Va Reports Stats On

[Berta]

I thought I saw this here yesterday but could not find it- here it is: Unfortunately the stats didnt come out like they should- the VA link has it in better layout.

Source :http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/agentorange/reportcard/index.html

Claims Granted Based on New Presumptive Agent Orange Conditions

Data Current through December 17, 2010

Total Claims Granted

Claims Granted

Retroactive

Compensation Paid

Average Award

18,829

$320,964,955

$17,046

Claims Received Prior to October 30, 2010

Claims granted that had been previously denied (prior to October 2009)

Retroactive

Compensation Paid

Average Award

3,199

$139,180,962

$43,508

Claims granted that were received after October 2009 but before the final regulation was published (thru August 30, 2010)

Retroactive

Compensation Paid

Average Award

15,143

$179,895,360

$11,880

Claims Received On or After October 30, 2010

Claims granted that were received after the final regulation was published, including Fast Track claims

Retroactive

Compensation Paid

Average Award

487

$1,888,633

$3,878

Interim awards made pending final claims decision (included in the above number)

Retroactive

Compensation Paid

Average Award

138

$253,763

$1,839

Note that the total benefits awarded may include payment for other than AO conditions"

Edited December 18, 2010 by Berta

[Berta]

Although this VA Status report accounts for only 37,796 of the anticipated 86,000 AO claims-VA had projected along with the new regulations-

almost 50 % of the claims have been decided and granted as of the preparation of this VA Report Card.

It does not account for any claims that could have been denied nor does it reveal the potential awards of SMC for veterans and as accrued benefit for their widows due to the new AO presumptives that have been absorbed into these figures (I hope)

One thing is for sure- VA is working fast on these claims and I almost believe that they want to decide most if not all of them by year's end.

If VA can make the extraordinary effort to decide a whopping 37,796 AO claims within less than 2 months after the regs became law-

it certainly shows that they can reduce the backlog for ALL claims.

Based on this report their actions are quite commendable.

The training was intensified for VA employees who are specifically addressing the Nehmer claims.

What if VA intensified training for raters to specialize in certain areas such as PTSD claims, spinal disability claims,

widow's widower's claims, SMC claims, TBI claims,CUE claims, etc-

it could perhaps make a difference in the backlog.

In one response I got from VA since filing my CUE claim in 2004 they told me it had been given to a CUE 'specialist'.

I didn't know VA had any CUE specialists and found that this person couldn't read evidence anyhow.

I think they made that up but still it could be a key way to get good attention on specialized claim's issues.