VA works to streamline disability evals

Wounded servicemembers leaving the military will have easier, quicker access to their veterans benefits. VA is expanding its Disability Evaluation System (DES), a pilot program that will offer streamlined disability evaluations for 19 military installations.

VA announced the pilot program's expansion last week; it is testing a new process that eliminates duplicative, time-consuming and often confusing elements of two current disability processes used by VA and DoD.

"Providing servicemembers going through the disability process with comprehensive information about their benefits from both departments - and delivering their VA benefits as fast as possible - is our goal. This single evaluation will help us do just that," said Tom Pamperin, deputy director of VA's Compensation and Pension Service. "The program expansion will allow wounded warriors a smoother and more efficient transition to getting services from the VA."

The expansion started Oct. 1, at Fort Meade, Md., and Fort Belvoir, Va. The remaining 17 installations will be added from November 2008 to May 2009. They are:

Army: Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Drum, N.Y.; Fort Stewart, Ga.; Fort Richardson, Alaska; Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Brooke Army Medical Center, Texas; and Fort Polk, La.

Navy/Marine Corps: Naval Medical Center (NMC) San Diego and Camp Pendleton, Calif.; NMC Bremerton, Wash.; NMC Jacksonville, Fla.; and Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Air Force: Vance Air Force Base, Okla.; Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.; MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.; Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.; and Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

In November 2007, VA and DoD implemented the pilot test for disability cases at the three major military treatment facilities in the Washington, D.C., region. To date, more than 700 servicemembers have participated in the program.

Subscribe to the Legion Online Update

Have you subscribed to the new Legion Online Update? Sign up and get current events delivered to your inbox! Click here to learn more.