Va Memo 2003

[carlie]

http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/admin20/letters/vba03_11.doc

carlie

[betrayed]

I am sitting here wasted on pain pils and tranqualizers and I am tryin to make sense out of this. They wrote and issued this letter three fu758ing times

And then, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the object of several recent investigations, epitomizes more unlearned lessons. The head of the VA is a political appointee; thus, VA officials typically echo what the White House stance is and not necessarily act as vigorous advocates for veterans’ interests (Max Cleland was a notable exception)…another unlearned lesson. When a “new” war is being conducted, veterans of prior wars, their families and programs are pushed to the bottom of the priority list. In the midst of the emotionally charged climate to support our forces in harm’s way, perhaps this is somewhat understandable---understandable, but absolutely not acceptable.

March 26, 2003

VBA Letter 20-03-11

Director (00)

All VA Regional Offices and Centers

SUBJ: Operation Enduring Freedom & Operation Iraqi Freedom

SUBJ: Operation Enduring Freedom & Operation Iraqi Freedom

This letter provides outreach and processing procedures for claims submitted as a result of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Included are instructions for:

§ Obtaining benefits claims from service members, veterans, and survivors.

§ Physically and electronically identifying pending and completed Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom disability claims.

§ Managing and adjudicating disability and death claims.

§ Providing additional benefits and services as required.

September 23, 2003

VBA Letter 20-03-36

Director (00)

All VA Regional Offices and Centers

SUBJ: Operation Enduring Freedom & Operation Iraqi Freedom

Purpose

This letter provides information and instructions for outreach and claims processing procedures for casualties resulting from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). VBA Letter 20-03-11 dated March 26, 2003, provided initial information on processing claims from OEF/OIF service members and veterans. Since the letter was issued, the need to manage the cases of seriously disabled service members and veterans has become more apparent. VBA and VHA have developed case management procedures to provide seriously disabled (wounded, injured or ill) service members with a seamless transition to veteran status. VBA Letter 20-03-11 is rescinded and replaced by this letter.

March 8, 2005

VBA Letter 20-05-14

Director (00)

All VA Regional Offices

SUBJ: Operation Enduring Freedom & Operation Iraqi Freedom

Purpose

This letter provides updated information and instructions for outreach and claims processing procedures for casualties resulting from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). VBA Letter 20-03-36, dated September 23, 2003, provided information on outreach, coordination, and claims processing for OEF/OIF service members and veterans. Since the letter was issued, the need to clarify and provide more detailed information on the management of cases of seriously disabled service members and veterans has become more apparent. VBA Letter 20-03-36 is rescinded and replaced by this letter.

Does this make sense, are we the bottom of the fu%$&*g barrel is this why our claims arnt being processed.

I feel like shooting somebody right now.

[Berta]

I would gladly wait even many years more for resolve of my claim if this letter indicates that newly returning vets are getting priority in claims-

But I dont think they are- and then again-their claims are the easiest to resolve-and should not be holding up older claims-

if they return wounded mentally or physically- it is a different ballgame- and easier to award these claims in short time because the SMRs are fresh and complete and the disability is obviously from recent service and not a matter of something 30-40 years ago that caused present disability-

The fact is that the Backlog of claims existed before the Iraq War and that backlog was never resolved.

Returning vets with claims are the new excuse of the VA to stall older claims.

I posted the VA OIG report of 2005 here many times-

It tells you what is going on-

The VA claims system is a production line these days.

It does not depend on quality of claims work-it depends on Quantity ---

claims are being denied with out even being read properly, without considering the evidence, and without proper use of the criteria of the VCAA.

One only has to spend time reading remands at the BVA to see what I mean.

Getting angry only keeps us at the bottom of the barrel-

most of us were there before the Iraq War produced so many disabled men and women.

I say take action-instead of anger- write to your service reps and senators-

And Jim keep in mind- this is a public forum-

the VA as well as anyone else can read all this as a guest-

It is not the place to say what you said at bottom of your post-

But believe me I understand your frustration-

they want us angry and frustrated- I think the VA itself can cause PTSD-

but these are things that cloud our vision and alter our focus-

claims DO succeed-and they succeed with medical evidence-

that should be every vets focus -evidence-

and if you have what you need-(and VA has it too) you WILL get a proper resolve of the claim.

[betrayed]

But I dont think they are- and then again-their claims are the easiest to resolve-and should not be holding up older claims-

if they return wounded mentally or physically- it is a different ballgame- and easier to award these claims in short time because the SMRs are fresh and complete and the disability is obviously from recent service and not a matter of something 30-40 years ago that caused present disability-

Jim keep in mind- this is a public forum-

the VA as well as anyone else can read all this as a guest-

It is not the place to say what you said at bottom of your post-

But believe me I understand your frustration-

!. my claim should have been easy, the smr was dfresh and was handed to the VA by me. All the stuff I claimed was in those SMR's as well as the retirement physical. My stuff wasnt 30 years old. There was never a problem with service connection how could there be I entered as a 18 yoa healthy boy and 28 years later came out as a crippled up old man, there was no way they could deny service connection.

And as far as my last statement did you even consider I was talking about myself............................................

I doubt anybody from the VA reads this stuff, I dont think they have the time and I dont think they give a crap.

[Pete53]

The only Vets that I don't have a problem stepping up in front are the really sick ones who are dying or about to lose their homes and families.

[Berta]

That is a bizarre percentage-

I would think however that most viable claims ARE approved- if the vet lives long enough and continues the fight-that % could be right.

Stats-I have my POAs annual stats-

they look on the surface as very impressive-

however they dont say much- they do not list all their remands due to illegal VCAA letters and they sure dont list the vets and widows like me who are part of their open claims (me now for 4 years) yet who get the runaround and remain "pending" -year after year indicating each year that they actually are working on my claim-

Their annual report also does not state how many claims were denied and why they were denied.

One vet was kicked right out of their office-

and he had a full probative claim.

I got him back by raising hell- and they started to kiss his ass-

I think they mishandled his appeal-on another issue-

the vet called me and said my rep and his said his 1151 was at the BVA.

I said why-did you get response to our SOC letter and fill out an I-9?

He said NO- first he heard it was at the BVA-

The rep probably signed the I-9 and buggered it-

a fully documented 1151-I found the med evidence of the medical screw up right in his med recs and we rebutted the denial.

This stat is wrong in my opinion-then again we never know how many awards come directly from Regional Offices.