by Jim Fausone

VA has begun releasing forms on specific disabilities for use by its physicians.   This initiative marks the beginning of a major reform of the physicians’ guides and automated routines that will streamline the claims process for injured or ill Veterans.  79 different disabilities are to get the new forms.  This initiative will also help automate the medical records system at VA.     For Veterans who receive their care from private physicians, VA has placed the disability benefits questionnaires on its Internet site http://www.vba.va.gov/disabilityexams/with instructions for physicians to submit examination results on Veterans’ behalf.

To read more about this change click on  http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/10/26/new-medical-forms-will-streamline-veterans-claims-process/

by Jim Fausone

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) set up an independent political action committee (PAC) years ago.  The VFW has about 1.5 million members, and the endorsement from its PAC is usually widely advertised by the candidates. Now the VFW PAC is being challenged for  endorsing incumbents  in  Congress.   VFW’s commander in chief, Richard L. Eubank, and two other officers called for the rescission of the endorsements and said that the endorsement process “unintentionally provided favoritism to the incumbents.”  It  is hard to get real change at VA when groups like this PAC simply rubber stamp the incumbents.  If you want to read more about it:

http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/U/US_VFW_PAC_ENDORSEMENT?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-10-13-12-32-47

by Jim Fausone

The story is not that unusual - a service member suffering from psychological problems starts to self medicate, gets kicked out of the service and loses access to VA benefits. Veterans advocates see cynical forces at play in the use of administrative discharges for reasons including misconduct, personality disorder and adjustment disorder — defined as an excessive reaction to a stressful event, with symptoms similar to PTSD. 

The Department of Defense stands to save between $5 billion and $20 billion in lifetime health care and benefits to the estimated 10,000 to 20,000 veterans with so called dubious discharges.  Department of Defense officials have denied they use improper discharges as a cost-saving measure and say discharge policies continue to evolve as they learn more about PTSD and traumatic brain injury.   If you like a conspiracy, this has all the makings needed.  Read more at:

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/bad-paper-dischares-can-stymie-veterans-health-care-950891.html?srcTrk=RTR_781143

by Jim Fausone

We get asked all the time – “can you make VA move faster on my claim?”  My answer is “No one can make VA move fast”.  The US Supreme Court just agreed with me.  On Monday the Supreme Court announced it will not hear a case challenging a lack of speed by the government.

The Vietnam Veterans of America and the Veterans of Modern Warfare allege that the VA takes far too long to process claims made by its members and for all veterans. The groups wanted a ruling that would force VA to respond within 90 days for all initial claims and 180 days to resolve appeals. The lower federal courts ruled against the veteran groups on a variety of issues and the US Supreme court refused to take up the case.  Apparently no one can make the VA beast move in a timely fashion. We will see if Congress takes up this challenge now that the US Supreme Court has declined.

To read more: http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/10/04/vets-groups-lose-at-supreme-court/#ixzz11U5ozZcw