Veteran's disability claims can be a complicated issue

By John R. Piepho

This is in response to the Southeast Missourian's Feb. 20 editorial in which it was stated that veterans deserve a more efficient disability claims process than that which they have been receiving. As an individual who processed claims for the Department of Veterans Affairs at the St. Louis Regional Office for 32 years, I agree that every veteran deserves first class service. However, I doubt if most people appreciate how complicated this process becomes in some instances.

To risk over simplification, a rating veterans service representative (RVSR) must render three interrelated findings when service connected to disability benefits is claimed for a condition or chronic illness.

(1) Does the veteran have a condition or illness for which benefits can be paid? In most instances, this is not a difficult determination. However, as pointed out in the Feb. 15 installment of the story about Ms. Sands, some illnesses such as lupus are notoriously difficult to diagnose. As stated in this article, it can take four or five years to do so. The RVSR cannot award benefits until the medical care providers identify the condition for which benefits are claimed.

(2) Did the condition or illness begin while the veteran was on active duty? This is not a difficult determination if an individual lost a foot due to an improvised explosive device. But this can become a difficult determination. For example, consider the situation where the veteran does not claim a joint injury until more than 10 or 20 years after he or she has been released from active duty and then reinjured the same joint while in civilian status.

(3) When service connection is granted, the appropriate level of evaluation must be assigned. For conditions such as hearing loss this is generally a straight forward determination. But for problems such as nerve damage, muscle damage or mental conditions, determining the correct evaluation can be very problematic.

The individuals who work veterans disability claims do their best to resolve difficult situations in a manner which will be fair to the veteran. If the Southeast Missourian can provide workable ideas for making this process more efficient, I am positive they would be welcomed.

John R. Piepho is a retired decision review officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs.