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Benefits Surveys Discussed
BY DAVID L. HOUPPERT, ESQ., DIRECTOR,
VETERANS BENEFITS
I recently attended the Veterans Benefits Administration
(VBA) Quarterly Veterans Service Organization meeting in
Washington. This meeting allows for interaction between the
VSOs and Department of Veterans Affairs decision-makers and
employees. VA speakers included Robert Reynolds, Executive
Management Officer of Policy and Programs; Ray Wilburn, Executive
Director, Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission
(VDBC); Mike Walcoff, Associate Deputy Under Secretary for
Field Operations; Keith Pedigo, Director, Loan Guaranty;
Janice Jacobs, Brad Flohr, and Michelle Katina, Compensation
and Pension Service; Keith Wilson, Director, Education Service;
and Tom Lastowka, Director, Insurance.
Some good information
was presented and discussed. Of greatest interest to Vietnam
veterans were comments made by Ray Wilburn. In accordance
with Section 1502 of Public Law 108-136, VDBC is charged
with carrying out a study of the benefits that are provided
to compensate and help veterans and their survivors with
disabilities and deaths attributable to military service.
The study focuses on three specific points:
- The laws and
regulations that determine eligibility for disability and
death benefits and other assistance for veterans and their
survivors.
- The rates of such compensation, including the appropriateness
of the schedule for rating disabilities based on average
impairment of earning capacity.
- Comparable disability benefits provided to individuals
by the federal government, state governments, and the private
sector.
Upon completion of the study, the commission will
produce a report, which will be submitted to the President
and Congress.
Wilburn discussed upcoming surveys and sought
assistance from the VSOs in attendance. He explained that
the VDBC has retained the services of contractors to obtain
information for the commission’s study. One such contractor
is the Center for Naval Analysis Corporation (CNAC). CNAC
has been engaged to help the commission determine the ability
of benefits to replace lost earnings capacity and to help
offset decreased quality of life. CNAC also is looking at
the structure and operation of the VA benefits system and
rating determination process.
One tool CNAC is using to obtain
relevant data is self-reporting surveys. CNAC will be fielding
four different surveys to disabled veterans, surviving spouses,
VBA employees, and accredited service representatives. Although
these surveys are all geared toward different populations,
they will all have the following in common:
- All surveys
are confidential and anonymous
- Disabled veterans and surviving spouse surveys
will be conducted by telephone of a randomly selected representative
sample
- VA raters and service representatives surveys will
be conducted electronically over the Internet on the entire
population of eligible respondents
- All analyses will protect and shield individual
responses and respondents
- Only aggregate results will be released
- Participation is strictly voluntary with informed
consent
The first survey will poll disabled veterans. The
objectives of this survey are to determine the impact of
service-connected disability on perceived quality of life
and compare perceived quality of life to the comparison group
and to assess labor force participation patterns and factors
affecting adherence to treatment. This survey is targeting
a sample of 21,221 individuals across 60-plus “cells” formed
by crossing systems of primary service-connected disabilities
with a range of disability ratings.
The second survey is directed
at surviving spouses. The objectives of this survey are to
determine the impact of veterans’ service-connected
disability on their spouses’ perceived quality of life
and life trajectory during the veteran’s lifetime and
after and understanding the transition experienced by a spouse
following a veteran’s death and what impact benefits
and current employment had. The targeting sample of this
survey is 1,842 across time since veterans’ deaths,
receipt of SBP offset, and age.
The third survey will seek
information from VBA raters. The objective of this survey
is to learn how the VA raters use the rating schedule, as
well as issues they experience with it and the rating process.
This survey is based largely on a previous Office of Inspector
General survey but has been tweaked to provide research data
for the commission. The target population is the entire population
of VA raters, which is approximately 1,800.
The fourth survey
is directed at accredited service representatives and service
officers. The objectives of this survey are to learn about
service officer experiences helping beneficiaries and determining
how they assess the rating schedule and rating processes.
This survey targets the entire population of accredited service
representatives and service officers.
Following his presentation
on the surveys, Wilburn asked that the VSOs help the VDBC
obtain input from respondents. Specifically, Wilburn requested
that VSOs encourage participation in the surveys:
- When
asked by sampled beneficiaries
- When asked by accredited
service representatives
- By including positive items in news-letters
- By informing
service officers in advance of survey
I told Wilburn that
VVA would not recommend that our members complete the questionnaires
without reviewing advanced copies. Wilburn informed the audience
that we would receive copies to review. To date, VVA has
been provided an advance copy of only the fourth survey of
service representatives. Based on our review of the survey,
VVA is unable to recommend that our service representatives
take part in the survey. As to the other three surveys, VVA
can make no recommendation because we have yet to review
the format and the questions.
If you are asked to participate
in one of the surveys, please use common sense and remember
that your participation is completely voluntary. Any questions
regarding the surveys may be addressed to CNAC at vsosurvey@can.org
NEW
AGENT ORANGE COVERAGE
During this same meeting the C&P
Service provided some information regarding presumptive coverage
due to exposure to Agent Orange. The information they shared
was announced during the July Compensation and Pension Service
Center Managers Conference in Louisville and again on September
21 during the Compensation and Pension Manager’s conference
call. Although this is not new information, it has not been
widely publicized.
Due to a recent review of classified government documents,
the VA is officially recognizing the use of Agent Orange
in additional locations outside of the Republic of Vietnam.
The addition of these new locations means that those who
served in these areas will be able to take advantage of presumptive-service
coverage due to exposure to Agent Orange.
The VA currently
recognizes that Agent Orange exposure can be conceded to
veterans who served in certain units along the Korean DMZ
between April 1968 and July 1969. These units are listed
in the M21-1MR. C&P Service has expanded this
list based on declassified military documents and access
to historical information released through the U.S. Army
Combat Studies Institute’s Leavenworth Papers. The
added units are as: 1st Battalion 12th Artillery, 1st Battalion
15th Artillery, 7th Battalion 17th Artillery, 5th Battalion
38th Artillery, 6th Battalion 37th Artillery, 1st Battalion
31st Infantry (7th Infantry Division), 1st Battalion 32nd
Infantry (7th Infantry Division), 2nd Battalion 32nd Infantry
(7th Infantry Division), United Nations Command Security
Battalion-Joint Security Area (UNCSB-JSA), Crew of USS Pueblo.
If you, or anybody you know, falls into the above categories,
please have them consult with an accredited service representative
or service officer.
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2008, Vietnam Veterans of America. All Rights Reserved. 8605 Cameron
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