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Disability Claims Initiative Reduces Processing Time, Adds Convenience

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a new initiative that could eliminate the requirement for an in-person medical examination for some Veterans and shorten the time it takes to process Veterans’ disability compensation claims.

 

The initiative is called Acceptable Clinical Evidence (ACE).  This initiative was developed by both the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) in a joint effort to provide a Veteran-centric approach for disability examinations.  Use of the ACE process opens the possibility of doing assessments without an in-person examination when there is sufficient information in the record. Click here to read the full ACE release.

 

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VA Announces New Online Resources for Funeral Directors

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today the availability of the new online funeral directors resource kit.  Funeral directors nationwide may use the kit when helping Veterans and their families make burial arrangements in VA national cemeteries.

“We recognize that Veterans and their families need compassion when they approach funeral directors for help,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We want to assist directors by giving them the information and tools they need to aid these families.”

The website was created to enable funeral directors to find the most pertinent information to help families plan burials and apply for VA memorial benefits quickly. It has links about eligibility, benefits and services plus videos and information regarding services offered with and without military funeral honors. The videos are available in English and Spanish.  The website is available at http://www.cem.va.gov/funeraldirector.asp.

 

VA maintains 3.2 million gravesites in 131 VA national cemeteries and interred more than 118,000 Veterans and family members in fiscal year 2012. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the Internet at www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 800-827-1000.  To make burial arrangements at the time of need at a VA national cemetery, call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.