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Posts Tagged ‘VA’
Monday, May 20th, 2013
With a veterans’ disability claim backlog in the 800,000s, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been searching for more ways to expedite the processing of these claims. Recently, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced that mandatory overtime will be implemented at the 56 regional claims offices across the nation.
The additional hours worked in the mandatory overtime period will be dedicated to continuing the emphasis placed on high-priority claims. These are claims made by:
- homeless veterans;
- veterans with financial hardships;
- former Prisoners of War;
- veterans suffering from terminal illnesses; and
- Medal of Honor recipients.
Veterans who file fully developed claims will also be prioritized, as decisions on their disability claims can usually be reached much faster than those that require additional evidence and documentation.
The additional hours made available to work on claims thanks to the mandatory overtime joins with several recent efforts to further decrease the veterans’ disability claims backlog. Last month, the implementation of provisional decisions began to allow eligible veterans to collect compensation benefits before their claim has an official decision. This process was implemented to help those who have been waiting for more than one year for a decision on their disability benefits claim.
Veterans who file a complete disability claim may be able to take advantage of the expedited decision process under the Fully Developed Claims designation. The Law Offices of LaVan & Neidenberg, P.A. have a dedicated team of veterans’ disability professionals to help develop and support your claim through the initial application all the way to appeals. Contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: claim backlog, VA, veterans disability benefits claim
Posted in General, VA News, Veterans' Benefits | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 15th, 2013
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced changes in eligibility verification for beneficiaries who are receiving veterans’ benefits. The new requirements will help reduce the amount of paperwork necessary for current benefit recipients to continue their payments.
No More Eligibility Verification Report
The Eligibility Verification Report (EVR) was an annual piece of paperwork required by the VA to continue payment of veterans’ benefits. Beneficiaries were required to file this document every year to continue their benefits, but that is now a thing of the past.
Going forward, the VA will be working with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) to gather the information that was requested in the EVR forms. Veterans benefit eligibility will now be confirmed internally, reducing the need for more paperwork and potentially cutting down on errors.
An added bonus of the new initiative is the reassignment of employees that were previously involved in processing the nearly 150,000 EVRs that were to be sent in January. These staff members will now be able to help reduce the veterans’ benefits claim backlog.
Resolving Questions about Your Veterans’ Benefits
The VA will be sending a letter to beneficiaries to explain the new changes and provide additional information on submission of additional information when necessary. Unreimbursed medical expenses must still be independently submitted, but other data that is available from the IRS or SSA will be automatically provided to the VA for your benefit verification.
One of the best ways to get answers to your questions about your veterans’ benefits and beneficiary status is to talk with an experienced veterans disability attorney in South Florida.
At the Law Offices of LaVan & Neidenberg, P.A. we make sure our clients are cared for from the initial application for veterans’ benefits all the way through approval and continuing verification. Once you receive your benefit approval, you may need to reconfirm your benefit status as life changes occur.
Divorce, new babies, and other beneficiary changes can all alter your veterans’ benefits, which is why it is important to know when you need to inform the VA of these events. Our attorneys help clients submit their new information so their claims are processed faster and with lower risk of errors or delays due to misinformation. Contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today for help with initial benefit claims or existing cases – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: beneficiaries, VA, Veterans' Benefits
Posted in Disabled Veterans, General, VA News, Veterans' Benefits | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
The White House announced a proposed budget of $125 billion for the VA next year. While the budget allots enough money for different areas, it focuses on three issues critical to veterans:
- Expanding health care to a record number of veterans;
- Reducing the number of homeless veterans; and
- Processing an increased flow of new disability compensation claims.
The goal of being able to process the deluge of new disability claims the VA expects will require 4,000 additional claims processors which comes at the expense of a 27% funding increase from the 2010 level.
The VA is expecting approximately 1,319,000 claims in 2011, the increase due mostly because of the expanded list of illnesses the VA now recognizes as qualifying for disability benefits due to Agent Orange exposure.
