New disability process set to expand soon

[unhappycamper]

New disability process set to expand soon
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Nov 6, 2008 10:05:00 EST

A limited test of a streamlined system to more speedily and equitably evaluate wounded and injured troops will be expanded over the next seven months from the Washington, D.C., area to 16 additional installations in the continental United States, the Department of Veterans Affairs says.

The pilot program, launched 11 months ago at three D.C.-area military hospitals and expanded Oct. 1 to two others, aims to replace the cumbersome evaluation system exposed by the 2007 Walter Reed scandal with a single exam and disability rating that officials say is cutting in half the time spent in the system from a recommendation for medical evaluation to either medical separation or return to duty.

The program, which officials emphasize is a work in progress, has done just that, said Tom Pamperin, deputy director of VA’s compensation and pension service.

Over the next seven months, according to VA, the pilot program is projected for expansion to:

•Fort Stewart, Ga., Nov. 30.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/military_disability_test_expansion_110608w/%2e