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Easing the Transition to the VA One of the most disturbing discoveries in recent years was of the horrific problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Not only were wounded soldiers living in dilapidated quarters - now known as Building 18 - but it was also revealed that the transition process for many soldiers from DoD to VA was broken - both for health care and disability benefits. Computers couldn't talk to each other, veterans were drowning in paperwork, and the bureaucracy created needless headaches and obstacles. After these problems were discovered by the media, Senator Rockefeller went to work to fix them. As a result, Congress passed the Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act of 2007, legislation that addresses many of the problems soldiers face when transitioning from active duty to the veterans' health care system. The bill requires the Pentagon and the VA to develop a comprehensive policy on the care, management and transition from the military to VA or civilian life for service members with combat-related injuries or illnesses. Rockefeller noted that this legislation will go a long way toward giving veterans the resources and support they need to transition back into civilian life. The legislation has several important features. It calls for the military adoption of the VA presumption that a disease or injury is presumed to be incidental to service when the member has six months or more of active duty - and the disability was not noted at the time the member entered active duty. It requires military departments to use VA standards to make disability determinations, and prohibit deviation from VA standards except to give the service member a higher disability rating. It establishes a board to review disability determinations of service members who are or were separated between September 11, 2001, and December 31, 2009, with a disability rating of 20% or less. It increases severance pay for service members separated with less than 30% disability. And, it requires the Secretary of Defense to establish uniform standards for military medical treatment facilities, specialty medical care facilities, and military quarters housing patients. |
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