Good Afternoon And Happy Hump Day
Good afternoon and happy hump day! In reviewing and considering the papers in their totality, a few thoughts came to mind. I am not privy to some of the information that you are so; I realize that I may be a day late and a dollar short.
1) Three issues will potentially increase VBA’s workload in the near future, and garner significant attention from Congress and the media.
a) Camp Lejeune Presumptive Conditions
b) Character of Discharge (potential review of previous administrative decisions and re-adjudication based on amended regulations
c) Equitable Relief (for the Veterans identified during the national TBI review)
It is conceivable, given the visibility of these issues in the media and the level of Congressional interest, that
upon review of these issue papers, the landing team will seek additional information regarding any plans VBA has drafted to date. This would include efforts in updating the live manual (which looks to be well underway in the case of CLJ), staff training plans, and information on reexamination and reprocessing efforts, as briefed to VSOs regarding TBI re-adjudication. I propose to have these in place should the landing team request this or similar information. If not, I would assume that the administration would include this information as part of the briefing materials provided, upon confirmation and onboarding of a new USB.
2) Deconsolidation of Pre-Discharge Sites – Propose preparing a document to include in briefing materials, upon confirmation and onboarding of a new USB. This paper would provide some historical background regarding the centralization (VA Claims Processing Task Force, October 2001) to present decentralization efforts. I feel this is an important issue for a new administration as this is proposed to occur about the time VBA would onboard a new USB.
1) Three issues will potentially increase VBA’s workload in the near future, and garner significant attention from Congress and the media.
a) Camp Lejeune Presumptive Conditions
b) Character of Discharge (potential review of previous administrative decisions and re-adjudication based on amended regulations
c) Equitable Relief (for the Veterans identified during the national TBI review)
It is conceivable, given the visibility of these issues in the media and the level of Congressional interest, that
upon review of these issue papers, the landing team will seek additional information regarding any plans VBA has drafted to date. This would include efforts in updating the live manual (which looks to be well underway in the case of CLJ), staff training plans, and information on reexamination and reprocessing efforts, as briefed to VSOs regarding TBI re-adjudication. I propose to have these in place should the landing team request this or similar information. If not, I would assume that the administration would include this information as part of the briefing materials provided, upon confirmation and onboarding of a new USB.
2) Deconsolidation of Pre-Discharge Sites – Propose preparing a document to include in briefing materials, upon confirmation and onboarding of a new USB. This paper would provide some historical background regarding the centralization (VA Claims Processing Task Force, October 2001) to present decentralization efforts. I feel this is an important issue for a new administration as this is proposed to occur about the time VBA would onboard a new USB.