Breadcrumb

Inspection of VA Regional Office St. Paul, Minnesota

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
13-01550-286
VISN
State
Minnesota
District
VA Office
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
Report Author
Office of Audits and Evaluations
Report Type
Review
Recommendations
2
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
We evaluated the St. Paul VARO to see how well it accomplishes its mission. We found the VARO staff did not accurately process 14 (23 percent) of 60 disability claims reviewed. We sampled claims we consider at higher risk of processing errors, thus these results do not represent the overall accuracy of disability claims processing at this VARO. Specifically, 5 of 30 temporary 100 percent disability evaluations we reviewed were inaccurate. These errors generally occurred because VARO staff did not establish controls to request future medical reexaminations. Further, VARO staff incorrectly processed 9 of 30 traumatic brain injury claims. These errors occurred primarily due to ineffective training on processing complex traumatic brain injury claims. Management generally ensured Systematic Analyses of Operations were complete and timely. However, VARO staff did not always properly grant Gulf War veterans entitlement to mental health treatment. VARO staff provided adequate outreach to homeless veterans. Due to a lack of performance measures, we could not fully assess the effectiveness of the VARO’s homeless veterans outreach program. We recommended the VARO Director develop and implement a plan to review the 299 temporary 100 percent disability evaluations remaining from our inspection universe of related claims and take appropriate action. The Director should also provide refresher training on processing traumatic brain injury claims and monitor the effectiveness of that training. 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 recommend the St. Paul VA Regional Office Director conduct a review of the 299 temporary 100 percent disability evaluations remaining from our inspection universe and take appropriate action.
No. 2
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
We recommend the St. Paul VA Regional Office Director provide refresher training on processing traumatic brain injury claims and develop and implement a plan to monitor the effectiveness of that training.