by Jim Fausone
Veteran Disability Lawyer
The most frequent question we get is “How long will it take VA to make a decision?” My nephew, who just returned from Afghanistan, asked me this at a Father's Day brunch last weekend.
As of May 31, more than 800,000 disability claims are pending across the country, according to a House VA Committee news release. Of those, more than 60 percent have been pending for more than 125 days and could increase to 230 days by next year. As a rule of thumb, we tell people the initial claim may take a year – and each step in the appeal process thereafter will take a year. So you can’t give up just because it will take so long.
One problem that the passage of time creates is change in veteran contact information. You must make sure that VA, and your representative – lawyer or claims agent - has your current contact information. If you change your address or telephone number or email address – you must let them know. If VA sends notices to an old street address that you did not change, that is your problem. If VA sends a notice of a C&P exam to an old address, you will miss the exam and your claim maybe denied. It seems simple but it is important to update your contact information at VA.gov anytime it changes. You will use VA Form 20-572. You can find it at the link below.
http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-20-572-ARE.pdf
To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com
Experienced and practical Michigan attorneys solving the problems of business owners, their families, and veterans... one case at a time.
Showing posts with label veteran claim processing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label veteran claim processing. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Costly Delay
by Jim Fausone
Veteran Disability Lawyer
Anyone involved with the VA disability system knows about the delays that quickly turn from months into years. It starts with the Regional Offices not being able to process the mail and get it in the correct file. It happens at the Board with the snail- slow transfer of files. As long as no one has the file, nothing can get done. It happens at the Court where it takes months for a decision to be made after the Secretary's lawyers have asked for countless extensions.
Well when the Court gets mad enough, it will make the Secretary pay for the delay. The Court awarded $19,000 in attorney fees for the veteran's lawyers time to move VA along. But the real problem is the veteran is without deserved benefits during that period. Maybe if the Court continues to whack the VA it will move a little faster.
http://www.examiner.com/veterans-policy-in-newark/va-secretary-ordered-to-pay-over-19-000-attorney-fees
To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com
Veteran Disability Lawyer
Anyone involved with the VA disability system knows about the delays that quickly turn from months into years. It starts with the Regional Offices not being able to process the mail and get it in the correct file. It happens at the Board with the snail- slow transfer of files. As long as no one has the file, nothing can get done. It happens at the Court where it takes months for a decision to be made after the Secretary's lawyers have asked for countless extensions.
Well when the Court gets mad enough, it will make the Secretary pay for the delay. The Court awarded $19,000 in attorney fees for the veteran's lawyers time to move VA along. But the real problem is the veteran is without deserved benefits during that period. Maybe if the Court continues to whack the VA it will move a little faster.
http://www.examiner.com/veterans-policy-in-newark/va-secretary-ordered-to-pay-over-19-000-attorney-fees
To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
No VA Backlog by 2015
by Jim Fausone
Veterans Lawyer
Veterans Affairs has recently vowed to eliminate the backlog in veterans benefits claims by the end of 2015. There is a million claim backlog across all levels and it takes years to process a claim. However, VA says all those seeking payment will have to wait no longer than three months. How could this be done?
Examples given include a new benefits calculator to help VA workers more easily calculate payouts for hearing deficiencies, a process that has allowed those claims to be processed more quickly and accurately. New calculators are being expanded to cover nine other conditions in upcoming months. VA is also looking to retain hundreds of part-time claims processors as full-time workers to help drive down the backlog. Recent improvements to online benefits applications and electronic medical records have sped up processing times for certain illnesses to fewer than 30 days.
Veterans deserve timely response to claim applications and appeals. Justice delayed is justice denied. But just proclaiming it will end in 2015 does not give anyone comfort VA will accomplish this goal.
http://www.stripes.com/va-hopes-to-eliminate-backlog-in-benefits-claims-by-end-of-2015-1.129125
To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com
Veterans Lawyer
Veterans Affairs has recently vowed to eliminate the backlog in veterans benefits claims by the end of 2015. There is a million claim backlog across all levels and it takes years to process a claim. However, VA says all those seeking payment will have to wait no longer than three months. How could this be done?
Examples given include a new benefits calculator to help VA workers more easily calculate payouts for hearing deficiencies, a process that has allowed those claims to be processed more quickly and accurately. New calculators are being expanded to cover nine other conditions in upcoming months. VA is also looking to retain hundreds of part-time claims processors as full-time workers to help drive down the backlog. Recent improvements to online benefits applications and electronic medical records have sped up processing times for certain illnesses to fewer than 30 days.
