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
Experienced and practical Michigan attorneys solving the problems of business owners, their families, and veterans... one case at a time.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Technology Improves Decision Making
by Jim Fausone
Veteran Disability Attorney
We see so many errors by VA RO raters that technology improvements are warranted. A VA employee developed a hearing test calculator to automate the steps for determining compensation owed for varying degrees of hearing loss. After testing, the hearing loss calculator worked so well that VBA has rolled it out for use system-wide.
The hearing calculator analyzes audio metric data from a hearing test and then determines whether a veteran has a hearing loss, the extent of the loss in terms of decibels, and the level of disability. The calculator then generates a narrative text file, citing relevant regulations for payment. This calculator was created in the employee’s spare time. VA should unleash the private sector to create more tools to assist its employees.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110120_3903.php?oref=rss#
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 Attorney
We see so many errors by VA RO raters that technology improvements are warranted. A VA employee developed a hearing test calculator to automate the steps for determining compensation owed for varying degrees of hearing loss. After testing, the hearing loss calculator worked so well that VBA has rolled it out for use system-wide.
The hearing calculator analyzes audio metric data from a hearing test and then determines whether a veteran has a hearing loss, the extent of the loss in terms of decibels, and the level of disability. The calculator then generates a narrative text file, citing relevant regulations for payment. This calculator was created in the employee’s spare time. VA should unleash the private sector to create more tools to assist its employees.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110120_3903.php?oref=rss#
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
Monday, January 17, 2011
More Depression than PTSD
by Jim Fausone
Veteran Disability Attorney
Once again showing the differences between men and women in combat, VA recently reported that women appear more susceptible to depression than PTSD. The study looked at 246,976 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and 246,080 who served elsewhere.
Among those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, about 12 percent of active female veterans and about 16 percent of reserve unit female veterans were diagnosed with PTSD, compared to about 17 percent of active and reserve male veterans. About 23 percent of active female veterans and 19 percent of reserve unit female veterans were diagnosed with depression, compared to 14 percent of active men and 12 percent of reserve unit men.
Women were denied PTSD claims more often than men, while men were denied claims for other mental health conditions more often than women. Veteran advocates need to keep these kind of differences in mind when advancing disability claims.
http://www.dailypress.com/health/dp-nws-va-women-20110109,0,7486960.story
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 Attorney
Once again showing the differences between men and women in combat, VA recently reported that women appear more susceptible to depression than PTSD. The study looked at 246,976 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and 246,080 who served elsewhere.
Among those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, about 12 percent of active female veterans and about 16 percent of reserve unit female veterans were diagnosed with PTSD, compared to about 17 percent of active and reserve male veterans. About 23 percent of active female veterans and 19 percent of reserve unit female veterans were diagnosed with depression, compared to 14 percent of active men and 12 percent of reserve unit men.
Women were denied PTSD claims more often than men, while men were denied claims for other mental health conditions more often than women. Veteran advocates need to keep these kind of differences in mind when advancing disability claims.
http://www.dailypress.com/health/dp-nws-va-women-20110109,0,7486960.story
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
Monday, January 10, 2011
VA Health Care Report Card
by Jim Fausone
Veterans Disability Lawyer
VA runs the largest health care system in the world. Most of the time the VA provides excellent health care. VA issues an annual report card on its services. The latest 200 page document reports that last year there were 62,686,340 outpatient visits in VA. The average number of visits to a VA facility was 450,836. Total outpatient visits to a VA facility ranged from 113,184 (Sheridan, Wyoming) to 1,331,446 (Cleveland, Ohio). VA employed 12,462 full-time and 2,837 part-time physicians. Nationally, there were 2.8 staff physician per 1,000 unique patients. If you can make it past the first 80 pages of the report you can find VA facility specific information that may be helpful. VA certainly could make this report card more user friendly, don’t you think!
http://www1.va.gov/health/docs/HospitalReportCard2010.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
Veterans Disability Lawyer
VA runs the largest health care system in the world. Most of the time the VA provides excellent health care. VA issues an annual report card on its services. The latest 200 page document reports that last year there were 62,686,340 outpatient visits in VA. The average number of visits to a VA facility was 450,836. Total outpatient visits to a VA facility ranged from 113,184 (Sheridan, Wyoming) to 1,331,446 (Cleveland, Ohio). VA employed 12,462 full-time and 2,837 part-time physicians. Nationally, there were 2.8 staff physician per 1,000 unique patients. If you can make it past the first 80 pages of the report you can find VA facility specific information that may be helpful. VA certainly could make this report card more user friendly, don’t you think!
http://www1.va.gov/health/docs/HospitalReportCard2010.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
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Pregnant Veterans At Risk
by Jim Fausone
Veterans Lawyer
A new study may be of help to veterans when making their PTSD claim. Female veterans who become pregnant may be at more risk for mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, a study finds. VA commissioned a 5 year study. Among the study participants, 32% of women who were pregnant had a mental health diagnosis, while 21% of women who were not pregnant received a mental health diagnosis. The study was published recently in the Journal of Women's Health. As a female veteran, you should consider if the trigger for mental health disorders is related to pregnancy.
http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-pregnant-vets-20101222,0,3495383.story
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
A new study may be of help to veterans when making their PTSD claim. Female veterans who become pregnant may be at more risk for mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, a study finds. VA commissioned a 5 year study. Among the study participants, 32% of women who were pregnant had a mental health diagnosis, while 21% of women who were not pregnant received a mental health diagnosis. The study was published recently in the Journal of Women's Health. As a female veteran, you should consider if the trigger for mental health disorders is related to pregnancy.
http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-pregnant-vets-20101222,0,3495383.story
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
Monday, December 20, 2010
Vietnam Movie Tribute
by Jim Fausone
Veteran Attorney
A local Michigan documentary film producer, Keith Famie, has a new film out about the Vietnam generation. This DVD follows on the heels of his critically acclaimed film "Detroit: Our Greatest Generation " about Detroit's role in WWII. Keith is a dedicated and skilled storyteller and film maker. I have seen him lug his gear to events, parades, the moving wall and posts to talk to real veterans. He is preserving the history of our times.
I encourage you to check out his work and buy a DVD for a friend or loved one. Keith has scratched together the funding to make these documentaries and no one is getting rich off his work other than those whose history has been preserved. The project always needs financial support and you can assist by going to these websites to buy or contribute. Check it out at:
http://www.v-prod.com/trailer_vietnam.html or at http://www.ourvietnamgeneration.com/
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 Attorney
A local Michigan documentary film producer, Keith Famie, has a new film out about the Vietnam generation. This DVD follows on the heels of his critically acclaimed film "Detroit: Our Greatest Generation " about Detroit's role in WWII. Keith is a dedicated and skilled storyteller and film maker. I have seen him lug his gear to events, parades, the moving wall and posts to talk to real veterans. He is preserving the history of our times.
I encourage you to check out his work and buy a DVD for a friend or loved one. Keith has scratched together the funding to make these documentaries and no one is getting rich off his work other than those whose history has been preserved. The project always needs financial support and you can assist by going to these websites to buy or contribute. Check it out at:
http://www.v-prod.com/trailer_vietnam.html or at http://www.ourvietnamgeneration.com/
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
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