To encourage Veterans to file Fully Developed Claims (FDCs), Veterans who file their very first (original) disability compensation claim as an FDC from Aug. 6, 2013 through Aug. 5, 2015 may be authorized up to a year of retroactive benefits if eligibility for compensation is established.  The retroactive benefits are a result of a comprehensive legislative package passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama.  Filing an FDC is typically the fastest way for Veterans to receive a decision on their claims.

• Because Veterans filing FDCs receive legally mandated notice through the application process and certify that they have submitted all the evidence they have, VA is able to skip a number of steps in the claims process and go straight to ordering any necessary medical examinations and federal records. This allows VA to issue a decision in half the time of a traditional claim, without sacrificing quality.
• Veterans must file FDCs online through eBenefits or on a paper VA Form 21-526 EZ (March 2013).
• FDCs will help eliminate VA’s disability claims backlog by increasing production while decreasing processing time.  Because they can be completed quickly by eliminating much of the development phase of claims processing, VA assigns FDCs a higher priority than many other claims.
• VA is completing its oldest claims first, and through use of mandatory overtime and implementation of other people, process, and technology improvements, VA is on track to meet our overall goal of eliminating the claims backlog in 2015 by deciding all claims within 125 days with 98-percent accuracy.

The Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro, Delaware will be holding its annual Flag Day ceremony. It will be presented by the Delaware Commission of Veterans of Affairs and hosted by Vietnam Veterans of America at 10:00 a.m. on June 14, 2013.

On June 14, 1777, the second continental Congress adopted the flag of the United States. The United States Army also celebrates the Army birthday on this day; Congress adopted “the American continental army” after reaching a consensus position in the Committee of the Whole on June 14, 1775.   In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14th as Flag Day; min August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an act of Congress. On June 14, 1937, Pennsylvania became the first (and only) U.S. state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday and New York Statutes designated the second Sunday in June as Flag Day.

One of the longest-running Flag Day parades is held annually in Quincy Massachusetts, which began in 19552, celebrating its 63rd year in 2013. The 59th Annual Appleton Wisconsin 2009 Flag Day Parade featured the U.S. Navy. The largest Flag Day parade is held annually in Troy, New York, which bases its parade on the Quincy parade and typically draws 50,000 spectators.

The Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs and La Societe 40&8 will host Memorial Day Service on THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2013 beginning at 10:30 A.M.  The Service will be conducted at the Memorial Bridge Plaza, Delaware Memorial Bridge, New Castle, Delaware.

Following the Bridge Ceremony, the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs and The Air Force Sergeants Association will conduct a service at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 2:00 P.M. The service will be held on the Parade Field of the Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, Delaware.

If you have any questions please contact the Commission office at (302) 739-2792.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2013

VA Mandates Overtime to Increase Production of Compensation Claims Decisions

Latest Initiative aimed at reducing the backlog

WASHINGTON – As part of its ongoing effort to accelerate the elimination of the disability compensation claims backlog, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing today that it is mandating overtime for claims processors in its 56 regional benefits offices. This surge, which will be implemented through the end of fiscal year 2013, will be used to help eliminate the backlog with continued emphasis on high-priority claims for homeless Veterans and those claiming financial hardship, the terminally ill, former Prisoners of War, Medal of Honor recipients, and Veterans filing Fully Developed Claims.

“VA is dedicated to providing Veterans with the care and benefits they have earned and deserve,” said VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. “This increased overtime initiative will provide more Veterans with decisions on their claims and will help us achieve our goal of eliminating the claims backlog.”

This is the latest effort in support of the Secretary’s plan to reduce the backlog. Last month, VA announced an initiative to expedite compensation claims decisions for Veterans who have waited one year or longer.   On April 19, VA began prioritizing claims decisions for Veterans who have been waiting the longest, by providing provisional decisions that allow eligible Veterans to begin collecting compensation benefits quickly.  With a provisional decision, a Veteran has a year to submit additional information to support a claim before the decision becomes final.  More information can be found here.

“We’re committed to getting Veterans decisions on their claims as quickly and accurately as possible,” said Undersecretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. “We need to surge our resources now to help those who have waited the longest and end the backlog.”

Claims for Wounded Warriors separating from the military for medical reasons will continue to be handled separately and on a priority basis with the Department of Defense through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES). On average, Wounded Warriors separating through IDES currently receive VA compensation benefits in 2 months following their separation from service.

Veterans can learn more about disability benefits on the joint Department of Defense—VA web portal eBenefits at http://www.ebenefits.va.gov.

More information about filing Fully Developed Claims is available at: http://www.benefits.va.gov/transformation/fastclaims/.

Health and Fitness Event Will Run During Vermont Avenue Farmer’s Market

The Department of Veterans Affairs will raise awareness of heart disease in women, particularly women Veterans and VA employees, at a “VA Goes Red” health expo Thursday, Sep. 27, outside VA’s central office at 810 Vermont Avenue. The event will run in conjunction with the FRESHFARM farmer’s market held at the same location from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

“We are proud to team with the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Go Red For Women movement to raise awareness of heart disease in women Veterans and VA staff,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “This event not only highlights our commitment to care for women Veterans, but it’s also a great opportunity to share information about cardiovascular disease and prevention.”

Activities will include healthy cooking demonstrations, fitness classes, health screenings and CPR instruction. VA’s Undersecretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey and Principal Deputy Undersecretary for Health, Dr. Robert Jesse, a cardiologist, will speak during the programmed portion from noon to 1:00 p.m. AHA President Donna Arnett, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., and chairperson of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, will also speak during the event.

“With the number of female Veterans and women in the military rising, and Go Red For Women entering its 10th year, now is the time to unite in the fight against the number one killer of women and advocate for an increase in women-focused research,” said Dr. Arnett. “Currently, 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease, so we’re thankful for the opportunity to provide thousands of women with life-saving information about their personal risks through our relationship with VA.”

VA and the AHA announced their collaboration in May. By combining efforts, the
organizations can maximize their resources and share Go Red For Women’s messages and tools
with women Veterans and VA employees.

The farmer’s market—which opened as a result of First Lady Michelle Obama’s mission
to make healthy food options more accessible to the DC population—provides an ideal venue to
discuss heart disease prevention strategies, which include exercise and healthy eating.

Women serve in every branch of the military, representing 15 percent of today’s active
duty military and nearly 18 percent of National Guard and Reserve forces. By 2020, VA
estimates women Veterans will constitute 10 percent of the Veteran population.

Visit www.va.gov/womenvet and www.womenshealth.va.gov to learn more about VA
programs and services for women Veterans.