Watch: VFW Testifies on Disability Claims Process

This morning, the VFW appeared before the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations to testify on VA’s ongoing efforts to eliminate the veterans’ disability claims backlog.

The hearing started at 10 a.m., in room 2247 of the Rayburn House Office Building. To view a webcast of the hearing and to read the prepared remarks of each witness, click here.

VFW Deputy National Veterans Service Director Jerry Manar testified before the subcommittee, discussing how the disability claims backlog came about, shortfalls in efforts to rectify the situation, and current initiatives VA has undertaken in an effort to solve the problem – specifically the new Veterans Benefits Management System, or VBMS.

VFW testified that the new program should be fully tested to identify shortcomings, but that VA must walk a fine line between rolling out the program too soon and delaying too long while seeking to fix all the problems.

Manar reiterated that the working relationship between the VA and the VFW's cadre of claims service officers has been excellent, giving accolades to VA Undersecretary for Benefits Allison Hickey for caring enough to listen to veterans service organizations' suggestions on what is best for disabled veterans and their loved ones.

However, Manar also criticized the VA's recent simplified notification letters to disability claimants, pointing out that the information included in the new letters were insufficient for veterans to determine why they received a certain rating.

Members of the committee expressed their frustration with the disability claims process, saying that too many veterans are still waiting for their claims to be adjudicated with little progress on the total number of claims in the backlog.

Manar recently testified on this issue before the House Veterans Affairs Committee, highlighting similar problems and potential solutions.

Your VFW will continue to follow the VA disability claims backlog closely, ensuring that VA initiatives to improve the situation yield results.

(Image: VFW Deputy Service Director Jerry Manar testifies before the House OGR Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations.)

Watch: VFW Testifies on VA Claims Process

Update: The archived webcast of this hearing is now available by clicking here. 

This morning the VFW testified before the House Veterans Affairs Committee on the VA disability claims process transformation.

The hearing started at 10:30 a.m. in the committee’s chambers, room 334 of the Cannon House Office Building. To view a full list of witnesses and to read their prepared remarks, click here.

VFW Deputy National Veterans Service Director Jerry Manar presented the VFW’s thoughts on the transformation plan for the Veterans Benefits Administration, or VBA, which centers on the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS), a program intended to digitize the disability claims process.

In his remarks, Manar commended current VA leadership for their initiative to improve the claims process, but he also told the committee that the veterans’ community should not expect too much from the initial VBMS roll-out. Manar compared the new program to a foundation for a new house, intended to replace an aging, ad-hoc infrastructure of computer systems incapable of interacting with one another.

Manar went on to say that VBA should not introduce VBMS until it has been fully stressed to identify short comings, but that VBA must walk a fine line between rolling out the program too soon and delaying too long while seeking to fix any and all problems.

During his testimony, Manar also discussed VA’s new Simplified Notification Letters for veteran claimants, which the VFW believes do not provide adequate information to properly inform a claimant on how VA arrived at its rating decision.

Your VFW and our cadre of claims service officers will continue to monitor progress and identify ways to improve the VA claims process to ensure timely delivery of benefits to our veterans.

VFW Hosts Libyan Delegation to Discuss Caring For Vets

The VFW Washington Office this week hosted a six-member delegation from the transitional government of Libya to explain how the United States cares for her veterans. The delegation, comprised of members of Libya's National Economic Development Board, is participating in a 10-day visit to the United States, in coordination with the U.S. State Department, to learn how Libya might establish new governmental systems to care for those who fought and were injured in the recent rebellion that toppled their former dictator, Muammar Gaddafi.

In addition to meeting with government officials from the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, the delegation sought out the advice of the VFW, the nation’s largest organization of combat veterans, to learn how advocates view the landscape of veterans’ services, and ways in which an organized veterans’ community can work to ensure those who are injured in battle receive the care and services they need to lead productive lives once the war ends.

VFW Executive Director Bob Wallace said he was encouraged by the steps Libya’s interim government has taken to quickly address the needs of their war wounded.

“The fact that you are here shows how serious you are about taking care of your warfighters,” said Wallace. “This won’t be an easy task, but the VFW is happy to assist in any way we can.”

During the meeting, Wallace and his staff discussed the evolution of veterans’ organizations and veterans’ services in the United States since the VFW's founding in 1899, with special focus on health care and transitional needs of those who served in harm’s way, but who must now readjust to life after war.

The Libyan delegates said they faced two critical challenges in caring for those who fought in the revolution. First, those who comprised the rebellion against Gaddafi were not formally aligned with an organized military entity, meaning no formal paper trail can connect them to the battlefield. Second, those who fought in Gaddafi’s Army are still Libyans, and many may have been forced to fight against their will, prompting questions about benefits to which they should or might be entitled.

VFW Deputy Service Director Jerry Manar correlated the rebels’ paperwork dilemma to that facing Filipino citizens who took up arms to fight the Japanese alongside U.S. forces during World War II. After the war, Filipinos had the opportunity to prove their status through corroborating evidence to receive veterans’ benefits from the United States, but the window for establishing veterans' status closed shortly afterward.

The Libyan delegation concluded that their first action should be providing care for those who were wounded in battle. Reconciliation among Libyans could wait for a new formal government, but now the healing for those who suffered during the war must begin.

VFW leaders said the session was productive and inspiring, and that the VFW looks forward to working with Libya’s fledgling government to help ensure that they properly care for their brave citizens who help to free Libya.

(Image: VFW leaders pose for a photo in Omar E. Ketchum Hall at the VFW's Washington office alongside delegates from the interim Libyan government after this week's meeting to discuss veterans' issues. VFW photo.)