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UPDATE: A LOOK AT THE VETS' COMMISSION'S

RECOMMENDATIONS -- Don't expect any action on

recommendations that will cost the government money.

 

 

After more than two-and-a-half-years of work, the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission (VDBC) has released their final report.

The first thing for veterans to remember is that this is just a report.  This doesn't change anything.  It's not law.  It is not regulation.  It is just a set of recommendations.

Don't expect any recommendation that will cost the government any money to be implemented.  Especially the one that asks for a 25% increase in VA disability compensation.

This report will go on the shelf and politicians will pull out a recommendation now-and-then to meet their agenda.

I have lifted the recommendations from the 550+-page report and listed them below.  They will be in smaller print.  My comments will be in bold italics.  If there is no comment after a recommendation, that means I agree with it as written.  (Note: At the end of each recommendation is a note on who must implement it.  Recommendations with a ** should be considered for immediate action, says the Commission.)

Full Commission report is here...
http://www.vetscommission.org/
pdf/eReport_prepub_9-27.pdf

The executive summary is here...
http://www.vetscommission.org/pdf/
ExecutiveSummary_eV_9-27.pdf

For more about the Vets' Commission, use the VA Watchdog search engine...click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/ses
search.php?q=veterans%27+disa
bility+benefits+commission&op=ph

-------------------------

The Commission's Recommendations:

4.1   The purpose of the current veterans disability
compensation program as stated in statute currently
is to compensate for average impairment in earning
capacity, that is work disability. This is an unduly
restrictive rationale for the program and is
inconsistent with current models of disability. The
veterans disability compensation program should
compensate for three consequences of service-connected
injuries and diseases: work disability,
loss of ability to engage in usual life activities other
than work, and loss in quality of life (QOL.) (Specific
recommendations on approaches to evaluating
each consequence of service-connected injuries
and diseases are in [A 21st Century System for
Evaluating Veterans for Disability Benefits] Chapter
4.) [IOM Rec. 3-1]   Congress

4.2   VA should compensate for non-work disability,
defined as functional limitations on usual life
activities, to the extent that the Rating Schedule
does not, either by modifying the Rating Schedule
criteria to take account of the degree of functional
limitation or by developing a separate mechanism.
[IOM Rec. 4-5]   Congress

4.3   VA should determine the feasibility of compensating
for loss of QOL by developing a tool for measuring
QOL validly and reliably in the veteran population,
conducting research on the extent to which the
Rating Schedule already accounts for loss in QOL,
and if it does not, developing a procedure for
evaluating and rating loss of QOL of veterans with
disabilities. [IOM Rec. 4-6]   VA

4.4   VA should develop a process for periodic updating
of the disability examination worksheets. This
process should be part of, or closely linked to, the
process recommended above for updating and
revising the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. There
should be input from the disability committee
recommended above (see IOM Rec. 4-1).   VA

4.5   VA should mandate the use of the online templates
that have been developed for conducting and
reporting disability examinations. [IOM Rec. 5-2]   VA

4.6   VA should establish a recurring assessment of the
substantive quality and consistency, or inter-rater
reliability, of examinations performed with the
templates and, if the assessment finds problems,
take steps to improve quality and consistency, e.g.,
by revising the templates, changing the training, or
adjusting the performance standards for examiners.
[IOM Rec. 5-3]   VA

4.7   The rating process should have built-in checks or
periodic evaluations to ensure inter-rater reliability
as well as the accuracy and validity of rating across
impairment categories, ratings, and regions. [IOM
Rec. 5-4]   VA

4.8   VA raters should have ready access to qualified
health-care experts who can provide advice on
medical and psychological issues that arise during
the rating process (e.g., interpreting evidence or
assessing the need for additional examinations or
diagnostic tests). [IOM Rec. 5-5]   VA
4.8   This is excellent...instead having VA raters play
doctor, they can have access to a doctor for reliable
information.

