Committee's hearings click here). The Committee will hold a hearing to review disability claims processing on July 1, at which time witnesses will testify about Akaka's legislation.

The Claims Processing Improvement Act of 2010 (S.3517) would make various changes to the way VA processes disability compensation claims, including provisions to:

* Set up a process to fast-track claims that have been fully developed;

* Help veterans with multiple disability claims by allowing VA to provide partial disability ratings; and

* Provide that the Department give equal deference to the medical opinions of a veteran's non-VA doctor.

The bill would also establish a test program at several Regional Offices replacing VA's method for identifying musculoskeletal disabilities. Compensation under the pilot would be based on a functional assessment of limitations due to the disability, such as standing, walking or lifting, and would take into account the severity, frequency and duration of symptoms of the disability. To identify disabilities, the pilot would use the common language of the International Classification of Diseases, rather than VA's current Rating Schedule.

To read Senator Akaka's statement in the Congressional Record introducing the bill, click here: LINK http://akaka.senate.gov/press-releases.cfm?method=releases.view&id=9e2cc9f7-9714-408d-90e0-a4544453a42d

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Edited June 24, 2010 by Tbird
added link

[SLEDGE]

Well, here we go again.

More vague rhetoric to appease the masses.

" * Set up a process to fast-track claims that have been fully developed; "

That sure sounds good.

How is that going to work?

They are supposed to have a system that does that already. Expedite Appeals or something like that...

" * Help veterans with multiple disability claims by allowing VA to provide partial disability ratings; "

That's a no-brainer.

Not only have they been doing that for decades that I know of, we call it low-balling, now they want to legalize it.

" * Provide that the Department give equal deference to the medical opinions of a veteran’s non-VA doctor. "

Once again, something that sounds good on the surface.

This is common sense and the VA jerks were by law, supposed to be doing that already.

Now they want new rules and regulations that tell them to follow the rules of engagement that have been in place since George Washington was a Boy Scout.

None of this crap is new.

They acknowledges that something is wrong, it needs to be fixed and they can only fix it by superseding the long established rules that have long been in place, 'but ignored' .

Mr. Akaka just proved that he is a politician looking for support for his next election campaign.

He also just proved that he either doesn't know how stuff works or he supports ' doing it that way because we have always done it that way' .

His idea of how to fix the system is just more of the same crap that politicians have been puking out for centuries.

Lip service without commitment to anything.

Until they do something about ignoring the rules and the evidence, called quality control, there will be no changes.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

sledge

[stillhere]

We need to remember this is not the senator doing this but rather his staff and you are correct it certainly sounds like they do not have a clue as to what they are suggesting.

Edited June 23, 2010 by stillhere

[Vync]

Ranger11bv,

Thanks for posting this!

Could you please post a link to the site where you got it? None of the links in the document carried over...

[Pete53]

This Senator introduces quite a few bills that never pass including his biannual bill to allow disabled veterans to use standby flying.

From what it said its better than what we have now.

[rdnkjeeper]

Hope it goes thru!

[Cruinthe]

This is a great concept, and looks good on paper.

But having said that, why does this remind me of the (in)famous "Duty To Assist" regulations?

The VA, having been given a mandate to assist, defines assistance as "we sent you a VCAA, therefore we comply with the Duty to Assist".

Lets see how badly the VA can mutilate and mangle this otherwise good peice of legislation.