Thursday, February 17, 2011

Boise-RO Has 30% Error Rate, VAOIG Report No. 10-03858-92

Inspection of the VA Regional Office Boise, ID

Report Number 10-03858-92, 2/17/2011 | Full Report (PDF)

The Benefits Inspection Division conducts onsite inspections at VA Regional Offices (VAROs) to review disability compensation claims processing and Veterans Service Center operations.

The Boise VARO staff corrected errors identified by the Veterans Benefits Administration’s (VBA) Systematic Technical Accuracy Review program. In general, VARO staff established correct dates of claim in the electronic record and followed VBA mail handling procedures. Additionally, the VARO staff generally processed post-traumatic stress disorder disability claims accurately. The VARO needs to improve the control and accuracy of processing disability claims for temporary 100 percent disability evaluations, traumatic brain injury, and herbicide exposure. Overall, VARO staff did not accurately process 30 (30 percent) of the 101 disability claims reviewed. Controls also need strengthening to ensure timely processing of Notices of Disagreement for appealed claims as well timely and complete Systematic Analyses of Operations. We recommended the Boise VARO Director ensure staff review all temporary 100 percent disability evaluations to determine if reevaluations are required and take appropriate actions. We recommended VARO management implement controls to ensure the staff establishes reminder notifications for temporary 100 percent disability reevaluations. We recommended that VARO management provide refresher training on the proper procedures for processing traumatic brain injury claims and implement an additional level of review for all TBI rating decisions prior to finalizing those decisions. We also recommended VARO management strengthen controls to ensure timely establishment of Notices of Disagreement in the Veterans Appeals Control and Locator System as well as implement a plan to ensure timely and complete preparation of Systematic Analysis of Operations. The Director of the Boise VARO concurred with all recommendations. Management’s planned actions are responsive and we will follow up as required on all actions.

Researchers Show Link Between Trauma and Alcohol Dependence

"“We found evidence that some of the genetic factors that contribute to PTSD also contribute to alcohol dependence,” she explains."

Full Article at:
"The results showed elevated rates of alcohol dependence in women with PTSD. One in three of the women suffering from PTSD developed alcohol dependence, but it was not just women who developed PTSD after experiencing a traumatic event who were at higher risk for becoming alcohol dependent. Although these women had the highest rates of alcohol dependence, women who experienced trauma but did not develop PTSD had double the rates of alcohol dependence of women with no history of trauma: 14.8 percent to 7.3 percent."

“We found evidence that some of the genetic factors that contribute to PTSD also contribute to alcohol dependence,” she explains. “That means women with a family history of either PTSD or alcohol-related problems are more susceptible to both disorders.”

Dayton Area Congresmen Call for Investigation into Lack Of Oversight

Full Article at: Lawmakers urge investigation into oversight of VA dental clinic
josmith@coxohio.com

DAYTON — "Three Dayton area congressmen are calling for an investigation into the lack of oversight that allowed a dentist at a Dayton VA Medical Center clinic to violate medical standards for nearly two decades, potentially exposing hundreds of veterans to blood-borne pathogens.

On Wednesday, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio; and Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, sent a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, urging him to order a review of oversight practices at the Dayton VA.

“The fact that our veterans could have been exposed to infection, let alone over the past 18 years, without any intervention from supervisors at the Dayton VA is outrageous,” Turner said. “Secretary Shinseki must take steps towards righting this wrong.”