Another reminder of how much the VA loves the Veterans they're supposed to serve: LA Office sending claims files to the shredder

The Veteran's Administration has one primary function: to take care of veterans as agreed when we raised our right hands and pledged to put our lives on the line if need be to defend this great nation.

There are two glaring weaknesses in the VA's execution of that plan; one likely political (medical care) and the other absolutely political, disability claims.

That major league incompetent in the White House ran on a platform in 08 that included ending the disability backlog.

So what does he do?

He goes out and gets Eric "Black Beret" Shinseki to take over and screw up the VA, causing the disability claim backlog to explode like a nuclear warhead.

While I may very well qualify for some disability based on my service (Ankles, knees, high blood pressure, practically deaf, screwed up neck, certain neurological issues of unknown origins and the like) I have yet to file for any.

Why bother?

At some point, I may have to.  But I have no trouble waiting behind the line of kids back from Iraq or Afghanistan or any of the other places they've been sent at our command, so their issues can be addressed.

Meanwhile, my own medical issues pale in comparison... but I don't hold a lot of hope for the future as my condition deteriorates.

And part of that is that the facilities are far undersized and understaffed to serve the growing veteran population.

We, of course, have billions to waste on illegal aliens... but not so much to keep this nations promises to a veteran population who made the same mistake so many others have in the past:

We believed our government.

Disability claims are in much, much worse shape than they were when the current regime came into power.  But that's the kind of risk you run when your President hates the military.

He's got no use for us when we're in uniform... he certainly has no use for us when we're out.

After all, there's Obamaphones to buy and all that... vacations to go on... golf to play.

And so what's happening now?

The files of these veterans... are being shredded.

And does that send us a message... or not?

Wednesday | August 19, 2015

By Byron York

•

08/17/15 10:49 PM

A report said if the Veterans Affairs OIG had not stepped in, "it is likely that. ... staff would have inappropriately destroyed the nine claims-related documents we found." (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg)

VA caught sending veterans' mail to the shredder

By Pete Kasperowicz • 8/18/15 4:48 PM 

The government watchdog for the Department of Veterans Affairs reported Monday that it was able to substantiate claims that the VA's Los Angeles office was sending mail from veterans to the shredder.

The VA's Office of Inspector General said it launched an "unannounced inspection" of the Los Angeles office after hearing allegations that the VA staff there was shredding mail related to veterans' disability compensation claims. Though the OIG said it can't measure how often this might have happened, it did say it found some examples of mail lined up for the shredder that instead should have been opened and read.

"Although we cannot quantify or identify claims-related documents that the VARO may have shredded prior to our review, we found nine claims-related documents that VARO staff incorrectly placed in personal shred bins for non-claims related documents," the OIG reported. "Eight of the nine documents had the potential to affect veterans' benefits and one had no effect on the veteran's benefits."

The OIG said the placement of these letters in "shred bins" means that they were able to bypass the first level of control, which requires letters to be reviewed before they are shredded.

"Of the nine claims-related documents, five did not have required initials of both the employee and supervisor and the remaining four had only the employee's initials," the report said. "If ... staff and their supervisors followed VBA policy, these nine claims-related documents would not have been placed in personal shred bins that are designated for non-claims related documents."

The report said if the OIG had not stepped in, "it is likely that. ... staff would have inappropriately destroyed the nine claims-related documents we found."

It added that a records management officer was supposed to be on staff in Los Angeles to prevent this from happening, but said there was no one in that position from August 2014 until February 2015. The original records officer was promoted, and the office's assistant director "determined that it was not necessary to fill the ... position."

Officials who tried to take over that role "lacked training regarding maintaining, reviewing, protecting and appropriately destroying veterans' and other governmental paper records," the report said.

The OIG said the Los Angeles office couldn't provide any documentation at all on what documents it had shredded over the past two years.

The watchdog recommended that the Los Angeles office should "implement a plan and assess the effectiveness of training" when it comes to handling, processing and destroying these records.

"The arbitrary destruction of mail by officials at the Los Angeles VA is a stark reminder of the need for true reform of the Veterans Administration," said Concerned Veterans for America CEO Pete Hegseth. "Rather than make sure each veteran's voice was heard, and each claim was handled professionally, VA officials instead effectively silenced those who fought for our freedom and security, casually sending their letters to the shredder."

A few years back, my son was very big on joining the Marine Corps.

I talked him out of it because I told him that such an effort had to matter.

If he came back in a box, it had to be for a reason that mattered.

If he came back in pieces, I couldn't put him back together again.

If he came back with his head messed up... it might be a life sentence.

And no matter how he came back, he could NOT count on a Veteran's Administration that will not... or cannot... provide the care and support they will promise to get your name on the dotted line.

0311

Light Weapons Infantry.

I thank God every day that he was receptive enough and I was persuasive enough to talk him out of it.

And that decision on my part... that conclusion... is reinforced every time I read another story or watch another video where the guys (mostly) have needed help... been promised help... and the help hasn't been there.

And no one in a position to do anything about... cares.

Those involved in this criminal activity should be fired and prosecuted.  Statistically, at least one of those 9 fortunate enough to have their files saved will be dead before a decision is made in their case.

Dead.

And how does that help?  And what is anyone doing about it except trying to make political points?