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ANOTHER CALL TO REIN IN VA COSTS LOOKS TO VETS'
COMMISSION FOR ANSWERS -- Editorial from
Alabama's Times Daily.
This is, at least, the second major
editorial in a week to call for "controlling" compensation costs at the
VA...other editorial here...
http://vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfAPR07/nf040107-7.htm
Both of these editorials have mentioned
the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission and their report due in
October.
Suddenly, the Vets' Commission has gained
traction on Capitol Hill and with the press.
Their report could have a more
devastating impact than first thought.
Story here...
http://www.timesdaily.com/
apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070331/
NEWS/703310305/-1/COMMUNITIES
Story below:
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Rein in VA costs
The veterans' disability compensation system, which costs taxpayers
about $26 billion a year, has become backlogged with hundreds of
thousands of claims and is expected to get worse as veterans return from
Afghanistan and Iraq.
Critics say the system is a soft touch, often paying veterans monthly
checks for ailments that don't hurt their ability to work, often are
treatable, are common in civilian life and are the result of the
ordinary aging process.
And they say the backlog in cases to be processed is partly because of
the large number of questionable claims being turned in.
The system has expanded far beyond its original intent of compensating
veterans for loss of earning power because of service-related illnesses
or injuries.
About 2.6 million veterans receive monthly checks from the system,
including more than 54,000 in Alabama and another 54,000 in Tennessee.
An analysis of benefits by Scripps Howard News Service found that more
than 120,000 veterans from past wars are collecting benefits for
hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoid payments are $14 million a year.
They are not required to show that the hemorrhoids were caused by their
military service. Experts say three in five American adults suffer from
hemorrhoids some time in their life, but typically do not receive
disability payments unless they have been in the-military.
Thousands of other veterans are receiving lifetime payments for bumps on
their faces from shaving or for small scars so small they are hard to
see.
Typical payments for these two disabilities are $115 a month for life.
In 2004, Congress created a commission to study the system and recommend
fixes. It is expected to release its report Oct. 1. Releasing a report
and getting Congress to do anything about the problem are two entirely
different things, however.
Veterans groups, including the American Legion and the Veterans of
Foreign Wars, already have lined up to oppose any tightening of
requirements to receive a disability.
We support veterans in their efforts to require quicker adjudication of
their claims and we think veterans with legitimate disabilities should
receive payments for those disabilities.
But we don't think most citizens envision the term "veterans disability"
to encompass hemorrhoids and shaving bumps.
Congress needs to rein in this program, the cost of which is spiraling
out of control.
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Larry Scott --
