House Hearing on Awarding 100 Percent Temporary Disability Ratings and Overpayments

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, at 2 P.M., in Room 334 of the Cannon House Office Building, the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs will hold a hearing focusing on the VA's system for awarding 100 percent temporary disability ratings to veterans. A January 2011 report from the VA's Office of the Inspector General found that the Veterans Benefits Administration was incorrectly evaluating and monitoring 100 percent disability evaluations, resulting in nearly $943 million in benefit payments without adequate medical evidence since 1993.  The same report found that if the VBA does not take timely corrective action, it will overpay veterans a projected $1.1 billion over the next 5 years. Despite assurances from the VA that these problems would be fixed no later than June 30, 2012, subsequent investigations have revealed widespread issues with 100 percent disability ratings at multiple VA locations.

 

Given that the VA continues to waste tax payer dollars through a continued failure to process 100 percent temporary disability ratings correctly, this hearing will examine what steps the VA has taken to remedy the problem and what steps they are taking moving forward.  The following event is open to the press:

   

 

WHO:             Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs

WHAT:          Hearing: "The 100 Percent Temporary Disability Rating: An Examination of Its Effective Use"

WHEN:          2:00 P.M., Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013

WHERE:       Room 334, Cannon House Office Building and streaming at veterans.house.gov

 

WITNESS LIST

Panel 1

Mr. Rick Weidman

Executive Director for Policy and Government Affairs

Vietnam Veterans of America

 

Ms. Linda Halliday

Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations

Office of the Inspector General,

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

 

Accompanied by:

 

Mr. Larry Reinkemeyer

Director, Kansas City Audit Operations Division

Office of the Inspector General,

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

 

Mr. Brent Arronte

Director, San Diego Benefits Inspection Division

Office of the Inspector General,

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

 

Panel 2

Ms. Diana Rubens

Deputy Under Secretary for Field Operations

Veterans Benefits Administration

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

 

Statement for the Record

Mr. Carl Blake

National Legislative Director

Paralyzed Veterans of America

 

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Sean Eagan
American Cold War Veterans, Inc.

Web:	http://americancoldwarvets.org/
Blog:	Cold War Veterans Blog
Email:	Sean.Eagan@gmail.com
Phone:	716 720-4000
Network:	My Fast Pitch! Profile