Unopened claims letters hidden at VA offices »
Posted By berkeley 8 months, 4 weeks ago in NewsA new report about Veterans Affairs Department employees squirreling away tens of thousands of unopened letters related to benefits claims is sparking fresh concerns that veterans and their survivors are being cheated out of money.
VA officials acknowledge further credibility problems based on a new report of a previously undisclosed 2007 incident in which workers at a Detroit regional office turned in 16,000 pieces of unprocessed mail and 717 documents turned up in New York in December during amnesty periods in which workers were promised no one would be penalized.
“Veterans have lost trust in VA,” Michael Walcoff, VA’s under secretary for benefits, said at a hearing Tuesday. “That loss of trust is understandable, and winning back that trust will not be easy.”
Unprocessed and unopened mail was just one problem in VA claims processing mentioned by Belinda Finn, VA’s assistant inspector general for auditing, in testimony before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Auditors also found that the dates recorded for receiving claims, which in many cases determine the effective date for benefits payments, are wrong in many cases because of intentional and unintentional errors, Finn said.
The worst case uncovered by auditors involved the New York regional office, where employees testified that managers told staff to put later dates on claims to make it appear claims were being processed faster. A review found that 56 percent of claims had incorrect dates, although no evidence was found of incorrect or delayed benefits payments. Finn said workers reported that this practice had been used for years. (You can learn more about controversy in the CNN video below.)
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berkeley
If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. Of all the enemies to public ...
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bubba28 months, 3 weeks ago
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This is no surprise.
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There will probably be even more crap found in the VA because of the Bush administration and the crappy management of that whole 'department'.
Our troops were no more than toy soldiers for the Bush administration - they never really cared about how many died or how many were permanently disabled or how many became homeless or how many committed suicide or how many went bankrupt. They only cared about their fabricated war that made them and a very few other people filthy rich.-
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Gilbertodd8 months, 3 weeks ago
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Have you seen new Miley Cyrus nude video? It's AWESOME! I've seen it here: http://snurl.com/cyrus-naked
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Staff_Sarge8 months, 3 weeks ago
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Bubba2, you're an idiot. Have you actually read this article or just decided to shoot your mouth off and prove to all of us how brainless you are? if you will go back and reread the article you will see that it was during the Bush administration that all this came out. That means it was during the Clinton administration that it happened. Besides that, the President doesn't wake up each morning and go see the VA and ask to see their books. He has people to do that and this failure falls on their shoulders, not the Presidents.
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jimbatch38 months, 3 weeks ago
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Classic response to those who go overseas to do our dirtywork. Whats more suprising is the overall level of integrity found in government service that allows this type of scam, for lack of a better term, to propogate throughout an entire agency. Another example of those who serve being held to the highest of standards while those who reap the benefits of their service get a different playbook. Bring back the draft and ensure all lawmakers and government officials (and their adult children) are trained and deployed as infantry men and women for each action they approve of.
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1966AFVet8 months, 3 weeks ago
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I appreciate your intent for all to have the duty and honor to serve this good country of ours. I'm sorry to mention that those same persons you have mentioned(the politically connected and highly affluent), have, in the past, systematically weedled their influence to help their sons avoid military conscription. I guess parental affection for some does include seeing Military Service as anything but honorable
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gwalker658 months, 3 weeks ago
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I am a Service Disabled Vet, wake up America, this is nothing new, this kind of stuff has been going on for years with the VA. How soon we forgot Walter Reed and the lack of care the vets where getting, or should I say "not getting" there. Just be glad that you don't have to have care at one of the Med Centers...and you want socialized health care system in this country, health care for everyone...go see how that works for the military and in these VA Med Centers, you don't have a clue what your asking for.
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aweiser2788 months, 3 weeks ago
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Incompetecy and socialize medicine do not have to be connected. At this time in our lives we have incompetency and antisocial reck with our health. If a few very few previledged folks can get high level of medical care, that kind of competency can and should be transferred to others. Health care is a human right. Sick people, some who are dying, cant be responsible to pay for their care because they can't work. Every 30 seconds a family has to go bankrupted due to helath care cost
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disillusionedwiththemilitary8 months, 3 weeks ago
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I also hope someone is listening to you. I have had close contact daily with the active duty troops and at a VA. Both systems represent some form of "socialized" medicine. Those who say otherwise haven't experienced it. And does anyone have an idea regarding where a good number of Service Members come from. Many come from some of the most severely disadvantaged underclass that can possibly be imagined exists in the "richest, most powerful" country. Good grief. If only everyone could spend one month working closely with the military. The citizens of our country would get a painful dose of reality. Again, speak as loudly as you can. Someone has to listen. I can only hope.