Veterans deserve timely response to claim applications and appeals. Justice delayed is justice denied. But just proclaiming it will end in 2015 does not give anyone comfort VA will accomplish this goal.
http://www.stripes.com/va-hopes-to-eliminate-backlog-in-benefits-claims-by-end-of-2015-1.129125
To learn more or to contact a Veterans disability lawyer, Veterans disability attorney, Veterans lawyer, or Veterans attorney call 1.800.693.4800 or visit Legalhelpforveterans.com
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
VA Can’t Read
by Jim Fausone
VA just announced that it will test quicker ways to access private medical records. It wants a private contractor to quickly retrieve the records from the health-care provider, scan them into a digital format and send the material to VA through a secure transmission. But we have found that most Regional Office employees do not have a computer capable of reading CDs or DVDs. As a result, if you send them records on such media, the RO will simply drop it into the file and never look at what was submitted. This problem also exists at the Board and is acknowledged by all attorneys practicing in the field. The Secretary should stop "testing quicker ways" and provide the RO staff the technology they need to do their basic job.
Read more at: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2012
VA just announced that it will test quicker ways to access private medical records. It wants a private contractor to quickly retrieve the records from the health-care provider, scan them into a digital format and send the material to VA through a secure transmission. But we have found that most Regional Office employees do not have a computer capable of reading CDs or DVDs. As a result, if you send them records on such media, the RO will simply drop it into the file and never look at what was submitted. This problem also exists at the Board and is acknowledged by all attorneys practicing in the field. The Secretary should stop "testing quicker ways" and provide the RO staff the technology they need to do their basic job.
Read more at: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2012
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Video Answers to Questions
By Jim Fausone
We get asked a lot of questions and try to answer as many as possible by email. We have also provided answers to FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) on our website. You can also get answers on YOUTUBE. We are now posting short videos that answer common questions and explain some of the inside information on veterans benefits. Please see if we can answer your questions by checking out our YouTube channel. http://www.youtube.com/user/LegalHelpForVeterans
We get asked a lot of questions and try to answer as many as possible by email. We have also provided answers to FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) on our website. You can also get answers on YOUTUBE. We are now posting short videos that answer common questions and explain some of the inside information on veterans benefits. Please see if we can answer your questions by checking out our YouTube channel. http://www.youtube.com/user/LegalHelpForVeterans
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
VARO Detroit Report
Jim Fausone
Our local VARO is representative of others around the country. Detroit is better than many from our experience. VA nationally reports its accuracy rate on disability claims of 83% so it makes errors 17% of the time. A recent VA IG report is troubling as Detroit had a 21% error rate. The VA IG found in Detroit:
Management did not timely train Rating Veterans Service Representatives (RVSR) regarding new procedures for evaluating traumatic brain injury (TBI) claims despite VBA issuing new guidance in January 2009. Also, staff needs to improve the processing of temporary 100 percent disability evaluations.
VARO staff did not accurately process claims for 25 (21 percent) of 120 claims reviewed. We identified nine additional claims processing inaccuracies attributable to claims redistributed to other VAROs to complete for workload management reasons.
Management also needs to strengthen controls over the following areas:
• Establishing mail procedures to ensure staff timely record Notices of Disagreement (NODs) for appealed claims in the Veterans Appeals Control and Locator System (VACOLS);
• Correcting errors identified by VBA’s Systematic Technical Accuracy Review (STAR) Program; and
• Processing incompetency determinations.
Read more at http://www4.va.gov/oig/publications/report-summary.asp?id=3668
We know in Detroit if you make automobiles with 21% defects it is not acceptable. You will go out of business and the competition will eat your lunch. The Detroit VARO and those around the country need to get to an acceptable error rate so they do it right 99 % of the time, not 83% .
Our local VARO is representative of others around the country. Detroit is better than many from our experience. VA nationally reports its accuracy rate on disability claims of 83% so it makes errors 17% of the time. A recent VA IG report is troubling as Detroit had a 21% error rate. The VA IG found in Detroit:
Management did not timely train Rating Veterans Service Representatives (RVSR) regarding new procedures for evaluating traumatic brain injury (TBI) claims despite VBA issuing new guidance in January 2009. Also, staff needs to improve the processing of temporary 100 percent disability evaluations.
VARO staff did not accurately process claims for 25 (21 percent) of 120 claims reviewed. We identified nine additional claims processing inaccuracies attributable to claims redistributed to other VAROs to complete for workload management reasons.
Management also needs to strengthen controls over the following areas:
• Establishing mail procedures to ensure staff timely record Notices of Disagreement (NODs) for appealed claims in the Veterans Appeals Control and Locator System (VACOLS);
• Correcting errors identified by VBA’s Systematic Technical Accuracy Review (STAR) Program; and
• Processing incompetency determinations.
Read more at http://www4.va.gov/oig/publications/report-summary.asp?id=3668
We know in Detroit if you make automobiles with 21% defects it is not acceptable. You will go out of business and the competition will eat your lunch. The Detroit VARO and those around the country need to get to an acceptable error rate so they do it right 99 % of the time, not 83% .
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