4.9   Educational and training programs for VBA raters
and VHA examiners should be developed,
mandated, and uniformly implemented across all
regional offices with standardized performance
objectives and outcomes. These programs should
make use of advances in adult education
techniques. External consultants should serve as
advisors to assist in the development and
evaluation of the educational and training programs.
[IOM Rec. 5-6]   VA

4.10   VA and the Department of Defense should conduct
a comprehensive multidisciplinary medical,
psychological, and vocational evaluation of each
veteran applying for disability compensation at the
time of service separation. [IOM Rec. 6-1]   VA + DoD

4.11   VA should sponsor research on ancillary benefits
and obtain input from veterans about their needs.
Such research could include conducting
intervention trials to determine the effectiveness of
ancillary services in terms of increased functional
capacity and enhanced health-related QOL. [IOM
Rec. 6-2]   VA

4.12   The concept underlying the extant 12-year limitation
for vocational rehabilitation for service-connected
veterans should be reviewed and, when
appropriate, revised on the basis of current
employment data, functional requirements, and
individual vocational rehabilitation and medical
needs. [IOM Rec. 6-3]   VA

4.13   VA should develop and test incentive models that
would promote vocational rehabilitation and return
to gainful employment among veterans for whom
this is a realistic goal. [IOM Rec. 6-4]   VA
4.13   This could be a slippery slope. Helping a veteran
find work is a good idea, but the concept of mandatory
voc rehab is not good...especially if it's "do this or lose
your benefits." This must be watched closely.

4.14   In addition to medical evaluations by medical
professionals, VA should require vocational
assessment in the determination of eligibility for
individual unemployability benefits. Raters should
receive training on how to interpret findings from
vocational assessments for the evaluation of
individual unemployability claims. [IOM Rec. 7-1]
Congress + VA
4.14   This makes sense. A voc rehab assessment
should be done before an IU rating is granted. The IU
benefit cannot be accurately calculated unless it is
known if the veteran can work or not.

4.15   VA should monitor and evaluate trends in its
disability program and conduct research on
employment among veterans with disabilities. [IOM
Rec. 7-2]   VA

4.16   VA should conduct research on the earnings
histories of veterans who initially applied for
individual unemployability benefits past the normal
age of retirement under the Old Age, Survivors, and
Disability Insurance Program under the Social
Security Act. [IOM Rec. 7-3]   VA

4.17   Eligibility for Individual Unemployability (IU) should
be based on the impact of an individual’s service-connected
disabilities, in combination with education, employment history,
and the medical effects of that individual’s age on his or
her potential.   VA

4.18   VA should implement a gradual reduction in
compensation to IU recipients who are able to
return to substantial gainful employment rather than
abruptly terminate their disability payments at an
arbitrary level of earnings. [IOM Rec. 7-5]   VA

NOTE:  About the IU benefit: We know the VA has screwed
this up badly. Some say as many as 25-50% of veterans
getting IU actually do not qualify, but they receive the
benefit due to VA errors. Look for the VA to do many
re-evaluations of IU veterans and urge those who they
feel can work to do so, or get into a voc rehab program.

4.19   VA should adopt a new classification system using
the International Classification of Disease (ICD) and
the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual for Mental
Disorders (DSM) codes. This system should apply
to all applications, including those that are denied.
During the transition to ICD & DSM codes, VA can
continue to use its own diagnostic codes, and
subsequently track and analyze them comparatively
for trends affecting veterans and for program
planning purposes. Knowledge of an applicant’s
ICD or DSM codes should help raters, especially
with the task of properly categorizing conditions.
[IOM Rec. 8-1]   VA

4.20   Considering some of the unique conditions relevant
for disability following military activities, it would be
preferable for VA to update and improve the Rating
Schedule on a regular basis rather than adopt an
impairment schedule developed for other purposes.
[IOM Rec. 8-2]   VA

4.21   VA should seek the judgment of qualified experts,
supported by findings from current peer-reviewed
literature, as guidance for adjudicating both
aggravation of pre-service disability and Allen
aggravation claims. Judgment could be provided by
VHA examiners, perhaps from VA centers of
excellence, who have the appropriate expertise for
evaluating the condition(s) in question in individual
claims. [IOM Rec. 9-1]   VA

