Shocking Error Rate at California VA

Jim Fausone

Veteran Disability Lawyer

With the dust still settling from the shocking numbers of the VA backlog, a review of California’s three regional VA offices sheds light on a new issue; the alarmingly high error rate.  The Oakland, San Diego, and Los Angeles VARO’s were recently reviewed for their efficiency, accountability, and accuracy when handling vets’ disability claims….the results were deplorable.

If you filed a disability claim in Oakland, you’d have a 39% chance of it being done incorrectly and having to start the process all over again. This error rate grows to 53% if the claim deals with temporary total disability evaluations in Oakland, and stays around 50% if the claim involves residual traumatic brain injury.

The San Diego and Los Angeles offices didn’t fare any better. Los Angeles was found to have a 97% error rate when dealing with temporary total disability evaluations, San Diego - 77%, numbers that are simply inexcusable. Furthermore, both San Diego and Los Angeles processed about half of all residual traumatic brain injury claims incorrectly.

In response to the review, California’s senators and representatives are demanding answers. The inefficiencies need to be explained, as well as the severe lack of accountability on behalf of the VARO’s staff.

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki believes these inefficiencies are a result of terrible management and a lack of staff understanding the applicable rules and regulations. Whether he is right or not, when looking at error rates in the 70^th and 90^th percentiles, any change is a good change.  

To learn more or see the original article, please visit: http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_20648338/states-dc-delegation-demands-answers-from-va-concerning

If you need help with your VA disability claim, contact us at (800) 693-4800.