Some See Higher Fraud Risk as More Vets Seek Compensation

They are still at it! Trying to blame veterans again. This article headlines "Some See Higher Fraud Risk as More Vets Seek Compensation, Overloading Doctors" but when you read the article, there are few examples of it happening. Just as in real life, fraud among veterans is pretty rare.

"Regulators have seen evidence that fraud is slipping through. The VA’s Office of the Inspector General says it investigates only a small percentage of complaints it receives about possible false claims, but that “stolen valor” arrests—cases that involve false claims of military service or disability—are on the rise, with 72 arrests so far in 2014, up 71% since 2009."

Does this mean mean frauds are a huge problem or does this mean they simply don't know yet?

Are investigators, doctors and claims processors overworked? You bet but they were before the rules were changed to help Vietnam Veterans file claims for PTSD and Agent Orange after decades of being left behind without hope of getting help to heal.

When we face how long there has been thousands in the backlog of claims, those claims represent a tiny fraction of frauds. The truth is, less than half seek help or compensation even though they need it and earned it. While some see "fraud" others see hope that veterans are finally seeking help.

VA Disability Claims Soar
Some See Higher Fraud Risk as More Vets Seek Compensation, Overloading Doctors
Wall Street Journal
Daniel Huang
October 27, 2014

Requests for disability pay by veterans have ballooned during the past five years, overloading many doctors who evaluate the claims and increasing the possibility of fraud, according to current and former VA staff and government watchdogs.

From fiscal 2009 to 2013, the number of medical disability claims received by the Veterans Benefits Administration—a branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs—climbed 44%, while the number of doctors called upon to evaluate the claims rose only 22%, according to the VA.

“Claims are coming in a lot faster than what the VA is able to handle,” said Daniel Bertoni, a director at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, which investigates federal spending. A March 2013 GAO report found that claims jumped 29% from 2009 to 2011 but the agency processed only 6% more.
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