4.22   VA should guide clinical evaluation and rating of
claims for secondary service connection by
adopting specific criteria for determining causation,
such as those cited above (e.g., temporal
relationship, consistency of research findings,
strength of association, specificity, plausible
biological mechanism). VA should also provide and
VA regularly update information to compensation and
pension examiners about the findings of
epidemiological, biostatistical, and disease
mechanism research concerning the secondary
consequences of disabilities prevalent among
veterans. [IOM Rec. 9-2]

**4.23**   VA should immediately begin to update the current
Rating Schedule, beginning with those body
systems addressing the evaluation and rating of
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other
mental disorders and of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Then proceed through the other body systems until
the Rating Schedule has been comprehensively
revised. The revision process should be completed
within five years. VA should create a system for
keeping the Rating Schedule up to date, including a
published schedule for revising each body system.   VA

5.1   Congress should change the character-of-discharge
standard to require that when an individual is
discharged from his or her last period of active
service with a bad conduct or dishonorable
discharge, it bars all benefits.   Congress
5.1   Wrong!  An example is a GI who did four three-year
enlistments with no problems. During the fifth enlistment
there were problems and the GI got a bad conduct discharge.
Currently, the GI can get VA disability benefits for problems
incurred during the first four enlistments, but not the last.
This would eliminate all benefits because of one bad hitch.
This doesn't work.  The current standard should remain.

5.2   Maintain the present definition of line of duty: that
service members are on duty 24 hours a day, 7
days a week.   No Action Required
5.2   Excellent.

5.3   Benefits should be awarded at the same level
according to the severity of the disability, regardless
of whether the injury was incurred or disease was
contracted during combat or training, wartime or
peacetime.   No Action Required
5.3  This is only fair. Excellent recommendation.

5.4   Maintain the current reasonable doubt standard. No Action
Required

5.5   Age should not be a factor for rating service
connection or severity of disability, but may be a
consideration in setting compensation rates.   No Action Required

5.6   Maintain the current standard of an unlimited time
limit for filing an original claim for service connection. No Action Required

5.7   DoD should require a mandatory benefits briefing to
all separating military personnel, including Reserve
and National Guard components, prior to discharge
from service.   DoD

5.8   Congress should create a formal advisory
committee (Advisory Committee) to the VA to
consider and advise the Secretary of VA on
disability-related questions requiring scientific
research and review to assist in the consideration of
possible presumptions. [IOM Rec. 1]   Congress + VA

5.9   Congress should authorize a permanent
independent review body (Science Review Board)
operating with a well-defined process that will use
evaluation criteria as outlined in this committee’s
recommendations to evaluate scientific evidence for
VA’s use in considering future service-connected
presumptions. [IOM Rec. 2]   Congress

5.10   VA should develop and publish a formal process for
consideration of disability presumptions that is
uniform and transparent and that clearly sets forth
all evidence considered and the reasons for
decisions reached. [IOM Rec. 3]   VA

5.11   The goal of the presumptive disability decision-making
process should be to ensure compensation
for veterans whose diseases are caused by military
service and this goal must serve as the foundation
for the work of the Science Review Board. The
committee recommends that the Science Review
Board implement its proposed two-step process.
[IOM Rec. 4]   Congress

5.12   The Science Review Board should use the
proposed four-level classification scheme, as
follows, in the first step of its evaluation. A standard
should be adopted for “causal effect” such that if
there is at least as much evidence in favor of the
exposure having a causal effect on the severity or
frequency of disease as there is evidence against,
then a service-connected presumption will be
considered. [IOM Rec. 5]
• Sufficient: the evidence is sufficient to conclude
that a causal relationship exists.
• Equipoise and Above: the evidence is sufficient to
conclude that a causal relationship is at least as
likely as not, but not sufficient to conclude that a
causal relationship exists.
• Below Equipoise: the evidence is not sufficient to
conclude that a causal relationship is at least as
likely as not, or is not sufficient to make a
scientifically informed judgment.
• Against: the evidence suggests the lack of a
causal relationship.   Congress

5.13   A broad spectrum of evidence, including
epidemiologic, animal, and mechanistic data,
should be considered when evaluating causation.
[IOM Rec. 6]   VA