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andrewfcapp8 months, 3 weeks ago
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Amen brother, Im a Nam vet and the va says i cant prove my service related disability. I cant get them to send me my complete service records to find out why they say i didnt serve where i did. Now the Social Security Disability people took my Va medical records and in less than 30 days sent me a letter telling me i was approved for disability, no interview no run around. There is something wrong with this picture. Veterans should be given a little respect. Everyone should go to a VA Hospital and look around most will leave in tears at our treament.
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naomi558 months, 3 weeks ago
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I STRONGLY AGREE WITH YOU. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE FOR OUR VETERANS SINCE THEY CAME HOME FROM THE FIRST WAR, AND SO ON. SO BY ALL US COMPLAINING IS NOT GONNA CHANGE A THING FOR THE VETS, THEY WILL STILL BE TREATED THE SAME AS ALWAYS, VA HEALTH CARE IS NO BETTER. BENEFITS ARE REALLY BAD, I KNOW I HAVE UNCLES WHO WERE IN THE KOREAN WAR,WORLD WAR 2, VIETNAM WAR, SO ON AND THEY SURE WAS NOT TOOK CARE OF. MY ONE UNCLE GOT HIS LEG BLOWED OFF UP TO HIS HIP.RECIEVES TREATMENTS.LET US THE PEOPLE WORK TOGETHER TO FIGHT FOR A BETTER SYSTEM FOR OUR VETERANS, WE DONT NEED THE GOVT, WE CAN DO IT, ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS STEP UP.mY HEART IS FOR EVERY AMERICAN SOLDIER,FIGHTING FOR OUR COUNTRY, THE ONES WHO ALREADY DID, GOD KNOWS WHAT EVERY VETERAN HAS DONE WAS FOR US. AND I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM
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compassion8 months, 3 weeks ago
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I have heard nothing but horror stories from the men in my family that have to be treated at the va centers. The places that they have had to be treated at are dirty, paint pelling,substandard equiptment used,waiting time to be seen is months sometimes, and overall treatment is compassionless. Its time for a major change in the way OUR veterans are being taken care of. After all they have gone through and given up for us they deserve better!!!!! God bless all of you that have fought and protected us.
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trudyb118 months, 3 weeks ago
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I know first hand that the VA did not compensate my husband for all his injuries,and medals he performed and sustained in the three wars and two conflicks he fought in. My husband was a born warrior; I repeat "a born warrior", not a killer or murderer. He nor I were never ever compensated properly for all the services he did for his country. He loved his country even though during his tenure in the United States Navy, his country hated him. He earned every medal and commendation he received and finally after being processed as 100% disabled, he was never fully compensated and that left me unable to take care of myself after his death. He lived and died for a country he loved and protected by giving his life for, and yet again was never fully acknowledged or given the due compensations he deserved. If ever possible, I would like to reopen his case and get the compensation both he and I really deserve.
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aweiser2788 months, 3 weeks ago
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Try to make your case very public. Go viral. send mass emails and ask people to get involved. Ask them to feture your case on television. Try to get on talk shows. Try to get a ghost writer to write a book about your case. Embarass them and try all the legal ways available to you. Please do not give up
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trailerparkagain8 months, 3 weeks ago
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trudy you are a sick woman. trying to benefit from your dead husband. you should be ashamed of yourself.. It is not the benefits you serve your country for. If your husband was so dedicated then it was never about the money or benefits..before you try to critize me...I AM PRESENTLY SERVING. I know first hand what the army navy air force and marines do...please..stop. if your husband WAS a hero celebrate that stop trying to capitalize on it..
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njtoy8 months, 3 weeks ago
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It is disgusting that these men and women, and their families are at the mercy of total incompetents for not doing their jobs, and where would we be if the military personnel just decided not to do their jobs and decided to just hold off for "an amnesty period"....yeah right. As taxpayers footing the bill for this incompetence we should be outraged and demanding a clean sweep....hey maybe hire some of the returning vets who can no longer return to previous professions due to injuries they sustained. Lets get them on the payroll and on the books and those slackers off. They could find work enlisting in the armed services and see how they like being on the other end of the stick!
