tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2270430534591439047.post4909683706976533827..comments2024-03-14T19:22:13.917-04:00Comments on 91outcomes.com: Op-Ed: Advice for VA and Gulf War Veterans91outcomeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14092402936038968127noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2270430534591439047.post-63052205413125513672010-05-17T17:41:36.875-04:002010-05-17T17:41:36.875-04:00It concerns me that Soldier's returning since ...It concerns me that Soldier's returning since the onset of our ongoing wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan show the same symptoms of our comrades of the first Gulf War, yet the VA refuses to achknowledge that Soldier's with the same symptoms as those of a Gulf War Vet aren't linked somehow to pesticides, DEET, open sewage pits, and burn pits. It also amazes me that a Soldier who returns from overseas shows symptoms of PTSD, but the VA is now saying that they can't call it PTSD, they have to say that the Vet has a "mood anxiety disorder" as a way not to have to be responsible. I believe that every returning Vet has PTSD, the VA should automatically assume this instead of finding a "way out" so they can move on to the next Vet. I also believe that exposure to the burn pits, sewage ponds, oil, and DEET on a long term basis causes permanent injury to the brain, also resulting in memory loss and chronic migraines. So many Vets don't realize the damage they have until long after they return, yet the VA and the Military turn their backs saying it's not their responsibility. Who do we need to contact to start to turn this around, senators, congressmen?CLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2270430534591439047.post-87234427902914285222010-05-07T07:29:32.806-04:002010-05-07T07:29:32.806-04:00Commenting on a few issues on this story...
The a...Commenting on a few issues on this story...<br /><br />The article addresses... <br /><br />How the employees at the DVA are <i>overworked</i>.<br /><br />YES, they are overworked. Sometime ago, somebody had devised a method whereas, any RO that resolves so many claims within a certain amount of time, wins a monetary bonus in their paychecks.<br />This is known as a "Quota Bonus".<br /><br />Now, there is nothing wrong with awarding individuals for a job well done, however there is something seriously wrong with this quota bonus.<br /><br />Management at these RO's are pushing people to a point, that if they don't <i>perform</i> by resolving so many claims within a certain timeframe, that they are written up for poor performance. <br />After 3 reports of poor performance, the employee is either demoted or terminated.<br /><br />How this affects the Veteran, is that employees under this sort of pressure, have a tendency of missing relevant information, especially if a Veteran presented a complex claim (more than 3 issues), or the Veterans' file has Multi-Volumes, that require a VSR to research past decisions, Doctor statements, etc.<br /><br />Either the delay game is played (bypassing the fat file folders on the table) or the adjudicator goes through it and misses key evidence, thus the claim is Denied, and the Veteran is subjected to an unnecessary and lengthy appeal process. <br /><br />This Quota Bonus MUST be removed, being that it promotes violation of law, unfair/unrealistic working conditions for the employees, unnecessary appeals, and corruption by all.<br /><br />In the examples given in the paragraph above, can you see the 3 <br />prongs that establish a Whistleblower claim?<br /><br />There IS Gross Waste of Funds, when a Veteran is subjected to an unnecessary appeals process, and according to this article, when the Veterans' claim could have been resolved early on.<br />Multiply the amounts of appeals that were unfairly decided upon, and the amount spent by the DVA to process these unnecessary claims and it's staggering!<br /><br />The paragraph also shows Gross Mismanagement (of Veterans Claims), being that the Veterans Claim(s) should have been reviewed more precisely at the start. <br /><br />Abuse of Authority is also prevalent here because the managements' main goal is for employees to perform by resolving so many claims within a certain amount of time. This <i>prong</i> has dire consequences for both the employee resolving claims, AND the Veterans. <br />Keep in mind, that a Veteran loses hope, and assumes that the claim was decided upon based on law, thus he/she decides not to appeal/pursue the claim any further.<br /><br />To ADD a Prong...<br />ALL of the examples shows Gross Misconduct by Gov't. Officials, when they knowingly perform such actions for their own personal gain...The Quota Bonus.<br />----------------------------------<br />Being more Brief on this topic...<br /><br />In order to assure fair treatment for the resolution to Veteran claims, the DVA MUST go paperless!<br /><br />This will increase real estate, so that more employees can be hired.<br /><br />With the technology now available, the Veterans entire file can be placed on a <i>chip</i>, the size of a quarter, or a key fobe, with a USB connector, so that it can hang on a wall mounted rack.<br />The actual folders can be stored in a warehouse within a reasonable distance for access to hard copy files.hollywoodnc1https://www.blogger.com/profile/12806270247794966458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2270430534591439047.post-64667228134390178562010-05-01T16:59:03.821-04:002010-05-01T16:59:03.821-04:00Be very careful about using the term "medical...Be very careful about using the term "medically unexplained." This is the term used by psychosomatic medicine practitioners to refer to patients whose symptoms they believe reflect a psychosomatic disorder. (See the proposed APA complex somatic syndrome disorder criteria for the upcoming DSM-V. Vaguely defined terms can contribute to misdiagnosis.) <br /><br />Obviously, not agreeing with the medical explanation (s) is not the same thing as "unexplained." There are medical explanations for GWS as well as a number of other organic diseases similarly misdiagnosed. <br /><br />The primary reason for a failure to differentiate between psychosomatic explanations and medical diagnoses is the failure to adequately measure severity in addition to frequency. <br /><br />Nor should instruments designed to measure functional disability for public health uses be used for medical diagnosis of organic diseases. They were not developed as a diagnostic measure. <br /><br />Inappropriate use of tests and testing are often behind the conflicting research.KALhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18263661395286591110noreply@blogger.com