5.14   When the causal evidence is at Equipoise and
Above, an estimate also should be made of the size
of the causal effect among those exposed. [IOM
Rec. 7]   Congress

5.15   The relative risk and exposure prevalence should
be used to estimate an attributable fraction for the
disease in the military setting (i.e., service-attributable
fraction). [IOM Rec. 8]   VA

5.16   Inventory research related to the health of veterans,
including research funded by DoD and VA and
research funded by the National Institutes of Health
and other organizations. [IOM Rec. 9]   VA

5.17   Develop a strategic plan for research on the health
of veterans, particularly those returning from
conflicts in the gulf and Afghanistan. [IOM Rec. 10]   VA

5.18   Develop a plan for augmenting research capability
within DoD and VA to more systematically generate
evidence on the health of veterans. [IOM Rec. 11] VA + DoD

5.19   Assess the potential for enhancing research
through record linkage using the DOD and VA
administrative and health record databases. [IOM
Rec. 12]   VA + DoD
5.19   This must be done carefully and only with the express
written permission of the service member or veteran.

5.20   Conduct a critical evaluation of gulf war troop
tracking and environmental exposure monitoring
data so that improvements can be made in this key
DoD strategy for characterizing exposures during
deployment. [IOM Rec. 13]   DoD

5.21   Establish registries of service members and
veterans based on exposure, deployment, and
disease histories. [IOM Rec. 14]   VA + DoD

5.22   Develop a plan for an overall integrated surveillance
strategy for the health of service members and
veterans. [IOM Rec. 15]   DoD

5.23   Improve the data linkage between the electronic
health record data systems used by DoD and VA—
including capabilities for handling individual soldier
exposure information that is included as part of the
individual’s health record. [IOM Rec. 16]   VA + DoD

5.24   Ensure implementation of the DoD strategy for
improved exposure assessment and exposure data
collection. [IOM Rec. 17]   DoD

5.25   Develop a data interface that allows VA to access
the electronic exposure data systems used by DoD.
[IOM Rec. 18]    VA + DoD

5.26   DoD and VA should establish and implement
mechanisms to identify, monitor, track, and
medically treat individuals involved in research and
other activities that have been classified and are
secret. [IOM Rec. 19]   VA + DoD
5.26   This has not been done in the past, so we have
veterans with "lost" records instead of clear information
that shows what kind of research they were involved in. 
There must be records kept on all of these individuals.

5.27   VA should consider environmental issues such as
Blue Water Navy and Agent Orange, Ft. McClellan
and polychlorinated biphenyls, and Camp Lejeune
and trichloroethylene/ tetrachloroethylene in the
new presumptions framework.   VA

**5.28**   VA should develop and implement new criteria
specific to posttraumatic stress disorder in the VA
Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Base those criteria
on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders and consider a multidimensional
framework for characterizing disability due to
posttraumatic stress disorder.   VA

5.29   VA should consider a baseline level of benefits
described by IOM to include health care as an
incentive for recovery for posttraumatic stress
disorder as it relapses and remits.   VA
5.29   This is dangerous! Using "health care as an incentive
for recovery" is terribly close to the "cure for PTSD" concept.
What this says is: VA will still give the vet "some" compensation
as they "get better." There are too many assumptions here. 
But, the worst assumption is that those with PTSD will get
better with treatment. The entire population of veterans with
PTSD cannot be lumped into a recommendation like this.

**5.30**   VA should establish a holistic approach that couples
posttraumatic stress disorder treatment,
compensation, and vocational assessment.
Reevaluation should occur every 2–3 years to
gauge treatment effectiveness and encourage
wellness.   Congress + VA
5.30   Again, dangerous! Coupling treatment (medical
and/or vocational) with compensation is a "get-well-or-else"
carrot-and-stick approach that not only won't work, it is
demeaning to those with PTSD.

