Legion receives VBA updates

Jacob Gadd, The American Legion’s deputy director for Health Care, recently met with the Veterans Benefits Administration’s veterans service organization liaison to receives updates and learn about current actions.

VBA is currently conducting two new pilot initiatives, Quick Pay and Express Lane. The Quick Pay pilot program in St. Petersburg, Fla., helps speed disability compensation if the veteran provides all the necessary evidence to decide on all or part of a claim right away. The Express Lane pilot program in Seattle has realigned some staff to address those claims that are not “high complexity” to enable a quicker rating. VBA is asking that VSOs get the word out about these pilot programs and solicit claimant feedback on this process. For more information on these programs, click here.

In other VBA news:

• VBA is in the process of developing a new office on strategic programming to enhance communication between all of the business lines and has proposed having one member from the VSO community represent all of the VSOs on the committee, rotating the VSO position annually.
• VBA has developed Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) that replace the templates formally used. The DBQs will help VA physicians in the evaluation of rating claims. The DBQs have been placed on the VA website with instructions for private physicians to assist veterans with filing a claim and what information they need to rate a claim. Of the 79 total DBQs, three have been accomplished – B-cell leukemia or hairy-cell leukemia, Parkinson’s disease and ischemic heart disease – and 18 have been recently been approved by the Veterans Health Administration. VBA is currently finalizing any final changes before they are sent to the Office of Management and Budget.

For questions about VBA claims or benefits, e-mail the Legion’s Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Division.