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moongrim8 months, 3 weeks ago
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This doesn't come as any surprise to us Vets. Once again there is a complete lack of accountability. This lack has permeated the Government for decades and reached it's peak during the Bu$h years.
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Whilst junior was handing out Presidential Medal of Freedom awards to his cronies, good men and women who were far more deserving of such awards, are left by the wayside.
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hitthedeckboys8 months, 3 weeks ago
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The whole VA makes me sick. RESERVESTS are immed turned down for VA benefits even with congestive heart failure from going to Iraq. They were good enough when they make you active duty for a year or four but after its sorry...WE in the USA do NOT take care of our US military. Its a LIE. Ive learned sadly after 23 years service they loose every paper they handle, every file,Info on every team mate.The guy next to me lost a eye and a arm in Iraq and because he was a reservest they told him Oh well... It was your job.. GO HOME...NO va benefits for tou... Only active duty...They loose more than paper work...They have lost the american HEARTS who trusted them.
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jepleasant8 months, 3 weeks ago
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Upsetvet,
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Someone high up should check out the Atlanta VA claims center to find out if they are guilty of not opening mail. It should never take more than 6 months in my opinion for a claim to process through the system. And get rid of the QTC exams, its a waste of time. -
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wanbli_ska8 months, 3 weeks ago
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No news here. The VA and the government have been messing with vets and benefits for as long as there's been a VA. And date of claim DOES make a difference , especially if your initial claim is denied . As far as earning our trust back ? Won't happen! We trust that they'll come up with another way to mess us around. Look at Agent Orange exposure and Gulf War Syndrome. It took them years to agree with what we knew. Look at what getting a good paying job does to your VA benefits ( they disappear ). Doesn't matter that you earned those benefits. Fund the VA fully and if a service member earns a benefit it should be for life, so fund that too.
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heartbeat978 months, 3 weeks ago
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I am a disabled Vet who has fought the system for years to get benefits. I hope that President Obama and his staff get wind of this ridiculous situation and cleans house at the highest levels necessary. IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE AT THE VA MANAGEMENT AND STAFF !!!
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We could help ourselves if we expressed our strong opinions via e-mail to the President, our congressmen, and the individual that represents VA at the White House and/or in the President's Cabinet. -
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AFJim8 months, 3 weeks ago
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You all need to quit blamming Bush for all the things wrong in this country. If you read most of these comments, the VA has been doing this stuff for decades. WWII Vets (Roosevelt)and Vietnam Vets not getting disability (LBJ/Nixon), Desert Storm Vets not getting coverage (Bush 1), and now with Afgan and Iraq. So, it is just not W Bush. It is every president through out history since the inception of the VA. And it is every president since who is to blame for not correcting it, including the presidents who did not seve in office while we were fighting a war. To me they are more to blame. We were in peace time and prospered during Clinton, yet our vets were still getting hosed. I know I was young during Clinton and I may not remeber, but wasn't the health care better under Clinton? Then why were our WWII and Viet vets still getting turned down for coverage? Just questions everyone should bet asking themselves.
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lee6921438 months, 3 weeks ago
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Myself and some vets in Miami went through this. We decided to send ALL mail to them registered. This way someone has to sign for it. The claims went faster after that. They can't say they didn't get our responses. Try registered mail from now on
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ChrisBFL8 months, 3 weeks ago
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This comes as absolutly no surprise to me that "governemnt workers" are screwing people. Now Mr. Obama wants to greatly expand the role of government workers into everyone's lives. Now, try to imagine healthcare (YOUR HEALTHCARE if you are facing a life threatening disease) being handled by government bozozs who would make your current HMO seem brillient by comparison and DO NOT FORGET, if these government drones screw up and you or a loved one die, you have no recourse. YOU CANNOT SUE THE GOVERNMENT!
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redconvoy8 months, 3 weeks ago
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I am a government worker and not all of us are incompetent. I find as much incompetence in the private sector! Remember, we're not from another planet or uneducated idiots. We are people that could be related to you, your mother, your father, your sister, your brother...do you get it? I am tired of people thinking we're incompetent when it goes both ways even in the private sector. How many times have I called my telephone or cable company and got someone who didn't know what they were doing?
