Posted on Nov 11, 2021
2021 Veterans Day Q&A with U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough
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Over the past few weeks, the VA worked to answer more than 400 questions below on: Inflation, Burn Pits, Mental Health Services, Disability Claims, Medical Marijuana, Caregivers and Survivors, Community Care, Billing, Post-9/11 GI Bill, LGBTQ+, Electronic Healthcare Record, COVID-19, Dental, and Homeless Veterans.
On Veterans Day, Secretary McDonough directly responded to 9 RallyPoint member questions below. These responses are pinned below in green boxes.
On Veterans Day, Secretary McDonough directly responded to 9 RallyPoint member questions below. These responses are pinned below in green boxes.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 404
Travel pay to/from appointments.
It's very detailed. Should be point A to B. But example: Travel pay to Primary care/labs/xrays are to closest VA facility to my home but I'm not part of that medical region. But going to my Eye/Urologist/Any Specialties Clinics I get compensated for the facility for the actual appointment Which is the same as my Primary/labs/xray...The handbook says to closest VA facilities for some appointments but to the actual location of Appointments for other Appointments. That puts a Burden on Veterans with limited income.
It's very detailed. Should be point A to B. But example: Travel pay to Primary care/labs/xrays are to closest VA facility to my home but I'm not part of that medical region. But going to my Eye/Urologist/Any Specialties Clinics I get compensated for the facility for the actual appointment Which is the same as my Primary/labs/xray...The handbook says to closest VA facilities for some appointments but to the actual location of Appointments for other Appointments. That puts a Burden on Veterans with limited income.
The VA website proudly says it is an average of 142.8 days to get a disability decision. Is this number for first time claims? What is the current average days for disability decision Appeals cases, Board of Appeals cases? The decision on my case and appeal took 12.5 years. That is 4,562.5 days. My appeal of that decision is now 4 years old. That is another 1460 + days. I know I am not the only one waiting on a Board of Appeals case. When I went on the list there were over 136,000 cases ahead of me. Can the VA come out and acknowledge these numbers? I would like the VA Administration to quit hiding behind the 142.8 number. Can we get honest numbers for these Veterans who deserve more?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Numbers are reported as Average Days to Complete. Keep in mind the Board is ruling on two separate sets of laws that govern the appeal based on the date in which the appeal was generated. The Board is prioritizng Legacy appeals (cases filed before February of 2019). Some Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) have had decisions. Those cases by and large have been advanced on the docket due to hardships or age of the appellant. The average days to complete, is the average for those cases. We know there is a difference in average days to complet and average days pending. That is why I authorized the Board to increase their Veteran Law Judge team (VLJ) to drive these numbers in the right direction. Lastly, the Department is tracking the average days of a specific action not the totality of the case. https://www.bva.va.gov/Appeals_Metrics.asp
Mr. Secretary,
My local VA Hospital here in Madison, WI provides us vets with the best care we've ever received. The William H. Middleton hospital and West Clinic staff are top notch and it shows with every appointment and interaction. My question is why can't the VA contract with an optical provider that can add anti scratch coating to our lenses? Surely it can't cost that much, in fact it would probably be more cost effective than having to remake glasses due to scratches the lenses accumulate within a month of wearing. ETC(SW) Christopher Folk
My local VA Hospital here in Madison, WI provides us vets with the best care we've ever received. The William H. Middleton hospital and West Clinic staff are top notch and it shows with every appointment and interaction. My question is why can't the VA contract with an optical provider that can add anti scratch coating to our lenses? Surely it can't cost that much, in fact it would probably be more cost effective than having to remake glasses due to scratches the lenses accumulate within a month of wearing. ETC(SW) Christopher Folk
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The Veteran is encouraged to contact his medical provider to determine if his lens type precludes anti-scratch lenses. This inquiry has been forwarded to the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 12 Prosthetic Representative, Dawn Schwarten, to research what the VISN contract stipulates and to have a member from the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service facility follow-up with the Veteran if this pertains to a contractual agreement.
