23 Percent Of Va Claims Processed Incorrectly

[jbasser]

I just bumped into this article. On behalf of our friends over at Military.com.

Link: http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2011/05/va-audit-23-percent-of-disability-claims-incorrectly-processed/#idc-cover

Basser

[COOL BREEZE]

Cool Breeze, Those Monday Morning Reports do the majority of the 8000 members here about as much good as a bald man getting a haircut. They look good sitting in the barber shop but there is nothing to cut.

I wish you could find another avenue to grasp on to so you can vent.

J

I completely agree. Totally worthless. Well, I have a new post with a different topic that may ruffle a few feathers!

Edited May 27, 2011 by COOL BREEZE

[ArmyTexas]

Thanks for the insight into the daily operations. I can definately understand why the things below will slow down claims. I also understand that you are not making the policy, you are only following it. No need for anyone to argue about right or wrong, you came here to let us know what's happening in the VA and how you see things in regards to claims. We appreciate the Intel and you opinions.

Actually, denials aren't any easier than grants. Things that DO make us take a long time on claims are multiple claims, where a vet claims one thing, the process gets going and a month down the line says HEY i wanna claim this too. Since we no longer have sequential end products (which was a godsend before some idiot took it away) and we now have this deferral mess, you are just asking for your claim to be in limbo. Either claim it all at once or wait till we're done with what u gave us.

Also, try NOT to handwrite letters...many of them are illegible & many raters will give up & not even bother trying to decipher it. And medical records...you might think it;s a good idea to send the records of the 38 doctors you've seen over the years, and sending duplicates (unasked for) is good. Keep in mind we have to review all that & they give us no detail time. So guess who's claim goes to the back of the line?

Also, know which evaluations are at maximums....ie dont claim an increase for tinnitus if you are at 10%...there is no increase for that & u are jst adding another claim that will be C&C'd, and if you already claimed 3 things, the tinnitus makes 4 & again, a case with 3 issues is tastier than a case with 4.

[Bigred122]

Actually, denials aren't any easier than grants. Things that DO make us take a long time on claims are multiple claims, where a vet claims one thing, the process gets going and a month down the line says HEY i wanna claim this too. Since we no longer have sequential end products (which was a godsend before some idiot took it away) and we now have this deferral mess, you are just asking for your claim to be in limbo. Either claim it all at once or wait till we're done with what u gave us.

Also, try NOT to handwrite letters...many of them are illegible & many raters will give up & not even bother trying to decipher it. And medical records...you might think it;s a good idea to send the records of the 38 doctors you've seen over the years, and sending duplicates (unasked for) is good. Keep in mind we have to review all that & they give us no detail time. So guess who's claim goes to the back of the line?

Also, know which evaluations are at maximums....ie dont claim an increase for tinnitus if you are at 10%...there is no increase for that & u are jst adding another claim that will be C&C'd, and if you already claimed 3 things, the tinnitus makes 4 & again, a case with 3 issues is tastier than a case with 4.

I see that you have programs that you can get bonuses for suggesting money saving ideas. I suggest someone write a small handbook what to do or not do. If you only want 2 claims at a time SAY IT. We the Vets only know what we are shown or learn from sites like these.On my claim I would have never messed with AO, but the 21-526 had so many questiobns about AO and I answered yes to the ones that pertained and now I can't get the VA to even talk about my 1151 claim. They just want to work on the AO part of it. So I had to research and defend AO due to the VA not me. Don't put that stuff on those forms and you won't have people like me having to send you evidence for stuff THE VA says maybe AO connected and then bitch that I keep sending you stuff that THE VAQ added to my claim. Just like when I called this week, the 800# they just wanted to talk about the AO part of the claim and when I brought up the Main Disability, they acted like it was the secondary one and gave me more flaky reasons why it wasn't being worked on. I sent them everything on the original claim. Yet they admitted not working on it since March and probably won't look at it again till June. Since you only issue one claim number for life, are you going to wait till I die before rating disabilities just in case I Heaven forbid have to add one more disability. Your apart of the system "Change it". All we know is what we find out and that I is never from the VA, it is from other Vets.If it wasn't for this site I'd still be stumbling around.I never could understand why people do jobs that detail helping people if the DON'T like helping people.I suggest some one design a self service computer program that matches your claim info with computerized medical info on file and then the computer does the ole More Likely than not thingy and either approves or deny the claim. Take the people out of the equation and EVERYONE will be happy!! Especially me who HATES to deal with lazy,uneducated, non people skilled people.Computers don't jerk around people, People jerk around people!! If the raters would take out judgement part( does not like their attitude,uses red ink,bad handwriting, my ex lives in that town and the list goes on) and just looks at the facts it would go faster. This is just my personal observation of the system as I perseve it from what I have experienced over the last 10 months.Veldrina, we appreciate what you share with us here. We really do!! But please share with your fellow workers that they are dealing with sick/hurt individuals who are MORE LIKELY than not are in pain and frustrated with a system who refuses to recognize them and employees who don't want to Help them.I know I'd rather be working than having to deal government employess for the last 10 years(Government consist of many Orgs, VA and SSA are but a few. Thank you for letting me Rant and Thank You for Your service to us Vets!! Mike

[Papa]

Veldrina I feel your pain and frustration, but in my case I did not ask to be re-evaluated for PTSD, the VA did that. I did not ask to get Parkinson's. Should I have waited until the other issues were advocated before I applied for the Parkinson's? Look at all the back pay I would have lost. I would not want your job for any amount of money. I really appreciate you being on Hadit. One question that has been bothering me, and I know the VA and Social Security are two different Governmental entities, but when I check the SSA's web-site under the diseases that are almost certain to get you disability, I would meet all the qualifications for Parkinson's, but while I have not been rated by the VA, I can assume that I would receive the 30%. This just does not seem right. BTW, I do not qualify for SSA disability because I was a Government Employee. It just is not fair.

Papa

[john999]

Papa

I think you would qualify for medicare if you are disabled and under 65. Medicare is a good thing. I am not sure about that but it is worth checking.

[Bigred122]

Papa

I think you would qualify for medicare if you are disabled and under 65. Medicare is a good thing. I am not sure about that but it is worth checking.

If you are low income and a Vet you qualify for the Millenium Program. It is basically same as Medicare A program. The VA is the primary payer if you have to go to a civillian hospital.Very few people are aware of it, but it has saved my butt twice now. Payed for my life flight and heart surgery and that was $60,000. But the catcher is that the medical hospital has to Bill the VA first.It takes them 6 months to start to pay.If the hospital takes their payments, what they get is what they get. Which is about 80% of bill.Of course this will probably be cut back like Medicare will be cut back with this new Obama Care program. There is no copayment with the VA program.Flakey hospitals will try to make you pay the difference. BUT DON"T!! Once you pay a copayment on the program they will drop you.If the hospital wants more money they can bill Medicare after the VA pays all that they will pay.Then it is ok.If they bill medicare first, they lose!! Hope this helps someone!! My dad didn't know of the program and tried to have ambulence drive him to VAMC 60 miles away.Local hospital was about 3 miles from his home. He never made it there. So if your low income get to the closest hospital and let the VA take care of it.Mike