Va Deploys New Processing Model For Claims At Sixteen Varo"s

[Jumpmaster]

VA Deploys New Processing Model for Compensation Claims

July 11, 2012

New Procedures Ensure Benefits Delivery to Veterans in Need

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today it is deploying a new model for processing compensation benefits claims at 16 VA regional offices. The new model is part of a comprehensive transformation plan designed to yield an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 additional compensation claim decisions annually, while ensuring Veterans most in need receive priority attention.

“This new model is a part of our comprehensive plan to eliminate the compensation claims backlog," said Under Secretary for Benefits, Allison A. Hickey. “

Our redesigned model follows comprehensive planning and testing to ensure we have the right recipe for success.”

The new organizational model involves special handling of claims from Veterans who are facing the most serious injuries or illnesses or experiencing financial hardships or homelessness, and therefore need immediate attention. Through a new “intake processing center,” claims are routed to one of three segmented lanes:

• Express: Claims that have only one or two medical conditions, or have all the supporting documentation, medical evidence and service records needed for an expeditious rating decision—referred to as “fully developed claims”.
  
  
  • Special Operations: Claims requiring special handling because of the unique circumstances of the Veterans. These include financial hardship; homelessness; serious wounds, injuries or illnesses; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder associated with military sexual trauma; and former prisoner of war status.
    

  [*]Core: Claims with more than two medical conditions, or those that will need additional evidence to make a compensation decision.

  The segmented-lanes approach helps increase speed and accuracy because the claims specialists become familiar with processing claims of similar complexity.

  Veterans and their Veterans Service Organization representatives are encouraged to provide all the needed evidence along with their application in a “fully developed claim” in order to expedite the process.

  Sixteen regional offices have received the new organizational and process model, including Huntington, W.Va.; Hartford, Conn.; Portland, Ore.; Houston, Texas; Cleveland, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; Boise, Idaho; Phoenix, Ariz.; New Orleans, La.; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Atlanta, Ga.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Wichita, Kan.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Newark, New Jersey and Fort Harrison, Mont. These offices will also receive new technology systems and software upgrades over the next 3 months. All 56 VA regional offices will have fully implemented all of the people, process, and technology initiatives in VA’s transformation plan by the end of 2013.

  To learn more about how to file “fully developed claims” using VA’s new Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), visit http://benefits.va.gov/disabilityexams.

[usmc89]

My RO is Milwaukee WI. I wil let you know of the speed of the claims. I printed out on of the forms and we will see how fast this is.

[justrluk]

Glad to see ATL is on the list. After 4 years on the appeal (not mentioned above) and the mystery claim filed in March, it would be great to just move on all together...

[Vync]

Montgomery is not on the list. I wonder if that could good or bad...

[RonP]

The truth, sure, rest easy folks. We all will be paid by xmas

In the last month the VA has processed

At the current rate of determination it will be 243 months before you are paid = 20 years.

Nehmer review cases based upon new Agent Orange presumptive

6 cases per month and still have 99.5% of back log over 125 Days at the current rate of claim examination they will have to processo catch 121 claims per month to catch up.

I promise you I will not be here for that final report or check

Edited July 17, 2012 by RonP

[justrluk]

RonP: I truly hope your comment was directed at yourself. I read it as though you were at the end of your proverbial rope. Please let me know I'm wrong in readiing it this way. If you feel that "I promise you I will not be here for that final report or check" is a desired way out, please get help, else please disregard as I'm only concerned by the words "I promise"...

Take care and have faith!