Chair Of The House Veterans Committee Calls For The Director Of The Veterans Benefits Adminstration To Step Down.

[Capt.]

Hello All,,,,,,,Well Finally , we have someone ,,,,,Mr. Jeff Miller , Chair of the HVAC has demanded the resignation of the biggest enemy of all Veterans, Undersecretary Allison Hickey to STEP DOWN. Not since the incompetent James Nicholson was Secretary of the VA nearly 10 years ago have we seen a total collaspe of the entire Veterans Benefits System.. This should have been done a long time ago and General Shenseki should follow as well.

Anybody to replace one or both of them will be a sign of a positive move because both of these leaders have been operating in negative territory for many years. I believe Congressman Bob Filner , though no longer on the HVAC should be doing backflips with this positive step at the VA.

I believe that all Veterans should be watching closely and praying for some replacements with LEADERSHIP and able to get the ball moving again. I see a small ray of hope that each one of us must try to hold on to. NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

http://cironline.org/reports/house-committee-leader-calls-head-va-benefits-resign-4302

Edited March 20, 2013 by Capt.Contaminate

[jbasser]

I think poor Jeff is asking the wrong question.

The proper question to ask is the most dangerous one:

Who in the hell is in control of the VA. It isn't the folks who they say it is.

J

[manning01]

Thought this was very interesting....

http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20130320/DEPARTMENTS04/303200003/VFW-defends-VA-official-despite-continued-backlog?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Veterans of Foreign Wars, the nation’s largest organization for combat veterans, has stepped up to defend the Veterans Affairs Department official responsible for processing disability benefits claims, even as some lawmakers have lost patience with the big and growing backlog.

Under fire is Allison Hickey, VA undersecretary for benefits, whose management is being blamed by some lawmakers for the department’s inability to reduce the growing pile of benefits claims, which now totals almost 900,000, including almost 630,000 more than 125 days old.

Hickey told the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee March 20 that the oldest claim she is aware of is 10 years old and that slightly more than 4 percent of claims are older than two years.

The size of the backlog could be cut more quickly, she said, if VA let older claims sit while processing newer ones, but her decision was to work on the oldest claims first.

She also said, as VA has said many times, that the answer to managing the tidal wave of claims will be a combination of new processing procedures, electronic claims, and streamlined application and approval processes.

One of her chief critics is Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., the Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman, who said he doesn’t see the progress.

“The more people VA hires to process claims, the worse the department’s productivity is,” Miller said. “VA’s demonstrated history shows its inability or refusal to forecast problems and anticipate its needs, and the only people paying a price … are the veterans.”

But Robert Wallace, executive director of the VFW’s Washington office, said in a statement that his group supports Hickey, believing she is “an integral part of the solution to finally breaking a backlog that previous administrations and Congresses helped to create by underfunding the critical areas of automation and staffing.”

The group “strongly believes in holding public servants accountable, but Allison Hickey was handed a tremendous challenge less than two years ago.”

Still, considerable doubt remains about the likelihood VA will be able to meet its goal of eliminating the claims backlog in 2015, with a pledge to complete all initial claims within 125 days with 98 percent accuracy.

“I question whether this very, very, ambitious goal is achievable,” said Rep. Michael Michaud, D-Maine, the veteran’s committee’s ranking Democrat.

“It would require VA to complete approximately 3.4 million claims in two and a half years. To accomplish this goal, the VA must start averaging the completion of 1.36 million claims a year; this is a 33 percent increase in productivity.”

That may not be easy. In a written statement, the American Federation of Government Employees said the VA workforce has low morale and high turnover. For new employees, training has been reduced from one year to just eight weeks, putting people on the front lines of claims processing before they are fully prepared, AFGE said.

[carlie]

CC and manning,

I merged your topics together for continuity.

[john999]

Well, is this proof the VSO's and VA are in bed together? Congress has the power to make it happen not some bums at the VA. Considering there may be war with Iran the VA had better get its act together as had DOD. All the VSO's should be screaming bloody murder about the backlog and not making excuses for VA officials. To make an omlett you have to break a few heads.

[Capt.]

Yup and scramble them good with a spatula too...John..

Thanks Carlie ....... I think this topic could get real interesting .....Actually this is the first positive news on the VA that we Veterans have had in a long time ....someone getting fired.....or scrambled.

Jbasser.......your right.....who is really ........REALLY in control of the VA. NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

[john999]

The VSO's should be leading the charge not kissing up to VA officials. They are just a bunch of horse traders. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. The vet gets left with the fleas.