United Spinal Association, through its veterans service program, VetsFirst, draws upon its 60-year legacy of advocating for the rights of veterans with disabilities, their families and survivors to provide a wide variety of services nationwide.
VetsFirst’s 2010 public policy priorities work toward systemic changes that must be realized to ensure the continued health and welfare of all veterans with disabilities to allow greater self-sufficiency.
In order to accomplish these changes, VetsFirst has developed a robust public policy agenda to address the main areas of concern for veterans from all eras and their loved ones. These policies attempt to provide substantive solutions to remedy core deficiencies in the current VA health care and benefits systems.
The following is an overview of VetsFirst’s top five legislative priorities.
1. Access to Health Care Services
Veterans with disabilities must have access to needed health care services through the VA health care system, including appropriate mental health services. In order to ensure that these services are available to veterans of all eras, Congress must continue to invest in the Veterans Health Administration’s workforce by providing sufficient funding and the vigilant oversight necessary to allow the VA’s current health care delivery capacity and infrastructure to keep pace with increased present and future demands.
Due, in large part, to inadequacies in the VA health care system, a substantial number of veterans are accessing health care through community-based, non-VA, providers and services. The VA must fully recognize the importance of veterans being able to receive a wide variety of services in their communities and develop robust partnerships to ensure that these services will be available to veterans when and where they need them. These partnerships will allow the VA to assist greater numbers of veterans who may not otherwise seek VA health care without suffering decreased capacity associated with serving greater numbers of patients in its existing medical facilities.
2. Reforming the VA Claims Adjudication System and Process
Despite continued efforts to reduce the overwhelming backlog of VA claims and appeals, approximately one million veterans and other VA benefits claimants are currently enduring lingering waiting periods for final decisions on their claims for VA disability compensation and other vitally needed benefits. Since establishing entitlement to VA disability benefits is often the gateway into the VA health care system, these delays prevent veterans from receiving critical health care that could save their lives or prevent current disabilities from worsening. Previous increases in funding and staffing levels for the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) have not been effective in reducing the backlog of claims and appeals.
Successfully reforming the VA claims process will require fundamental, systemic changes in VBA’s policies, procedures, quality assurance programs, training methods, staff and supervisory accountability, and forecasting business needs. Congress must take immediate action to prevent the VBA from collapsing under the crushing weight of existing and incoming benefits claims.
Reforming the VA claims adjudication process alone, however, will not resolve the problems associated with the VA’s disability compensation program. A systemic reformation of substantive regulations and adjudicative principles is long overdue. This will require a comprehensive review and analysis of the antiquated VA Schedule of Rating Disabilities and the evidentiary requirements necessary to establish entitlement to VA disability benefits in order to modernize and refine the VA claims adjudication process.
3. Increased Employment Opportunities for Veterans with Disabilities
Even during periods of prosperity, all people with disabilities are underrepresented in the nation’s workforce. As efforts to create jobs during these difficult economic times progress, every effort must be made to ensure that veterans with disabilities are able to participate in our nation’s economy. Providing meaningful, accessible employment opportunities allows veterans to successfully reintegrate into their communities and families.
4. Housing and Homelessness
VA programs that seek to address the unique housing requirements of veterans with disabilities must be adjusted to meet current need levels. For example, the VA’s Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI) program coverage limit, which has not been adjusted in approximately 17 years, is woefully inadequate to protect families in the event of the veteran’s death. For many veterans, other avenues to cover such costs are simply not accessible. Further, current VA special adaptive housing grant amounts must be increased to ensure that veterans with severe disabilities are able to successfully navigate their homes and remain in their communities.
5. Supports for Families and Survivors
Many families of veterans with disabilities play a crucial role in providing needed services and supports that allow veterans to return to, and remain in, their homes and communities. The sacrifice of family caregivers not only supports veterans, but also supports the VA in its mission. Congress must ensure that family caregivers have the tools and supports needed to fulfill this critical function.
Other Issues of Importance
- Community-based services for veterans with disabilities.
- Cross-generational research on the effects of exposure to hazardous substances.
- Streamlining the transition from soldier to veteran.
- Enhancing education opportunity and benefit programs.