5.31   The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Exam Process:
• Psychological testing should be conducted at the
discretion of the examining clinician.
• VA should identify and implement an appropriate
replacement for the Global Assessment of
Functioning.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Data Collection &
Research:
• VA should conduct more detailed research on
military sexual assault and PTSD and develop and
disseminate reference materials for raters.   VA + DoD

5.32   A national standardized training program should be
developed for VA and VA-contracted clinicians who
conduct compensation and pension psychiatric
evaluations. This training program should
emphasize diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic
stress disorder and comorbid conditions with
overlapping symptoms, as set forth in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.   VA

5.33   VA should establish a certification program for
raters who deal with posttraumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) claims, as well as provide training to
support the certification program and periodic
recertification. PTSD certification requirements
should be regularly reviewed and updated to
include medical advances and to reflect lessons
learned. The program should provide specialized
training on the psychological and medical issues
(including comorbidities) that characterize the
claimant population, and give guidance on how to
appropriately manage commonly encountered
rating problems.   VA

6.1   Congress should consider increasing special
monthly compensation where appropriate to
address the more profound impact on quality of life
by the disabilities subject to special monthly
compensation and review ancillary benefits to
determine where additional benefits could improve
disabled veterans’ quality of life.   Congress

6.2   The amount of payment for aid and attendance
should be adjusted to fully pay for the extent of
assistance required.  Congress

6.3   Extend aid and attendance to severely injured
active-duty service members who are in a status
pending discharge.  Congress

6.4   The automotive and housing adaptation benefit
should be modified to cover service-connected
veterans who need this assistance and are not
currently eligible—for example, severe burn victims.
Congress

6.5   Provisions should be made to accommodate
changing life circumstances by allowing specially
adapted housing grant at least twice. Congress

6.6   Eliminate the premium paid by service members for
TSGLI. Congress

6.7   The maximum amount of coverage should be
increased and up-to-date mortality rates should be
used to calculate premiums for Service-Disabled
Veterans’ Insurance (SDVI).   Congress
6.7   Realistically, there should be NO premiums.

6.8   Expand eligibility for the Veterans’ Mortgage Life
Insurance to include service members of the Armed
Forces who have received housing modification
grant assistance from VA for severely disabling
conditions.   Congress

6.9   Access to vocational rehabilitation should be
expanded to all medically separated service
members.   Congress

6.10   All service disabled veterans should have access to
vocational rehabilitation and employment
counseling services. Congress

6.11   All applicants for Individual Unemployability should
be screened for employability by vocational
rehabilitation and employment counselors. Congress

6.12   The administration of the Vocational Rehabilitation
and Employment Program should be enhanced by
increased staffing and resources, tracking
employment success beyond 60 days, and
conducting satisfaction surveys of participants and
employers.   VA

6.13   VA should explore incentives that would encourage
disabled veterans to complete their rehabilitation
plan.  VA

**6.14**   Congress should eliminate the ban on concurrent
receipt for all military retirees and for all service
members who separated from the military due to
service-connected disabilities. In the future, priority
should be given to veterans who separated or
retired from the military under chapter 61 with:
• fewer than 20 years service and a service-connected
disability rating greater than 50 percent,
or
• disability as a result of combat.   Congress

7.1   Congress should authorize VA to revise the existing
payment scale based on age at date of initial claim
and based on degree of severity for severely
disabled veterans.   Congress
7.1  "Based on age" is another slippery slope. This could mean
more compensation for younger vets (not a bad idea), but lower
compensation for older veterans, which is a very bad idea. 
Compensation should not be age-based.

7.2   Congress should adjust VA compensation levels for
all disabled veterans using the best available data,
surveys, and analysis in order to achieve fair and
equitable levels of income compared to the non-disabled
veteran.   Congress

7.3   VA and DoD should be directed to collect and study
appropriate data, with due restrictions to ensure
privacy. These agencies should be granted
statutory authority to obtain appropriate data from
the Social Security Administration and the Office of
Personnel Management only for the purpose of
periodically assessing appropriate benefits delivery
program outcomes.   Congress

**7.4**   Eligibility for Individual Unemployability (IU) should
be consistently based on the impact of an
individual’s service-connected disabilities, in
combination with education, employment history,
and medical effects of an individual’s age or
potential employability. VA should implement a
periodic and comprehensive evaluation of IU
eligible veterans. When appropriate, compensation
should be gradually reduced for IU recipients who
are able to return to substantially gainful
employment rather than abruptly terminating
disability payments at an arbitrary level of earning.  VA

**7.5**   Recognizing that Individual Unemployability (IU) is
an attempt to accommodate individuals with
multiple lesser ratings but who remain unable to
work, the Commission recommends that as the
Schedule for Rating Disabilities is revised, every
effort should be made to accommodate such
individuals fairly within the basic rating system
without the need for an IU rating.   VA
7.5   Excellent.  The IU rating is a mess. If a vet can't work
because of a service-connected disability, they should
be rated at 100% schedular...and we do away
with IU completely.

**7.6**   Congress should increase the compensation rates
up to 25 percent as an interim and baseline future
benefit for loss of quality of life, pending
development and implementation of quality-of-life
measure in the Rating Schedule. In particular, the
measure should take into account the quality of life
and other non-work-related effects of severe
disabilities on veterans and family members.  Congress
7.6   An excellent idea, but the Commission is using this as
a Public Relations gimmick to make it appear that this entire
report is veteran-friendly.  We know this won't happen
('til the Lord comes), so we have to accept it for what it is...hype!

7.7   Congress should create a severely disabled
stabilization allowance that would allow for up to a
50 percent increase in basic monthly compensation
for up to 5 years to address the real out-of-pocket
costs above the compensation rate at a time of
need. This would supplement to the extent
appropriate any coverage under Traumatic
Servicemembers Group Life Insurance.  Congress

**7.8**   Congress should consider increasing special
monthly compensation, where appropriate, to
address the more profound impact on quality of life
by the disabilities subject to special monthly
compensation and review ancillary benefits to
determine where additional benefits could improve
disabled veterans’ quality of life.   Congress

**7.9**   Congress should enact legislation that would bring
the ancillary and special-purpose benefits to the
levels originally intended considering cost of living
and provide for automatic annual adjustments to
keep pace with cost of living.   Congress

7.10   DoD should reassess the policy of allowing
separation without compensation for individuals
found unfit for duty who are also found to have a
preexisting disability for up to 8 years of active duty.   DoD

7.11   VA and DoD should adopt a consistent and uniform
policy for rating disabilities, using the VA Schedule
for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). VA + DoD

7.12   DoD should reassess the ratings of service
members who were discharged as unfit but rated 0
to 30 percent disabled to determine if those ratings
were equitable. (Note: Commission data only went
back to 2000.)   DoD

**7.13**   VA and DoD should realign the disability evaluation
process so that the services determine fitness for
duty and service members who are found unfit are
referred to VA for disability rating. All conditions
that are identified as part of a single,
comprehensive medical examination should be
rated and compensated.   Congress + VA + DoD

7.14   VA disability benefits (including Traumatic
Servicemembers Group Life Insurance), except VA
compensation benefits received in lieu of military
retired pay, should not be considered in state-court
spousal support proceedings.   Congress

7.15   Lump sum payments should not be considered to
compensate veterans for their disabilities. No Action
Required

8.1   Congress should extend eligibility for the Civilian
Health and Medical Program of the Department of
Veterans Affairs to caregivers and create a
“caregiver allowance” for caregivers of severely
disabled veterans.   Congress

**8.2**   Congress should eliminate the Survivor Benefit
Plan/Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
offset for survivors of retirees and in-service deaths. Congress

8.3   Allow the veteran’s survivors, but not a creditor, to
pursue the veteran’s due but unpaid benefits and
any additional benefits by continuing the claim that
was pending when the veteran died, including
presenting new evidence not in VA’s possession at
the time of death.   Congress

**9.1**   Improve claims cycle time by:
• establishing a simplified and expedited process for
well documented claims, using best business
practices and maximum feasible use of information
technology; and
• implementing an expedited process by which the
claimant can state the claim information is
complete, and waive the time period (60 days)
allowed for further development.
Congress should mandate and provide appropriate
resources to reduce the VA claims backlog by 50
percent within 2 years.   Congress + VA

9.2   Change the commencement date for the period of
payment to the effective date of the award. (see
also Recommendation 10.7)  Congress
9.2   This is in reference to the appeals process. And, it
doesn't make sense given recommendation 10.7. I think
we need some clarification in this.

9.3   Reduce the appellate workload by focusing on
improved accuracy in the initial decision-making
process, enhance the appeals process by ensuring
adequate resources to dispose of existing workload
on a timely basis, and deploy technology for
electronic records transfer between field offices and
the Board of Veterans Appeals.   VA

9.4   VA should review the current duty to assist process
and develop policy, procedures, and
communications that ensure that they are efficient
and effective from the perspective of the veteran.
VA should consider amending Veterans Claims
Assistance Act letters by including all claim-specific
information to be shown on the first page and all
other legal requirements would be reflected, either
on a separate form or on subsequent pages. In
particular, VA should use plain language in stating
how the claimant can request an early decision in
his or her case.  VA
9.4   This would help level the playing field for the veteran.
Many vets just don't understand what they have to do to
pursue a claim properly. It is the VA's duty to assist the
veteran...and this would go a long way toward forcing
them to do just that.

9.5   VBA regional office staff must receive adequate
education and training. Quality reviews should be
performed to ensure these front-line workers are
well versed to rate claims. Adequate resources
must be appropriated to hire and train these
workers to achieve a manageable claims backlog.
Congress + VA

10.1   VA and DoD should enhance the Joint Executive
Council’s strategic plan by including specific
milestones and designating an official to be
responsible for ensuring that the milestones are
reached.   VA + DoD

10.2   DOL and SSA should be included in the Joint
Executive Council to improve the transition process. VA + DoD

10.3   VA and DoD should jointly create an intensive case
management program for severely disabled
veterans with an identifiable lead agent. VA + DoD

10.4   To facilitate seamless transition, Congress should
adequately fund and mandate the Transition
Assistance Program DoD-wide to ensure that all
service members are knowledgeable about benefits
before leaving the service.   Congress

10.5   Benefits Delivery at Discharge should be available
to all disabled exiting service members (to include
National Guard, Reserve, and medical hold
patients).   VA + DoD

10.6   DoD should mandate that separation examinations
be performed on all service members. DoD

10.7   Disability payments should be paid from the date of
claim.  Congress
10.7   This refers to benefits delivery at discharge and separation.

10.8   DoD should expand existing programs that translate
military occupational skills, experience, and
certification to civilian employment. DoD

10.9   DoD should provide an authenticated electronic DD
214 to VA. DoD
10.9   Excellent. This would help stop the "phony vets"
trying to get VA benefits.

10.10   VA and DoD should improve electronic information
record transfers and address issues of lost, missing,
and unassociated paper records. VA + DoD

**10.11**   VA and DoD should expedite development and
implementation of compatible information systems
including a detailed project management plan that
includes specific milestones and lead agency
assignment.   VA + DoD

10.12   Congress should authorize and fund VA to establish
and provide support services for the families of
severely injured veterans similar to those provided
by DoD.   Congress

10.13   DoD should standardize the definition of the term
“severely injured” among the services and with VA,
and create a common database of severely
disabled service members.   VA + DoD

10.14   DoD should consider the findings of the Severely
Injured Marines and Sailors Program and the Army
Wounded Warrior Survey. DoD

10.15   DoD and VA should make transitioning service
members aware of Social Security Disability
Insurance. VA + DoD

10.16   Congress should consider eliminating the Social
Security Disability Insurance minimum required
quarters for severely injured service members. Congress

10.17   DoD should remove Tricare requirements for copays
and deductibles for the severely injured
service members and their families. DoD

10.18   Maintain the accessibility and stability of quality
health care for all disabled veterans. No Action
Required

10.19   VA and DoD should fund research in support of the
needs of veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation Enduring Freedom. VA + DoD

11.1   Congress should establish an executive oversight
group to ensure timely and effective implementation
of the Commission recommendations. This group
should be co-chaired by VA and DoD and consist of
senior representatives from appropriate
departments and agencies. It is further
recommended that the Veterans’ Affairs
Committees hold hearing and require annual
reports to measure and assess progress.   Congress

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Larry Scott  --