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deweyjnk8 months, 3 weeks ago
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I am a disabled vet, I gave nearly 2 years of volunteer work at the local VA trying to get hired there. I saw enough incompetence to last a lifetime, but what really got me was the number of employees who don't do their jobs but spend the day talking to each other or on the telephone with their friends. Many of them are also rude to the patients, or just ignore them. I couldn't get hired as a disabled vet, but many women and minorities were hired who had never done any volunteer work and act as if they are entitled to a government job and promotions for just being there. I have met some workers who are genuinely compassionate and diligent about their work, but there are more than enough of the other kind.
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clemfromtacoma8 months, 3 weeks ago
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Does this mean that the head of the VA and his employees will now get a bonus? Better yet, how about promotions? If that were any of us normal people, they would be indicting us for doing what they did. This situation will go away quietly and they will be allowed to retire with their nice govt. pensions. Congress will do nothing as usual.
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pv2004r8 months, 3 weeks ago
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The VA needs an overhaul--there is a lot of waste--I worked at Department of Veterans Affairs--at a VA Hospital and VA Benefit--staff come in late and leave early--take long breaks--and they are subject to the "use it or lose it" mentality--spend end of year budgets foolishly "just to use it up" so that they get more money next year.
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ChrisBFL8 months, 3 weeks ago
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Hey dudes, this is NOT THE FAULT OF BUSH! Do you blame your state governor when your DMV scews up and suspends your driving privilages because of a paperwork error by some drone in a departmetn who doesn't give a crap and can't be fired? It is the culture of the system. This is the same screwed up system thatthe Russian people had to live with for 70 years. Now that moron, Obama wants to turn loose government clones (or is it clowns) on all of us with his half baked programs. If you wnat to fix the VA system, privitize it and make sure there are consiquences for workers who screw up. Right now, government workers can pretty much do anything incorrect with no action taken against them.
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hawkchannel18 months, 3 weeks ago
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I cant believe people are "shocked" by this...our soldiers have been crapped on after every war, with maybe the exception of WWII...Ever hear about hooverville where WWI vets camped out on the lawn, and built shanty towns to try and get work and survive, then the korean "conflict" and lets remember viet nam when all our youg men and women returned home only to be spit on by left wing hate liberals..why do you expect this one to be any different?
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ottieflora8 months, 3 weeks ago
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It makes it hard to be "Proud To Be American", when the government is stabbing you in the back. I too am a Service Disabled Veteran, and I have experiences about incompetent VA doctors and disgusting service. It takes years for them to recognize something or to give a percentage increase, even though the severity has been there for years. I am presently over 2 years needing an operation on my left knee, and because the idiot doctor who I saw in the Temple, Texas ER last year May, just laughed, I now have a torn quad muscle that needs to be operated on if they ever fix the knee. I have no car and no transportation, and can't even be seen by a doctor, be it VA or in the town where I am living. The left leg is so bad now, that I can;t even walk to get anywhere. No, the US government could care less about their Veterans. I know the pain I am going through, and I also know there are many Veterans in worse shape than me, who are not getting the help they were promised when they joined or enlisted. I gave 7 years of my life and kept my part of the contract I signed. The VA is a disgrace to American Veterans. I have written the President and contacted government, but we all know how it is a waste of time. Capitol Hill does not care about the Vet.
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TruthPioneer8 months, 3 weeks ago
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When my children were 2, 4 & 6 years old, my husband was diagnosed with Grade IV non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - certified by the VA as a result of his exposure to Agent Orange. He died 9 years later (1996). I have never received one penny of VA spousal benefits. I have now 5 full notebooks of appeals from over 10 years. My family's case is now in the U. S. Court of Appeals. For many of us, "the Vietnam War is not over" due to the vast indifference and broken VA claims system. My son stated to me, "Mom, this is a small battle compared to the world you have already won" (raising them alone). I have offered my story as an example to present before a U.S. Veterans Committee. They have not responded. I will NEVER stop trying to right this wrong.
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Gunny988 months, 3 weeks ago
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Hang in there, don't quit fighting, that's what they want you to do is quit. They owe you and your children, I agree with your son and congratulations, but let him know that you must continue this battle not only for you and your children, but others as well.
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momule19468 months, 3 weeks ago
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Good grief..now let's just blame Bush for a problem that has been going on for a hell of a lot longer than the last 8 years. What was Clinton's excuse for not cleaning up the VA? Here's the clue...GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES...and with Obama...we're gonna have a lot more of them running our lives...Good luck to all Americans...we're going to need it.
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