Timeliness_and_Ethical_Aspects_of_Va_Claims

Timeliness and Ethical Aspects of VA Claims Introduction This is a necessary and important resource offered to the veterans, (VA hospital care, monetary compensation monthly, and educational benefits) who serve our country, but at the same time, a service that gets widely abused and millions of dollars of fraud, waste and abuse is happening. The establishment of the Veterans Administration came in 1930 when Congress authorized the President to consolidate and coordinate Government activities affecting war veterans. This has made a huge impact on the way a veteran can receive much needed treatment, especially after a war time experience if the veteran has been disabled or severely injured or from regular active duty. A service member can qualify for a specific rating disability; as an example, beginning in December 2007, for veterans with no dependents, basic monthly payments range from $117 for 10 percent disability to $2,527 for 100 percent disability (the america’s Intel wire, 2008). This is a fantastic way to subsidize income for those who cannot work, but what about those who claim fifty-ninety percent disability, collect a check, receive free health care and still work a full-time job with no problems. Statement of Problem Like I stated earlier, the service is much needed for those who have no place to turn, but at the same time, this system gets grossly abused which cost tax payers millions of dollars each year. The issue is, this action is repeated over and over with members on the inside knowing very well what is happening, but they push the claim through anyway. The member informs his/her friend, and so on. This system of giving service members who perform 20 years of active duty service with no problems, a sudden disability payment, while on the other hand, leaving other service members who really need this service out of pocket and left with hospital payments. Procedures The kind of fraud I am talking about is a service member who performs active duty for 20 or 30 years; sometimes building a medical chart purposely and sometimes not. Now this service member will wait until one or two months before retirement and then go to the Department of Veterans Affairs and file for a rating of disability. The process of filing for a rating, attending the appropriate doctor’s appointments and having a representative review your file now takes 60-180 days from start to finish (the america’s Intel wire, 2008). After the rating has been determined, the veteran receives a monthly check for the rest of his life, and possibly free medical care. Flaws in Procedural Design This article points out fantastic strides the VA has made in order to take care of our veterans returning from war, but the main flaw is the moral conduct of some veterans scamming the system and the workers within the VA system turning a blind eye. The military veterans who return home from war and lose a limb, eyesight or are severely burned are due this benefit, not folks who claim they are 50-90% disabled, but are still working a regular job day to day. Analysis of the Data To me the data is clear, especially since I work around all the figures I have mentioned on a daily basis; I see people who scam the system, and then others who really need the care and money. There should be more of a due process in the inspection of someone’s disability and to what extent they need monetary compensation. I see people, some I work with, taking advantage of the system and this does not spin their moral compass in the slightest. It really bothers me, especially when I see others who have possibly given more for their country, but may be receiving far less. Limited and Justifiable Conclusions I want to reiterate the fact that the Veterans Administration has made massive improvements in the way the veterans are treated in the hospitals on the monetary side and through the educational benefits. I do think a closer attention needs to be paid on where the money is flowing and who is actually receiving the benefits. I stand firm on the fact that veterans who lose a limb, eyesight, who are burned or severely maimed should receive top treatment all around, but the folks who make hideous claims to try and rack up the ratings, yet still work a full-time job with either the government or in the civilian sector should be more closely scrutinized. References "BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY AND ACCESS WOULD IMPROVE THE BENEFITS." The America's Intelligence Wire. 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2010 from accessmylibrary: http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-35491703_ITM