tdiu All Tdiu Claims Focus Of Va Committee Hearing

[Testvet]

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EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF DISABLED VETERANS DEEMED UNEMPLOYABLE, TO BE EXAMINED THURSDAY

Whether you're an employer or a veteran seeking employment, check out HireVetsFirst.gov

October 25, 2005

Contact: Jeff Schrade (202)224-9093

(Washington, DC) On Thursday, October 27, the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs will hold an oversight hearing titled: "The Rising Number of Disabled Veterans Deemed Unemployable: Is the System Failing? A closer look at VA’s individual unemployability benefit."

The hearing will begin at 2 p.m. in room 418 of the Russell Senate Office Building. It will be webcast live and archived on the committee’s website (see Current Hearings), and may also be audiocast – during the hearing only – on C-SPAN’s hearings website, located at http://www.capitolhearings.org.

Earlier this year the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission held its own review of the IU system and members were told that approximately 200,000 veterans with disability ratings of 60 percent to 90 percent are now deemed unemployable, but paid as if they are 100 percent disabled.

Between 1999 through 2004, the number of individual unemployability (IU) grants more than doubled.

"With today’s modern technologies, individuals with disabilities have more opportunities than ever to become productive members of society, and I want to hear what VA is doing to make sure these opportunities are made available to our disabled veterans. When our veterans joined the armed services, they wanted to be ‘all they could be’ and as they return from service to their country with injuries, we need to make sure they have the opportunity to be ‘all they can be’ by empowering them with employment and the ability for financial growth," said Chairman Larry Craig.

PANEL I

The Honorable Daniel L. Cooper, Under Secretary for Benefits, Department of Veterans Affairs - accompanied by

– Renee Szybala, Director, VA Compensation and Pension Service

– Judith Caden, Director, VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Services Director

PANEL II

Cynthia Bascetta, Director, Education, Workforce and Income Security, Government Accountability Office

Rick Surratt, Deputy National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans

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<<September 2005 October 2005

25th - EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF DISABLED VETERANS DEEMED UNEMPLOYABLE, TO BE EXAMINED THURSDAY

20th - VA OFFICIALS PLEDGE "INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY" REORGANIZATION TO THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS

19th - 16 YEAR OLD LIVING IN GERMANY GETS U.S. SENATE PAGE POSITION THROUGH CHAIRMAN LARRY CRAIG

18th - VA’S INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO BE HEARING FOCUS THURSDAY

12th - NEW MOBILE MRI MACHINE WILL AID VETERANS AND SERVICE PERSONNEL IN SOUTHWEST IDAHO

5th - SENATE VOTES TO AWARD CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN

3rd - SEN. CRAIG’S BILL SEEKS TO PRESERVE DIGNITY OF ARLINGTON AND OTHER NATIONAL CEMETERIES

3rd - U.S. SENATE HONORS VA EMPLOYEES FOR HURRICANE EFFORTS

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[Pete53]

It comes down to the fact that if a Veterans Disability keeps them from working that they should get 100% TDIU. I think that for many I know the VA is slow to grant this benefit and if they had it right many more would get it.

Wow is it just me or does 200,000 Veterans getting TDIU is alarming cause it really should be more. Maybe they should look at their lame rehab program and do something about that?

[Testvet]

200,000 out of 25 million vets seems to be a miniscule amount to me. But then we aren't senators trying to bring fiscal conservatism to bare. It's amazing how they want sacrifice out of military family's, veterans, people on welfare, food stamps, college aid, but make the tax cuts permanent. and while you are at it don't forget to repeal the "death" tax, I bet that gets revived right after the beginning of the year, when he meant sacrifice he meant for all us poor middle class and flat poor people to sacrifice more, when do the rich get to sacrifice?

[Jay Johnson]

On the plus side, it is VERY difficult to lower a person with TDIU. The VA must show new MATERIAL evidence of EMPLOYABILITY that is sustained for a period of 3mnths or more...then , and only then, can they even attempt to lower a TDIU. Essentially, if you're not working they CAN'T lower your TDIU, unless you make it overwhelmingly clear that you can work but are choosing not to.

The downside is that the ROs do not follow title 38 and will likely try to weed out the weaker vets by unjustly lowering claims and hoping they commit suicide and/or don't appeal....not much can be done about this until these horrible SOs get off their collective a**es and start pointing out this HUGE problem with VAROs....but this would put the SOs out of work so it will never happen.