VA ServiceConnected Claims and IDES Lynda Hurley VBA

VA Service-Connected Claims and IDES Lynda Hurley VBA Officer-In-Charge Walter Reed Army Medical Center & National Naval Medical Center

“To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan…” Abraham Lincoln

Disability Compensation UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO

Establishing Service Connection + Current Disability or Condition + Injury or Illness in Service UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO Nexus

NOT Disability Examples µ Acute & transitory illnesses µ Pain µ Age related vision changes µ Most dental conditions µ Lab results/findings UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO

IMPORTANT NOTE: Disabilities do not have to be incurred in combat or during a period of war. UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO

Grant if you can; Deny if must!

Compensation • Compensation is tax free • Establishes eligibility for other benefits • Receipt of retired pay and VA compensation now being phased in for some retirees • Severance and Separation Pay still prohibited in most cases • VA rating is independent of any military rating • Extra allowance for dependents UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO

Related Benefits • • • VA Medical care for all SC conditions $10, 000 life insurance VA loan funding fee waived Civil Service Preference Additional Special Monthly Compensation added for loss of limb, organ, etc. Automobile Grant • • Automobile-Adaptive Equipment • Clothing Allowance • Special Adaptive Housing Grant UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO

Time Limits No time limit to apply for compensation. – Apply within one year of separation -- Entitlement effective from the date of retirement. – Apply later than one year of separation -- Entitlement effective from the date VA receives the claim. UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO

IDES Claims • Do. D and VA collaboration • Reduce redundancies • Standardization Across Services (where possible) • Reduce time to start of VA benefits

IDES Pilot Timeline Overview Reintegrate Examine Do. D Rate Treatment Transition MEB or Separate Compensate PEB One Physical Physician assesses and treats Service member Up to 1 year Formal Board (30 days) Physical Exam (35 days) Case Development (30 days) Admin and Record transit (15 days) 80 days VA VA Rating Informal Board (15 days) Service member is wounded, il, or injured Examine Appeal (30 days) Single Rating Agency Rate Compensate Transition Reintegrate Seamless Transition Proposed Rating (15 days) Return to Duty OR Separate Rating Reconsideration (15 days) Admin and Record transit (15 days) 120 days Finalize DES Separate: Disposition • PDRL • TDRL • w/ or w/out severance VA benefits letter one month following separation Process to Unit or for separation VA Appeals 45 days 30 days=275 days

Questions? UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO

Lynda Hurley VBA Officer-In-Charge Walter Reed Army Medical Center & National Naval Medical Center • Office: 202 -782 -6852 • Fax: 202 -782 -5172 • Cell: 202 -255 -4761 Lynda. Hurley@va. gov Lynda. Hurley@us. army. mil UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO