| Veterans
News Flash 
VA Expands Protections for Veterans with Missing Paperwork
Peake: Benefit of
Doubt for Vets, Accountability for VA Staff
November 17, 2008
WASHINGTON – The
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced
special procedures for processing claims from
veterans, family members, and survivors whose
applications for financial benefits from VA
may have been mishandled by VA personnel.
These special procedures
come after an audit by VA’s Inspector General found documents
waiting to be shredded at some of VA’s
regional offices that, if disposed of, could
have affected the financial benefits awarded
to veterans and survivors.
“I am deeply concerned that improper actions
by a few VA employees could have caused any veterans
to receive less than their full entitlement to
benefits earned by their service to our nation,” said
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.
“In rectifying this unacceptable lapse,
VA will be guided by two principles – full
accountability for VA staff and ensuring veterans
receive the benefit of the doubt if receipt of
a document by VA is in question,” he added.
VA worked with the
six largest veterans service organizations
in developing these special new procedures.
The procedures will assist veterans and survivors
in establishing that an application or another
document was previously submitted to VA, but
was not properly acted upon by VA and was not
retained in the veteran’s records.
The special procedures cover missing documents
submitted by a veteran or other applicant for
VA benefits during the 18-month period between
April 14, 2007 and October 14, 2008.
VA will process any missing applications or
evidence resubmitted under these special procedures
as if the document had been originally submitted
on the date identified by the claimant.
Veterans and other applicants have one year,
or until November 17, 2009, to file previously
submitted documents under these special procedures.
Veterans not covered by these special rules
who believe relevant material is missing from
their files can submit additional documentation
at any time. An award of benefits earlier than
April 14, 2007, may be established if there is
credible corroborating evidence supporting an
earlier date of document submission.
When this problem
of mishandled documents was uncovered on October
14, 2008, VA immediately ceased all shredding
activities while it established tighter controls
over all claims documents and conducted special
training for all employees who process veterans’ applications.
All regional office shredding equipment and
operations are now under the strict control of
the facility records management officer. Every
employee has been given a separate receptacle
for papers appropriate for shredding. These receptacles
are subject to review by supervisors and other
officials.
Before any claims document can be shredded now,
it must now be reviewed by two people and the
facility records management officer.
VA’s Inspector
General is continuing to investigate a small
number of cases where inappropriate shredding
may be traceable to a specific employee. Legal
and disciplinary action will be initiated to
hold accountable any employee who has acted
improperly.
Veterans and others who are concerned about
missing documents and want more information on
the special processing procedures may call 1-800-827-1000
for assistance or go to our website at http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/specialprocedures_qa.asp.
They may also send an e-mail inquiry through
IRIS@va.gov or visit their local VA regional
office.
VA representatives
will review VA’s record
systems to verify receipt of applications and
supporting evidence and will assist anyone desiring
to file a claim under the special processing
procedures for missing documents.
SOURCE:
Department of Veteran Affairs
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