UPDATE: WHO GOT DELAYED? WHO GOT DENIED? WHO DIED? (Not Only Blue Water Navy)

VA WatchDog dot Org ^ | Oct. 15, 2008 | Larry Scott

[Right Winged American]

UPDATE: WHO GOT DELAYED? WHO GOT DENIED? WHO DIED?

The Detroit VARO "shredder" fiasco poses some very important questions to which veterans may never have answers.

by Larry Scott

For the past two days we've been reporting about the disability claims and other critical documents found in shredding bins at the Detroit Regional Office (VARO) of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA).

Original story here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101308-1.htm
First follow-up story here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfoct08/nf101408-3.htm

The response to these two stories in our "comments" area (at the bottom of the page) has been overwhelming.

Anger, indignation and frustration are just a few of the words to describe our readers' comments.

But, through all of this, we aren't asking the questions that need to be asked.

When the VA changed the rules and cut out "Blue Water Navy" veterans from presumptive Agent Orange benefits, we didn't ask the questions.  More on this here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch.php?
q=blue+water+navy&op=ph

When the disability claim process became so backlogged that we passed the half million mark for claims waiting to be processed, we barely blinked an eye and we didn't ask the questions.

When it comes to the VA claim process, veterans are fond of saying:  "Delay, deny and hope that I die."

So now, with an obvious claim processing crisis staring us in the face, and with evidence mounting that the VAROs of the Veterans' Benefits Administration (VBA) have a "timeliness" problem and may have been destroying documents, it's time to ask the questions:

1.  Who got delayed?

2.  Who got denied?

3.  Who died?

These are questions the VA does not want asked.

These are questions Congress does not want asked.

For, these are questions that the VA won't answer and Congress won't investigate.

Whose disability claim got delayed to the point where they had to file bankruptcy or, perhaps, lost their home?

Whose disability claim got denied and had to go on the welfare roles to put food on the table or get medical care?

Who died with no benefits, leaving nothing for the family?

It's time for VA Secretary Peake and the executives of the VBA to come forward and take full responsibility for the "timeliness" issues and the allegations of destroyed documents.

It's time for Congress to not only demand action, but to put in force a system of oversight that demands compliance and serves up stiff penalties for non-compliance.

And, it's time to seriously consider the concept forwarded by Prof. Linda Bilmes of Harvard University.  Bilmes feels the VBA should approve all claims as they come in the door and then spend their energies auditing the claims for accuracy and to weed out fraud.  More on this here...

http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearc
h.php?q=bilmes&op=and

If action on this abysmal situation is not taken immediately, years or decades from now we will still be asking:  Who got delayed?  Who got denied?  Who died?

[Right Winged American]

For more Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans/Agent Orange Info, go here:

http://bluewaternavy.org

Discussions/Forum about Blue Water Navy Vets, Here:

http://bluewaternavy.org/phpBB2/index.php

FreepMail me to join the Blue Water Navy ping list.

 

 

Blue Water Navy
Vietnam Veterans
of America

Next update on the VA Shreddergate story. Sorry it's two days late, Wednesday was chemo and I'm worthless for a day afterwards.

I really hope someone in the MSM or the Government or the Campaigns reads this and responds.

I also still believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy...

[Right Winged American]

Pingworthy?

[joe fonebone]

I would love to go to work for the VA....but, alas I am not qualified....I give a damn

[magslinger]

SONOBUOY PING!

Click on pic for past Navair pings.

Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
The only requirement for inclusion in the Navair Pinglist is an interest in Naval Aviation.
This is a medium to low volume pinglist.

[Unrepentant VN Vet]

It’s more than just “pingworthy”.

I’m thinking about wrapping it around a long, sharp stick and poking it in a thousand-dollar suit pants.

[magslinger]

Absolutely! Both to my ping list and all of the people with military pinglists listed in the most recent meta list.

cgk as well just in case there are more who should be pinged.

[magslinger]

I’m thinking about wrapping it around a long, sharp stick and poking it in a thousand-dollar suit pants.

Well said.

[magslinger]

Humblest apologies. Magslinger Manor is currently torn up with water damage and today is the day all the subcontractors are coming to do things. I was sidetracked and forgot to add you to the pingees.

[magslinger]

Click here for further update.

re: Blood pressure medications, Take 'em if you got 'em.

[Right Winged American]

A defibulator might be indicated, too.

[StarCMC]

Pinging a few friends...

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[Right Winged American]

Please ping them for this one too:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2108088/posts?page=5

[Kathy in Alaska]

UPDATE: WHO GOT DELAYED? WHO GOT DENIED? WHO DIED? (Not Only Blue Water Navy)

[TASMANIANRED]

btt

[SandRat]

That’s OK. The SandRat house hold was a veritable zoo last night as well. Geeted with having to replace the front-door lock set last night when I got home. Of course ACE was already closed.

[Darksheare]

Unbelievable.

[BIGLOOK]

I have never had any faith in the V.A. so this doesn’t surprise me. They’re just a bureaucracy like any other report needs to get funds and spend them finagling ways to get more. Just hoping that they’d clean up their act for the returning vets of the current generation.

[freema]

Ping.

Thank you magslinger.

While we’re on health issues topic, let’s not forget the Camp Lejeune water contamination. I heard folks whose address has not been able to be located have been receiving letters about that situation from the Department of the Navy via the IRS.

[Marine_Uncle]

Thanks for the reminder on the Marine Base contaminated water.