Posted on Mar 4, 2019
War on a Thumb Drive: How SigAct Data Could Transform Care for Veterans
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from the article:
"If a veteran diagnosed with a mental health condition other than post-traumatic stress disorder submits a claim for disability benefits or care to the Department of Veterans Affairs, they are often required to provide enough information for the agency to validate that the event that caused their condition likely occurred. This impacts tens of thousands of veterans per year. I know this because I have worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs for over 10 years.
Stressors, as they are called, historically took on average 60 days for the Department of Veterans Affairs to verify. Veterans Affairs personnel submit requests to Department of Defense entities for research into the validity of the stressor based on source documents. For many, this prolonged research has delayed not only timely payment of benefits but also free mental healthcare from the Department of Veterans Affairs." ...
"A combat zone is a place where fate intervenes daily and where incredulous horror can be commonplace. The least I could do is share this perspective and work to make it easier for veterans raising their hands in need of help. However, to be truly successful, my colleagues and I need help as well. We need open and free access to declassified combat and operational datasets maintained by the Department of Defense. Otherwise, we must play the Freedom of Information Act game and wait years. In the interim, veterans are waiting for care and benefits."
"If a veteran diagnosed with a mental health condition other than post-traumatic stress disorder submits a claim for disability benefits or care to the Department of Veterans Affairs, they are often required to provide enough information for the agency to validate that the event that caused their condition likely occurred. This impacts tens of thousands of veterans per year. I know this because I have worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs for over 10 years.
Stressors, as they are called, historically took on average 60 days for the Department of Veterans Affairs to verify. Veterans Affairs personnel submit requests to Department of Defense entities for research into the validity of the stressor based on source documents. For many, this prolonged research has delayed not only timely payment of benefits but also free mental healthcare from the Department of Veterans Affairs." ...
"A combat zone is a place where fate intervenes daily and where incredulous horror can be commonplace. The least I could do is share this perspective and work to make it easier for veterans raising their hands in need of help. However, to be truly successful, my colleagues and I need help as well. We need open and free access to declassified combat and operational datasets maintained by the Department of Defense. Otherwise, we must play the Freedom of Information Act game and wait years. In the interim, veterans are waiting for care and benefits."
War on a Thumb Drive: How SigAct Data Could Transform Care for Veterans
Posted from warontherocks.com
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
DoD
VHA
Posted 5 y ago
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Interesting.
I support it to verify and expedite claims, but oppose it's use to deny claims.
The use of these datasets to deny a claim, if it contradicts a Veteran's statement and/or supporting buddy statements, could result in errors.
It may be especially relevant for small elements, or individuals TACON to support other units. Not certain if the datasets identify all elements or individuals, TACON for missions. If not, the data, if used to deny claims in error.
Further, a stressor could occur without that event being included in the dataset.
Since executive agencies have the liberty to make changes to their interpretationsbof rules., I'd want the use of these data sets clearly limited to approve claims and prohibited from being the basis to deny claims.
I support it to verify and expedite claims, but oppose it's use to deny claims.
The use of these datasets to deny a claim, if it contradicts a Veteran's statement and/or supporting buddy statements, could result in errors.
It may be especially relevant for small elements, or individuals TACON to support other units. Not certain if the datasets identify all elements or individuals, TACON for missions. If not, the data, if used to deny claims in error.
Further, a stressor could occur without that event being included in the dataset.
Since executive agencies have the liberty to make changes to their interpretationsbof rules., I'd want the use of these data sets clearly limited to approve claims and prohibited from being the basis to deny claims.
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CPO (Join to see)
That is so true and this happened a lot in Iraq. You had a lost of support elements like Engineers, EOD, Intel, and yes even you Bio-Chem guy's and the main units would not include them in their sig acts. We had one event in where we had four guys attached with a Marine Recon/CA element in Fallujah. They were their to do Engineer Site assessment before the Second invasion into the West Side of the City, as they were on site the unit took heavy contact for over four hours. The contact was so heavy all hands were shooting and suppressing the enemy, they needed Close Air Support, and the CE1 (Seabee) that was there, attached called in the grids and did the CAS reports. The Marines did not add names or any attached elements in the Sig reports. We had HQ elements in the TOC and our S-3 made his own reports to our higher, because we were not in their Sig Acts.
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SFC Casey O'Mally
Agree 100%. Some MOSs even go as far as individual augmentees. No way that individual is going to show up on a SigAct.
Additionally, certain incidents are deemed by the command not to be "significant," despite it being traumatic for a select few individuals.
Additionally, certain incidents are deemed by the command not to be "significant," despite it being traumatic for a select few individuals.
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And us combat vets appreciate all the fighting your doing for us to make getting help easier for us
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