In 2009, the post-9/11 GI Bill was implemented and since then, over $1.7 billion GI bill benefits have been paid. This number will only continue to grow. As part of this proposed budget, $44 million is to be used to complete an automated system to process these applications.
The proposed budget allots $4.2 billion to reduce and prevent homelessness, which is consistent with the VA’s goal of eliminating homelessness among veterans. This money is divided into three categories:
- Core medical services;
- Specific homeless programs and expanded medical care; and
- Expanded homeless initiatives.
In addressing one of the most important issues facing veterans today, the proposed budget allots $5.2 billion for mental health services; this is an increase of $410 million dollars from current spending. This money will be used to:
- Expand inpatient, residential, and outpatient mental health services;
- Make mental health services part of both primary and specialty care;
- Expand programs focusing on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI);
- Continue the VA’s suicide prevention program; and
- Expand programs centering on the treatment of depression, substance abuse, and other mental health problems.
This budget will also work towards delivering health care to veterans living in more rural areas, meeting specific health care requirements for women, ensuring the VA can provide health care to every veteran in need of it, and construction of new VA medical facilities.
Congress has yet to approve this budget, but is expected to do so. should this happen, the VA will be in a very good position to meet its stated goals for the year.
Learn more about the White House proposed 2011 VA budget.
If you are a veteran who has been denied disability compensation by the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. We can appeal your rating decision and fight for your rights. You are entitled to certain programs and benefits based upon your VA rating decision so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: 2011 VA Budget, VA, VA healthcare system, Veteran Health Care, veterans assistance
Posted in VA News | 1 Comment »
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Reduced federal funding for Veterans Administration projects could represent yet another challenge for injured and disabled veterans who rely on VA projects for financial, medical and day-to-day support.
A story in the Alabama newspaper, St. Clair Times, reports that the VA currently has a project list totaling about $400 million, but the VA has received only $100 million by Congress. This means only 38 out of 157 VA projects will receive matching grant funds.
This funding shortfall has already delayed important projects and services for disabled veterans. One such project is the opening of a new veterans’ home in Pell City, AL, which was to begin construction this year.
A spokesmen from the VA Regional Office in Montgomery, Alabama said they hope to get the necessary matching funds in 2011. The proposed veterans’ home should eventually provide more than 250 private rooms and assisted living housing.
Many disabled and wounded veterans rely on programs and funding from the VA in order to survive. These resources, such as veterans’ disability benefits, are a recognition of the valuable commitment and sacrifice that veterans have made in serving their country.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation by the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. We can appeal your rating decision and fight for your rights. You are entitled to certain programs and benefits based upon your VA rating decision so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, veterans
Posted in Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that it will construct a $53 million VA medical facility in Cape Coral, Florida, intended to provide health services for Southwest Florida veterans.
The new Cape Coral VA facility will replace the Fort Myers, Fla. VA facility. The proposed 220,000-square-foot medical facility will provide medical treatment for Florida veterans and should be completed within two years.
According to the VA, the Cape Coral VA medical building will include:
- Surgery and outpatient support
- Ambulatory surgery capabilities
- Specialty care and practices
There are an estimated 1.7 million veterans in Florida. There are currently seven VA major medical facilities in Florida, which is home to the second highest number of veterans living in the United States.
Disabled veterans living in Florida may qualify for VA disability benefits. Applying for disability benefits can often be a confusing and intimidating process for veterans and their families.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation by the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. We can appeal your rating decision and fight for your rights. You are entitled to certain programs and benefits based upon your VA rating decision so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Department of Veterans Affairs, VA
Posted in Disabled Veterans | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
New statistics from the Veterans Affairs Department (VA) reveal that the soldier suicide rate for young veterans has risen sharply in recent years.
USA Today reports that the VA used information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention drawn from 16 states to determine that suicide rates for 18- to 29-year-old male veterans increased by 26%. This increase occurred during the two-year period between 2005 and 2007.
