Tag: VA Claims

“Big data” and “data analytics” are hot topics in government and industry, but how much do they affect the care that Veterans receive at VA?

At a hearing today before the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Under Secretary for Benefits, Allison A. Hickey, outlined progress made by the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) in reducing the backlog of Veterans’ disability compensation and pension claims by 36 percent since March -- attributing the success to the combined impact of VBA's transformation initiatives and increased employee productivity.

The House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a hearing today to examine the VA’s process for adjudicating complex disability claims.

Fine reporting by journalists with the nonprofit Center for Investigative Reporting stirred the nation in March when they reported dismal service from the Veterans Administration to Americans seeking counseling, treatment and financial compensation for their military service.

Today, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee voted to approve seven omnibus bills, which incorporate thirty-four pieces of legislation addressing a number of issues, including the disability claims backlog, foreclosure protections for veterans, research and treatment of tinnitus, advanced appropriations, and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) planning and budgeting.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has reached another milestone in its disability claims transformation process – over 30 percent of the current disability claims inventory is now digital and accessible to claim raters in VA’s electronic claims processing system, which has now been fielded ahead of schedule at all 56 Regional Offices across the country.

If you’ve never considered getting an HIV test before, consider getting one now. VA recommends all Veterans, regardless of age and personal risk, get tested at least once in their lifetime. Testing is available at your local VA medical center.

VA deployed five mobile Vet Centers from across the region to assist Boston area Veterans as well as first responders to the bombing, providing on the ground counseling and referrals to anyone who needed it.

Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) welcomed assurances today that the Department of Veterans Affairs has made “significant progress” and is “at a tipping point” in reducing a massive backlog of claims for disability benefits.

On February 15th the Department of Veterans Affairs Chief Information Officer Roger Baker, left the agency.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is reportedly spending over $1.2 billion per year to treat sleep apnea, leading one attorney to call on Congress to investigate.

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and The American Legion announced a new partnership to help reduce the compensation claims backlog for Veterans.

With your talents translated into civilian-friendly language, you can craft a federal resume that best highlights your professional strengths. Get started today in the VA for Vets Career Center.

Today, Democrats on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee announced a coordinated legislative effort to help the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) in its efforts to address the growing backlog of claims.

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today it is implementing an initiative to expedite compensation claims decisions for Veterans who have waited one year or longer. Effective today, VA claims raters will make provisional decisions on the oldest claims in inventory, which will allow Veterans to begin collecting compensation benefits more quickly, if eligible.

This is the fifth essay in a 10-part Women’s History Month series entitled, Honoring Our Nation’s Women Veterans. In February, we asked readers to submit essays about their time in service or women who have served our country. …

In honor of Women’s History Month in March, VA released a new Face Behind the File episode called Women on the Wing.

Here is the prepared opening statement by Chairman Bernie Sanders at a Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing today into the claims backlog at the Department of Veterans Affairs...

Because the BVA is the final level of review within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), an appeal of a BVA decision must be made to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court), a special court for veterans and their families.

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today the nationwide transition to paperless processing of Veterans’ disability claims at its regional benefits processing offices is underway.

Below is a blog post from Military Pathways, written by Dr. Steven L. Sayers, a psychologist and director of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Coaching Into Care program.

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today it is cutting red tape for Veterans by eliminating the need for them to complete an annual Eligibility Verification Report (EVR).

On December 6, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta held a joint press event to discuss ongoing points of collaboration between the two agencies.

By Steve Vogel, Washingtonpost.com   As President Obama’s first term winds down, his administration has reported significant progress in combating several high-profile veterans problems, including reducing...

If you smoke, VA wants to help you quit. VA offers a variety of resources, including individual counseling, smoking cessation programs and prescriptions for nicotine replacement therapy.

If you're a Northern California veteran who has waited a year for a decision on a war-related disability claim, you might consider a move to South Dakota -- where the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs typically responds in less than half the time.

More than 20,000 men and women exited the Army and Marines during the past four years with other-than-honorable discharges that can restrict their veterans health-care and disability benefits.

Tara Ingram says she and her mother spent thousands of dollars installing sprinklers and making other improvements to ensure their house would qualify for a Veterans Affairs contract to shelter homeless veterans.

As he blames the president for the prospect of large cuts in defense spending next year, Republican Mitt Romney is ignoring the role that Congress and members of his own party played in setting up that possibility.

VA has created segmented lanes to help get claims processed faster and with greater accuracy.

VA has also developed a skills certification process to assess employees’ job proficiency in comparison to national performance standards.

VA’s goal within two years is to have a claims-adjudication system that gets a first-time claim decision to a veteran within 125 days with 98% accuracy.

Despite high rates of alcohol abuse," the US Army "has delayed for nearly three years a plan to offer all soldiers access to confidential counseling for drinking problems, a move that leaders in alcohol abuse treatment say is a mistake.

Veterans facing criminal charges who are in need of mental health or substance use treatment may be eligible for Veterans Treatment Court, if they live in one of the growing number of communities where these courts exist.

Veterans often wait years to receive government benefits. All claims to benefits used to end with the veteran’s death, but a new law allows family members to step in.

This video addresses some common mistakes on forms and offers tips for success in seeking compensation and pension benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sally Satel is still at it with the support from American Enterprise Institute. For years she's been trying to say that PTSD is nothing more than veterans looking for an easy ride. She hasn't changed and her claims remain that taking care of veterans with PTSD is a waste of money.

How long does it take to get a decision to help a veteran that is alive, how many times back through the system to get the correct decision, and then how long does a surviving widow have to plead the case to fulfill the promises made to veterans by this government! So I call now for sustained action by all veterans, their family members, their friends, and the citizens of this country...Show it through twitter activity every day!

Veterans Affairs Department officials say they can now see an end to the long nightmare of an ever-growing mountain of disability and compensation claims that has long infuriated veterans and their families.

Gulf War Veterans Came Home Ill But NO One Knew Why...... The American people, thinking it was such a fast war, there would be...

Veterans fighting to gain the benefits and care earned, deserved, and decades long over due!

Senators Propose TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act A bill introduced to the U.S. Senate April 14 would, if passed into law, enable the dependent children...