As part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ continued efforts to improve timeliness of services for Veterans and their families, VA unveiled the Decision Ready Claims (DRC) initiative, a disability claims submission option with accredited Veterans service organizations (VSO) that promises to deliver faster claims decisions to Veterans and their families.

“The DRC initiative is a collaborative effort between VA and VSOs to help Veterans receive faster decisions on disability claims,” said VA Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin. “VA works closely with participating VSOs to make sure they are properly trained in this new process and given the tools they need to participate successfully in the program on behalf of the Veterans they serve.”

Veterans who choose to submit their claim under DRC can expect to receive a decision within 30 days from the time VA receives the claim. VSOs will ensure all supporting evidence — such as medical exams, military service records, etc. — is included with the claim submission. This advance preparation by the VSOs allows claims to be assigned immediately to claims processors for a quick decision.

DRC was first implemented May 1, 2017, at the St. Paul, Minnesota Regional Office, and is now available at all VA regional offices. While DRC is currently limited to claims for increased compensation (commonly known as claims for increase), and requires Veterans to work with VSOs, VA’s goal is to expand the types of claims accepted under the initiative and allow Veterans other ways to submit their claim under DRC.

DRC is another key step in aggressively modernizing VA’s benefits delivery to Veterans in a fully digital operating environment. With electronic claims processing as a foundation, VA’s innovation will improve service to Veterans, their families, and survivors.

 

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16 Comments

  1. phillip r. cooper September 29, 2017 at 14:33

    It took me 10 years+ to get service connected from agent orange with a 0% that’s makes no since to me.

  2. john s. September 26, 2017 at 06:54

    The shame of it is that so many incompetent VSOs are out there. One guy I know went to DAV and they refused to file a claim for him because his condition was not on the presumed list. This program is nothing but prejudice against the veteran who puts time in to do his own claims, or helps others put their own claim in.

  3. Corey Duquette September 22, 2017 at 15:57

    Lie, this new program is not what it appears. I have had my DRC claim in since the beginning of the year. The VFW sent in 400+ pages of VA medical records, private care facility documents, doctors statements, peer statements, and personal statements. My claim keeps going from preparing for decision back to gathering of evidence and they send out VA forms that I have already submitted with my DRC claim. You can’t ever get through to anyone on the phone to ask why this is happening and the chat box online is a joke they only help you login to your account. I have sent emails and I get a kick back email saying someone will be in contact within 5-7 business days, however, no one ever contacts me.

  4. Barbara M Lewis September 22, 2017 at 15:09

    I’m sorry to hear the bad experiences you all have been having however for the record I would like to say I wrote to the secretary and I got a response and it was a positive response my problem came when I had to go to the same regional office that I was having the problems at. Once someone from the secretary office got involved that’s when the retaliation hit and now things are not going so good but I’m not giving up and neither should any of you. I’m going to write to the secretary again, he helped me before and I believe he will help me again.

  5. bruce gaylord September 22, 2017 at 13:07

    That’s all well and good for those who were able to access such help but what about us poor dummies who have had to submit appeals, and addenda to the appeal, as my VA clinic has added additional medications to my treatment for PTSD.

    To quote a number placed on line by the Indianapolis mail VA office, it will take 333 days to work through their system and every time, I had to update my appeal, I went to the bottom of the heap, again and again.

    A fellow vet in Texas told me, they hired outside consultants to get the workload down. It seems that the rest of the main offices could do the same for the vets, languishing in their holding pattern. Maybe its just a ploy to see if they can out wait the vet and he dies of old, uncompensated, age.

    Bruce Gaylord

  6. Jason Rusbuldt September 8, 2017 at 18:55

    John Joseph Meade, if it wasn’t “Service-Connected” you won’t be getting paid for it.

  7. John Joseph Meade September 8, 2017 at 15:30

    Dear Sirs,
    I am still waiting for the retroactive monies to be released from claim that VA stated that I was incompetent in 2011 and was found competent in 2017.
    Respectfully,
    John Joseph Meade

  8. Sandy Stufflebeam September 8, 2017 at 10:54

    I do not believe that the Va secretary even looks at these comments. I wrote to him and sent it certified mail, months ago, no answer. I requested help from my local senator, no help. Our country did not get that response from the Veterans that serviced and sacrificed when we were called on. suicide is not a bad idea.

  9. romulo b. montoya September 8, 2017 at 06:43

    Believe this will be a great relief for veterans and their families.

  10. John Joseph Meade September 7, 2017 at 22:27

    Dear Honorable David J Shulkin,
    Filed a claim that I was competent in 2011, as the VA found me incompetent.In 2017 the VA set up a Compensation and Pension exam at the Manchester VAMC Manchester,New Hampshire and was found competent to handel my own funds.
    The VA said I requested an audit and to withhold retro payments which I never requested either one of these requests.
    I will fully appreciate all efforts made in this matter of concern to me.
    Respectfully,
    John Joseph Meade

  11. MARK RAUNSER September 7, 2017 at 21:07

    BLANKET STATEMENT FROM THE SEC, OF VETERAN AFFAIRS STATED THAT ALL VETERANS CAN GET THIER HEALTH CARE AND ENTITLEMENTS. on national TV. Then WHY our mine BEING denied when it is either NON- SERVICE OR SERVICE CONNECTED MARK USNR/USN

  12. Tom Miller September 7, 2017 at 19:12

    To bad the systems rigged. I’ve had more issues with the VSO’ moral turpitude than the VA’s duplicitous nature of Cultural Organizational behavioral actions. Can’t wait for these unaccountable corrupted VA decision makers to meet there maker come judgement day. Good luck there you unscrupulous demonic cheats.

  13. Ray Hudgins September 7, 2017 at 16:35

    This is for you

  14. Ray Hudgins September 7, 2017 at 16:33

    Decision Ready Claims

  15. Brian P. Sinykin September 7, 2017 at 16:10

    All this does is guarantee you will get a decline. decision in 30 days. Most claims that are more complicated. I find veterans service organization are un equipped legally to handle most claims.. You really need an attorney to handle it and then you still need to vet them also.

  16. DougJHarper September 7, 2017 at 15:54

    God Bless Trump otherwise this would have never happened! Also need quick doctor visits with no delay! Same day or next day visits esp for emergency cases!

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