Marines wounded during the landing on Tarawa are towed out
on rubber boats by their buddies to larger vessels
that will take them to base hospitals for better medical care.
Department of Veterans Affairs
Office of Inspector General
Click the red button above to go to the official VA OIG page. You may want to know:
The OIG Hotline receives, screens, and refers OIG mission-related complaints within VA. Cases are accepted on a select basis regarding issues having the most potential risk to veterans, VA programs and operations, or for which the OIG may be the only avenue of redress.
Examples of Issues Often Accepted
VA-related criminal activity
Systemic patient safety issues
Gross mismanagement of VA programs
Waste of VA resources
Misconduct by senior VA officials
Examples of Issues Not Accepted
Routine healthcare disputes or claims decisions
Issues that are addressable in another legal or administrative forum
Issues that are covered in an existing or recent case
What will VA OIG do for you?
The Office of Investigations (OI) investigates crimes committed against programs and operations of VA by employees and non-employees, as well as allegations of serious violations of policies and procedures by high-ranking members of the Department.
OI is composed of four divisions: Criminal Investigations, Administrative Investigations, Analysis and Oversight, and Investigative Data Systems and Analysis.
Criminal investigations focus on fraud against VA committed by beneficiaries, their survivors, fiduciaries, contractors, and VA employees; fraud related to pharmaceutical firms’ illegal defective pricing or off-label marketing activities; acts of embezzlement, extortion, and bribery committed by VA employees; theft and diversion of legal drugs by VA staff and others; sale of contraband drugs and pharmaceuticals by and to VA staff and patients; theft of VA resources and data; identity theft; stolen valor; assaults involving VA employees and patients, including homicide, manslaughter, and rape; threats against VA employees, patients, facilities, and computer systems; mortgage fraud; workers compensation fraud; and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) fraud.
Administrative investigations focus on violations of policies and procedures concerning high-ranking senior officials, such as misuse of Government resources and official time, preferential treatment, abuse of authority, nepotism, and travel irregularities. Through prosecution, administrative action, and monetary recoveries, these investigations promote integrity, patient safety, efficiency, and accountability.
What will VA OIG NOT do for you?
The OIG will not investigate your routinely delayed or denied claim. If you believe and have evidence of criminal activity, you should contact IG.
12/13/2011 VA OIG Report Summary...Too Embarrassing To Publish?
Title: Administrative Investigation,
Abuse of Authority, Prohibited Personnel Practices, Failure to Properly
Supervise, and a Lack of Candor, Office of Business Oversight, VA
Central Office
Report Number: 11-02258-46 Issue Date: 12/12/2011
City/State: Washington, DC VA Office: Office of Management
Report Author: Office of Investigations Report Type: Administrative Investigation
Release Type: Restricted
Summary: The Administrative Investigations Division issued a report titled: Abuse of Authority, Prohibited Personnel Practices, Failure to Properly Supervise, and a Lack of Candor, Office of Business Oversight, VA Central Office.
This report contains information protected by the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a. Public availability of this information is to be determined under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552. Please contact our FOIA Office for assistance.
The Freedom of Information Act.
Contact the VA OIG FOIA Office
Department of Veterans Affairs
Office of Inspector General
Release of Information Office (50CI)
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420
In addition to the mailing address above, you may also contact the VA OIG FOIA Office by email or FAX:
Email: vaoigfoia-pa@va.gov
FAX: (202) 495-5859
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Memphis Man Found Guilty Of Intimidating a Federal Employee
Norfleet, a veteran utilizing the services of the Department of Veteran Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Counseling program undertook a calculated course of conduct designed to intimidate, interfere with and harass two vocational rehabilitation counselors in March 2011. Norfleet was charged and found guilty on both counts of violating 18 U.S. 111. Norfleet faces not more that one year in prison. He will be sentenced on April 13, 2012.
Carl K Price <advocatesforveterans@columbus.rr.com> sends this along and comments, "I believe that this should be sent out to every veteran who has a claim with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. I, like so many veterans’, have been upset with the 'Phone Centers' and the inability of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to provide accurate updates on the prosecution of my claim. I have had my claim lost in the system for close to a year without any annotations in the file or in the DNR screens. It just disappeared. But, I think that this case should be a warning to our veterans’ to treat the VA employees in a manner that the veteran would be expected to be treated (although the VA may not be returning their courtesy. I too have been hung up on when I have asked reasonable questions in a non-threatening manner) Stuff happens, but this should be a wake-up call to veterans. Please make sure that you look at the fact that there is a statute that does protect federal employees from intimidation."
VA OIG Inspection of the VA Regional Office, White River Junction, Vermont
Overall, the VARO did not correctly process 37 percent of disability claims reviewed.
A grand jury indicted a manager and two contractors in connection with housing repair contracts for the VA, the DOJ announced.
VA-OIG; Audit of VA’s Internal Controls Over the Use of Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQ's)
DBQs are condition-specific forms designed to capture medical information relevant to veterans’ disability benefits claims. Veterans have the option, at their own expense, to have their private physicians complete DBQs to provide medical evidence on disability benefits claims. VA developed and implemented DBQs as part of its efforts to help reduce the claims backlog. As of the end of FY 2011, VA had an inventory of almost 810,500 compensation rating claims, of which just over 488,000 (60 percent) were pending over 125 days. In October 2010, VA implemented three DBQs for public use.
Click here to read the report.
Click here to read VHA Directive 2010-045 10/01/2010.
The DBQ's were to be a panacea to add to the long list of instant solutions to resolve the burgeoning backlog. Most recently we're told that a New system aims to reduce VA disability backlog. Shinseki vows to reduce VA's claims backlog; "We are going to break the back of the backlog this year," Secretary Shinseki said 4/6/2010.
The VA OIG report doesn't do justice to the enormous failure of the DBQ project. This is not a veteran friendly report; "...we believe immediate action is needed to put internal controls in place to help detect and prevent fraud." Veterans are always suspect in the eyes of your VBA.
This VA OIG report focuses on preventing veterans from falsifying reports to the veterans advantage. The report fails to mention that if you search for a DBQ you'll find the message on the VA web site; "Notice: The 48 additional Disability Benefits Questionnaires that were previously available have been removed. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused. We hope to have them available again soon."
Ask the question, "Will VA pay for a Disability Benefits Questionnaire completed by a private physician?" VBA will quickly answer; "No. VA cannot pay for a private physician to complete Disability Benefits Questionnaires or for any costs associated with examination or testing."
That places a DBQ much in the same category as an IME/IMO. Even if the veteran has private insurance through an employer, it's highly unlikely that such an insurance policy would help to defer any of the expense. VAWatchdog is aware that fees to conduct an IME/IMO may cost the veteran from about $1500.00 to $5000.00 directly from the veterans pocket. Physicians don't like filling out forms. Physicians do like paying their bills. Most veterans won't find a qualified physician to help them for no fee.
The report also addresses the The Fast Track Claims Processing System (Fast Track System).
The Fast Track System is designated for use by Vietnam Veterans claiming one or more of the three new Agent Orange presumptive conditions. Medical providers are encouraged to fill out DBQs on the Fast Track System Web site. The Fast Track System will then compile the medical evidence and generate a proposed rating decision for Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) claims processors to review.
This is another of the failed "Fast Track" processes that your VBA is so fond of. Consider this; Most of the IHD claims of Vietnam veterans have been or are being resolved under the Nehmer process. The Nehmer claims process so overburdened the VBA that many Ratings Veterans Service Representatives were taken away from processing "routine" claims to address the Nehmer IHD claims. The backlog grew exponentially while this was occurring.
The MMWR shows us that on February 18th 2012 there were 897,502 claims pending, of which 589,870 are pending over 125 days. Thus, 65.7% of your claims are seriously overdue. During the same time period in 2011 there were 786,949 claims in process with 353,543 pending over 125 days. One year ago 44.9% of all pension and disability claims were past due.
VAWatchdog questions the credibility of the MMWR. We believe that the numbers are softened to present the best possible picture to the reader. For example, "pending over 125 days" does not fully explain just how far past 125 days these claims are. VBA could easily use the phrase "pending over 10 days" and it would have much the same meaning.
"VA developed and implemented DBQs as part of its efforts to help reduce the claims backlog."
It's beyond our understanding why VBA doesn't address the root cause of the backlog problem rather than wasting taxpayer dollars on never ending pipe dreams. The solution is simple. Do it right the first time. The backlog is caused by the extraordinarily high rate of errors at the VARO. Over 70% of decisions are flawed and the veteran must appeal. Appeals are rework and rework is the most time consuming and expensive labor there is. Over 70% of appeals are awarded. The message is clear.
If the VBA began at the beginning to ensure that every claim that issued from the VA Regional Office was absolutely, positively correct, the backlog would vanish. It really is that simple. Until your Department of Veterans Affairs focuses on the real problem...sloppy work at the start of the adjudication process...the backlog of claims will grow, costs to process each claim will rise and the BVA and the CAVC will need more human resources.
Maybe that's the plan...bigger is better in government, isn't it?
Norfleet, a veteran utilizing the services of the Department of Veteran Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Counseling program undertook a calculated course of conduct designed to intimidate, interfere with and harass two vocational rehabilitation counselors in March 2011. Norfleet was charged and found guilty on both counts of violating 18 U.S. 111. Norfleet faces not more that one year in prison. He will be sentenced on April 13, 2012.
Carl K Price <advocatesforveterans@columbus.rr.com> sends this along and comments, "I believe that this should be sent out to every veteran who has a claim with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. I, like so many veterans’, have been upset with the 'Phone Centers' and the inability of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to provide accurate updates on the prosecution of my claim. I have had my claim lost in the system for close to a year without any annotations in the file or in the DNR screens. It just disappeared. But, I think that this case should be a warning to our veterans’ to treat the VA employees in a manner that the veteran would be expected to be treated (although the VA may not be returning their courtesy. I too have been hung up on when I have asked reasonable questions in a non-threatening manner) Stuff happens, but this should be a wake-up call to veterans. Please make sure that you look at the fact that there is a statute that does protect federal employees from intimidation."
VA OIG Inspection of the VA Regional Office, White River Junction, Vermont
Overall, the VARO did not correctly process 37 percent of disability claims reviewed.
A grand jury indicted a manager and two contractors in connection with housing repair contracts for the VA, the DOJ announced.
VA-OIG; Audit of VA’s Internal Controls Over the Use of Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQ's)
DBQs are condition-specific forms designed to capture medical information relevant to veterans’ disability benefits claims. Veterans have the option, at their own expense, to have their private physicians complete DBQs to provide medical evidence on disability benefits claims. VA developed and implemented DBQs as part of its efforts to help reduce the claims backlog. As of the end of FY 2011, VA had an inventory of almost 810,500 compensation rating claims, of which just over 488,000 (60 percent) were pending over 125 days. In October 2010, VA implemented three DBQs for public use.
Click here to read the report.
Click here to read VHA Directive 2010-045 10/01/2010.
The DBQ's were to be a panacea to add to the long list of instant solutions to resolve the burgeoning backlog. Most recently we're told that a New system aims to reduce VA disability backlog. Shinseki vows to reduce VA's claims backlog; "We are going to break the back of the backlog this year," Secretary Shinseki said 4/6/2010.
The VA OIG report doesn't do justice to the enormous failure of the DBQ project. This is not a veteran friendly report; "...we believe immediate action is needed to put internal controls in place to help detect and prevent fraud." Veterans are always suspect in the eyes of your VBA.
This VA OIG report focuses on preventing veterans from falsifying reports to the veterans advantage. The report fails to mention that if you search for a DBQ you'll find the message on the VA web site; "Notice: The 48 additional Disability Benefits Questionnaires that were previously available have been removed. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused. We hope to have them available again soon."
Ask the question, "Will VA pay for a Disability Benefits Questionnaire completed by a private physician?" VBA will quickly answer; "No. VA cannot pay for a private physician to complete Disability Benefits Questionnaires or for any costs associated with examination or testing."
That places a DBQ much in the same category as an IME/IMO. Even if the veteran has private insurance through an employer, it's highly unlikely that such an insurance policy would help to defer any of the expense. VAWatchdog is aware that fees to conduct an IME/IMO may cost the veteran from about $1500.00 to $5000.00 directly from the veterans pocket. Physicians don't like filling out forms. Physicians do like paying their bills. Most veterans won't find a qualified physician to help them for no fee.
The report also addresses the The Fast Track Claims Processing System (Fast Track System).
The Fast Track System is designated for use by Vietnam Veterans claiming one or more of the three new Agent Orange presumptive conditions. Medical providers are encouraged to fill out DBQs on the Fast Track System Web site. The Fast Track System will then compile the medical evidence and generate a proposed rating decision for Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) claims processors to review.
This is another of the failed "Fast Track" processes that your VBA is so fond of. Consider this; Most of the IHD claims of Vietnam veterans have been or are being resolved under the Nehmer process. The Nehmer claims process so overburdened the VBA that many Ratings Veterans Service Representatives were taken away from processing "routine" claims to address the Nehmer IHD claims. The backlog grew exponentially while this was occurring.
The MMWR shows us that on February 18th 2012 there were 897,502 claims pending, of which 589,870 are pending over 125 days. Thus, 65.7% of your claims are seriously overdue. During the same time period in 2011 there were 786,949 claims in process with 353,543 pending over 125 days. One year ago 44.9% of all pension and disability claims were past due.
VAWatchdog questions the credibility of the MMWR. We believe that the numbers are softened to present the best possible picture to the reader. For example, "pending over 125 days" does not fully explain just how far past 125 days these claims are. VBA could easily use the phrase "pending over 10 days" and it would have much the same meaning.
"VA developed and implemented DBQs as part of its efforts to help reduce the claims backlog."
It's beyond our understanding why VBA doesn't address the root cause of the backlog problem rather than wasting taxpayer dollars on never ending pipe dreams. The solution is simple. Do it right the first time. The backlog is caused by the extraordinarily high rate of errors at the VARO. Over 70% of decisions are flawed and the veteran must appeal. Appeals are rework and rework is the most time consuming and expensive labor there is. Over 70% of appeals are awarded. The message is clear.
If the VBA began at the beginning to ensure that every claim that issued from the VA Regional Office was absolutely, positively correct, the backlog would vanish. It really is that simple. Until your Department of Veterans Affairs focuses on the real problem...sloppy work at the start of the adjudication process...the backlog of claims will grow, costs to process each claim will rise and the BVA and the CAVC will need more human resources.
Maybe that's the plan...bigger is better in government, isn't it?
