Wouldn't It Be Nice If..................

[MarkInTexas]

Wouldn't it be nice if eBenefits displayed an itemized breakdown of every record received by a veteran, itemized lists of medical documents received from doctors, hospitals etc along with other documents like service medical records etc complete with the dates received?

It would be great to simply scroll down the list to compare what authorizations to provide medical records were submitted versus what records were actually received by the VA and when.

It's difficult for a veteran to adequately assist the VA when he/she can't even tell what the VA "actually" has as the process continues. I know by obtaining a C-File, one can obtain it all but that delays a claim and doesn't suffice in ensuring a veteran that new information has actually been received and filed.

Mark

[SP4RVN1971]

Welcome to the VA nightmare. E-benefit was probably develop by the GSA in Las Vegas, and they will plead the fifth on why it does not work!

[carlie]

Wouldn't it be nice if eBenefits displayed an itemized breakdown of every record received by a veteran, itemized lists of medical documents received from doctors, hospitals etc along with other documents like service medical records etc complete with the dates received?

It would be great to simply scroll down the list to compare what authorizations to provide medical records were submitted versus what records were actually received by the VA and when.

It's difficult for a veteran to adequately assist the VA when he/she can't even tell what the VA "actually" has as the process continues. I know by obtaining a C-File, one can obtain it all but that delays a claim and doesn't suffice in ensuring a veteran that new information has actually been received and filed.

Mark

I don't think there is a computer system that could handle that much data.

All records on all veterans, progress notes, lab reports....JMHO

[71M10]

Actually computer systems are up to the task.

It is the VA that isn't!

As many on this board has observed in the past. If they wanted the system fixed, it could be fixed. The VA has many upsides to this completely chaotic and un-organized system, the primary benefit being they can't be held accountable and they can dodge responsibility most of the time. This ability has been degraded by the internet and veterans boards like HADIT, which is providing access to knowledge and allowing vets to get help from thier peers. This is reversing the isolation and lack of knowledge that was built into the system. I really would be interested in statistical and quantitative analysis of appeals/claims filled pre 2000 and post 2000(or whenever CFR38 and M21-1MR were uploaded). My sense is when veterans had ready access to the rules and more access to medical knowledge, it caused the appeals rate and cases granted on appeal to soar!

I sense elements within the VA loath eBenefits because it can give veterans to much information. My case in point. When I challenged/questioned why eBenefits said I have items pending with BVA, BVA confirms I do not have anything there, and when they told me my dependant claim was in the gathering evidence, but eBenefits clearly had the status marked "received" and not yet moved to "initial review". I asked why there was a discrepancy? An IRIS told me that the file hadn't been updated an then within days all my claim information and dowloadable letters disappeared from the site except for service verification (I suspect that letter is from the DOD side of the system). A veteran had access to information that indicated the VARO wasn't doing thier job properly and clearly the response is "TAKE AWAY THE INFORMATION"

Best regards,

Edited April 17, 2012 by 71M10

[Papa]

As it stands now, ebenefits is a waste of taxpayers money. But, there is the capablity to make it better, and we do have the systems to make it work. It is not the systems, but humans still must input the data, and what is the old saying: Garbage in-Garbage out.

Papa

[Teac]

As a retired computer specialist with over 40 years experience... Ebenefits could be the best system in the world, or it can and likely will remain the waste of money that it is..... As Papa said, garbage in - garbage out........ they va must be using the bottom of the heap ..contractor or employee to maintain and program it, because it really is more useless than useful

[Tbird]

The computers can handle it, the people who input the data are the problem. It's really strange to me to spend all that money on E-Benefits and still it seems it's just not what it could be.

I had hopes for E-Benefits, not high hopes, just hopes but it seems it has added more frustration to veterans who already have enough to deal with.