Breadcrumb

Inspection of VA Regional Office Baltimore, Maryland

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
12-04179-167
VISN
State
Maryland
District
VA Office
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
Report Author
Office of Audits and Evaluations
Report Type
Review
Recommendations
6
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
We evaluated the Baltimore VARO to see how well it accomplishes this mission. We found the VARO staff did not accurately process 28 (68 percent) of 41 disability claims we reviewed. Specifically, 83 percent of the 30 temporary 100 percent disability evaluations we reviewed were inaccurate, primarily because of a lack of management oversight to ensure staff took timely actions to schedule future medical reexaminations when alerted to do so. VARO staff inaccurately processed 3 of 11 traumatic brain injury claims when they did not follow VBA’s policy for second signature reviews. Also, VARO staff did not always timely complete SAOs or address Gulf War veterans’ entitlement to mental health treatment. Further, VARO staff did not conduct homeless veterans outreach activities as required. We recommended the VARO Director implement a plan to ensure scheduling of medical examinations to support temporary 100 percent disability reevaluations. Further, management should ensure staff follow VBA’s second signature review requirements for traumatic brain injury claims. The Director needs to implement plans to ensure managers timely complete SAOs and accomplish all required homeless veterans outreach activities. The VARO Director concurred with our recommendations.

Open Recommendation Image, SquareOpenClosed and Implemented Recommendation Image, CheckmarkClosed-ImplementedNot Implemented Recommendation Image, X character'Closed-Not Implemented
No. 1
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
We recommended the Baltimore VA Regional Office Director develop and implement a plan to ensure staff review all existing reminder notifications and schedule medical reexaminations as required.
No. 2
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
We recommended the Baltimore VA Regional Office Director develop and implement a plan to ensure that for the future, staff routinely review reminder notifications and timely schedule medical reexaminations as required.
No. 3
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
We recommended the Baltimore VA Regional Office Director conduct a review of the 478 temporary 100 percent disability evaluations remaining from our inspection universe and take appropriate action.
No. 4
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
We recommended the Baltimore VA Regional Office Director develop and implement a plan to ensure compliance with the Veterans Benefits Administration’s second signature requirements for traumatic brain injury claims.
No. 5
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
We recommended the Baltimore VA Regional Office Director develop and implement a plan to ensure staff timely address all required elements of Systematic Analyses of Operations.
No. 6
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
We recommended the Baltimore VA Regional Office Director develop and implement a plan outlining how Veterans Service Center staff will accomplish all required homeless veterans outreach services, including creating a resource directory and regularly contacting homeless shelters and service providers.