2021 Veterans Day Q&A with U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough

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

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.

Each claim received by VA is individually reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Disability percentages are assigned in conjunction with the rating schedule.

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.

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.

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.

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.