While the report did not specify critical information about the individual cases of veteran suicide, it is likely that the victims had served in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Many returning soldiers who have served their country and experienced combat while overseas might experience a number of physical and psychological challenges, including PTSD symptoms, depression, sustained injury and disability. These factors can cause extreme stress and complications for a veteran as they adapt to life after active duty.
If you are a disabled veteran suffering from PTSD, depression, or a TBI, contact LaVan and Neidenberg – a disability rights law firm based in Florida and Georgia.
Tags: PTSD, VA
Posted in Disabled Veterans | 1 Comment »
Monday, November 9th, 2009
Did you know that you may be entitled to special veterans benefits from your state?
Although most veterans benefits are granted through the federally-funded and managed Department of Veterans Affairs, most states also have a state agency that provides services and assists veterans. These services may include cash bonuses for servicemembers returning from the war, special housing benefits for disabled veterans, and vocational rehabilitation.
To find out more, you can go the VA’s website which provides links to the state veterans affairs offices. You can also look for the website for your state department of veterans affairs on a search engine by searching something like, “Montana veterans affairs office.”
If you are a disabled, homeless, or in need of special services, state veterans affairs offices may be able to provide assistance to you in addition to the benefits the VA has to offer.
Tags: Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, veterans
Posted in VA News | No Comments »
Monday, November 9th, 2009
Secretary Shinseki spoke at the University of South Florida last week regarding the VA’s pilot program, “VetSuccess on Campus.” The new VA program is designed to aid veterans who are transitioning from the military to college life.
Shinseki said, “By providing on-campus benefits assistance and adjustment counseling, this Veteran-focused support program is on the leading-edge of VA’s drive to ensure Veteran-centric services to all Veterans.”
VetSuccess provides veterans at the University of South Florida with Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service and mental health counselors on campus.
Stay tuned to find out if this program is expanded to other college campuses around the country.
Tags: VA, veterans, VetSuccess
Posted in Veterans' Benefits | No Comments »
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
Craigslist founder, Craig Newmark, has been selected by the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to sit on a VA panel that will review ideas to improve disability claims processing times and provide greater transparency to vets.
“Transforming VA into an organization that is veteran-centric, results-oriented and forward-looking is my top priority,” Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki said in a press release. “Leveraging the talent, innovation and creativity of stakeholders, like Craig Newmark, is just one of the many ways VA can think outside of the box to help deliver tangible results to our nation’s veterans.”
Interesting selection by the VA. According to his bio on Wikipedia, Mr. Newmark is not a veteran. Nor, to my knowledge, does he have any experience with veterans disability claims. However, as a successful business founder and a leader in technology, Newmark may well offer insights that are fresh and relevant to the newest generation of veterans.
Read Craig Newmark’s blog on his appointment to a VA panel.
Tags: VA, veterans, veterans disability claims
Posted in VA News | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs opened the VA National Summit Ending Homelessness among Veterans with a speech detailing a comprehensive plan which includes prevention, rehabilitation, and assistance.
Eric Shinseki and the Obama administration are committed to ending this epidemic among vets and will use resources from the government, business and private sectors to meet veterans housing needs.
Shinseki’s plan includes:
- Discharge planning for incarcerated veterans
- Supportive services for low-income veterans
- A national referral center to link veterans to local service providers
- Plan for expanded efforts for education, jobs, health care and housing
Acknowledging the consequences of injuries sustained during military service will be an important consideration by the VA in ending homelessness in America. Indeed, the Secretary noted that $2.7 billion will be spent on medical services for veterans as part of his plan to end homelessness.
Certain housing benefits are available to disabled veterans which may be based on your disability rating. If you are a disabled veteran who is fighting the VA to receive disability compensation, contact the veterans disability rights law firm of LaVan & Neidenberg.
Tags: Department of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki, VA, veterans
Posted in VA News | 2 Comments »
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