Category Archives: vA news

WHERE’S THAT CONFOUNDED VET?

Member Bruce McCartney, our Atlanta bureau chief, sends us this one. Seems the Atlanta VAMC can’t keep track of it’s PTSD inpatients. To add insult to injury , they can’t or won’t take care of the outpatients either. This is … Continue reading

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LATEST ON VA HACKING

As most know, it has finally been disclosed that we have been getting some “supplementary help” from some of our sotto voce allies in the war on the backlog.  A former VA weenie in security reveals that the Chinese have … Continue reading

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Will veterans have to buy health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in January 2014?

There are many uncertainties with the ACA however the answer appears to be NO, eligible veterans (as individuals) can opt VHA without a tax penalty.  However, family members must be enrolled in a government or private health insurance plan.  Why? The VA … Continue reading

Posted in All about Veterans, Guest authors, Uncategorized, vA news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

HORSETRADING AT THE DRO CORRAL

No sooner following its incestuous birth and surreptitious  inauguration,  the brand new (for those of you in St. Petersburg) VA Form 21-0958 NOD (Notice Of Disagreement) is generating friction with attorneys for Veterans. And well it should. Nicknamed the Notice Of Desire … Continue reading

Posted in Tips and Tricks, vA news, Veterans Law | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

$16.8 MILLION IN VA BONUSES PAID IN SPITE OF BACKLOG?

  Jez, where do I apply? Let me in. I have experience in Veterans Affairs. I want some of this walking around money. Here’s another great article from Aaron Glantz over at the Center for Investigative Reporting. He and his crew … Continue reading

Posted in VA BACKLOG, vA news | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

VA FORM 21-0958 VARO INSTRUCTIONS FOR DROs

LawBob Squarepants sends us this tasty morsel. How to… for DROs. Funny also is that on my search engines the other day someone googled LawBob Squarepants. Hell, the man is getting famous. Appeals

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NEW NOD FORM 21-0958 FROM VA

So new they haven’t come out with a .pdf fill outable one yet. Yes siree, Bob. They are getting this down to a science. No more will we send in a 21-4138 and have them misconstrue it as a reopen … Continue reading

Posted in vA news, Veterans Law | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

NEW WEBSITE FOR REAL VA DATA

I’m sure we’ve all read the pablum supplied to us by Under Secretary for Benefits Allison “Wonderland” Hickey and her PR flacks regarding the backlog. Aaron Glantz of the Center for Investigative Reporting has assembled a fancy tool for determining … Continue reading

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HOW DO YOU FIX IT? MO’ MONEY, HONEY.

Member Shawn emailed me this one. Priceless. How do you fix an intractable backlog that refuses to be tamed? Universal approval now with an audit later? No way, Jose. Mo’ money  for them suckers. About $27 billion more to be more precise. … Continue reading

Posted in VA BACKLOG, vA news | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

COLLISION WITH COLLUSION

Member Loyal sends us this one. It’s ugly. I tacked on a comment at the bottom of the article that sums up my feelings on the subject. It reminds me of the second stanza of the old Buffalo Springfield tune … Continue reading

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