I was told by a DAV representative that if I attempted to increase my disability rating from 70% to a higher percentage that the VA could actually decrease my percentage instead. Is this true? I believe my disability has worsened but I don't want to have my percentage decreased.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Each claim received by VA is individually reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Disability percentages are assigned in conjunction with the rating schedule.
Why is the VA not using Hyperbaric Chamber treatment to help those veterans who have suffered TBI, PTSD (in certain cases) and who have wounds that are not healing? The treatment has been shown to work for similar civilian cases for decades, and is being done for veterans at the Rocky Mountain Hyperbaric Treatment Clinic in Colorado for over a decade with amazing results. It would cure many veterans who could handle the treatment. It would help cure many of the Desert War veterans who have stopped taking the 'Black Drugs' given to them by the VA for their symptoms because of all the nasty side effects. I have spoken to too many young veterans who have done so.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA is aware of the interest in the potential of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for treating PTSD and TBI. Despite the interest, though, the evidence is far from definitive. VA and the Department of Defense collaborate to review evidence and produce practice guidelines to promote care for Veterans and Service members. According to the PTSD guideline, the evidence is insufficient for determining effectiveness for PTSD. According to the TBI guideline, there is a strong recommendation to not use hyperbaric oxygen therapy for mild TBI. VA will continue to monitor the evidence as it emerges and revise its guidance according to what the evidence tells us. Analysis of all available research on hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has shown this intervention to only be as effective as placebo for the treatment of TBI, PTSD, and depression. VA continually reviews emerging research findings to update its clinical practice guidelines and promote utilization of treatments with the strongest scientific evidence base.
Why is it that veterans claiming disabilities represented by a lawyer have a high chance of getting claims approved than those that are just doing it on their own .
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Each case heard before the Board is unique. Representation is choice made by the appealant. VSOs and attorneys are fully capable of representing Veterans in a appeal to the Board.
I am 75% disabled and been going to the VA since 1977. Suddenly the VA gives me just a bunch of lies but will not treat me for anything. Even water used for shots. I also worked retired from the VA. I am also treated terrible
How come the VA never returns phone calls for appointments for medical assistance?
Why can't veterans be at 100% especially the ones that deserve it?
Why can't veterans be at 100% especially the ones that deserve it?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
We apologize for any difficulty with scheduling your medical appointments. We want to deliver the highest quality, timely care. To ensure we do that we are introducing a new service in 2022 that will provide access to virtual care at every facility – with just one phone number to call for each of VA's 18 regional networks.
As this new service rolls out, we will offer Veterans pharmacy support, scheduling and clinical triage with someone available to answer your calls 24/7 – 365 days a year.
Veterans deserve timely access to the highest quality care and we're working every day to improve what we do.
As this new service rolls out, we will offer Veterans pharmacy support, scheduling and clinical triage with someone available to answer your calls 24/7 – 365 days a year.
Veterans deserve timely access to the highest quality care and we're working every day to improve what we do.
Sir, How do you plan to entice health care workers to work for the Veterans Administration to fill this major void that they have been experiencing for the past 4-5 years?
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
With a total workforce of more than 371,000 employees, the VHA workforce has grown by more than 37% over the last decade, averaging a 3.76% annual rate of growth. Clinical staffing in VHA, by comparison, has grown by 40% in the last 10 years. In response to and despite the pandemic, VHA achieved incredible growth in FY 2020 of 4.0% for the workforce overall and 9.5% growth for clinical occupations in that single year. VHA continues to prove itself as an employer of choice, especially during uncertain times such as the pandemic, with decreased turnover and the highest Best Places To Work and Employee Engagement scores in the last 4 years. Recruitment and retention of a high-performing workforce are high priorities for VA, and the organization uses all of its programs and flexibilities to ensure we have the health care providers needed to care for our Nation's Veterans, including national marketing campaigns/strategies, national recruiting services, expedited hiring authorities, special salary rates; recruitment, retention, and relocation incentives; education loan repayment programs, scholarships, and more. VHA provides physicians and other health care providers a career with total rewards that go far beyond the paycheck.
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