VA to automate Agent Orange claims process

[unhappycamper]

VA to automate Agent Orange claims process
By Gregg Zoroya - USA Today
Posted : Monday Mar 8, 2010 21:58:40 EST

WASHINGTON — The Veterans Affairs Department plans to announce Tuesday that it will fully automate how it pays claims for illnesses related to exposure to the chemical Agent Orange to keep an overburdened system from collapse.

It is the VA’s first effort at automating claims processing in its 80-year history, VA chief technology officer Peter Levin said. It comes as the agency struggles to cut a backlog of more than 1 million disability claims, appeals and other cases.

The system “is likely to break” if nothing is done, Levin said.

“Look, the bottom line is why the hell they didn’t do (automation) 30 years ago,” said John Rowan, national president of Vietnam Veterans of America. “The question is whether they will do it right.”

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki took office last year and said no disability claim should take longer than four months to process. However, department records show that almost 40 percent take an average of 161 days to process, VA records show, and that will increase to 190 days without automation.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/03/usat_va_agent_orange_030810/

[Statistical]

1. Now? 35 years after end of vietnam. Is this some kind of sad joke?

Sigh. Knowing the VA it isn't.

As bad as the govt/VA treats current vets the way they treated (and continue to treat) Vietnam Vets should shame all Americans.
It is disgusting and pathetic.

[WhiteTara]

2. but it is happening now

watch to make sure it's done correctly.