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Inspection of VA Regional Office Wichita, Kansas

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
15-01290-435
VISN
State
District
VA Office
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
Report Author
Office of Audits and Evaluations
Report Type
Audit
Recommendations
3
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
Overall, VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) benefits inspectors determined Wichita VA Regional Office (VARO) claims processing staff incorrectly processed 12 of the 72 disability claims (17 percent) selected for review. The claims processing errors resulted in over $73,700 in improper benefits payments to six veterans from February 2011 to December 2014. The OIG benefits inspectors sample disability claims considered at increased risk of processing errors so inspection results do not represent the accuracy of all disability claims processed at the Wichita VARO. The OIG report indicated VARO staff incorrectly processed 8 of 30 claims related to temporary 100 percent disability evaluations, but accurately processed 29 disability claims related to traumatic brain injuries. Results in these two areas showed improvement since the VARO was last inspected in 2012. However, OIG reported 3 of the 12 cases relating to Special Monthly Compensation and ancillary benefits that VARO staff processed during Fiscal Year 2014, contained errors. Wichita VARO staff followed policy and accurately established claims in an electronic system of records using correct dates of claims for the 30 claims sampled. OIG inspectors also determined VARO staff delayed processing actions in 15 of the 30 benefits reduction cases sampled that resulted in $33,500 in improper benefit payments from March 2014 until December 2014. The improper payments resulted from delays in taking actions to reduce the benefits because VARO management considered other work to be a higher priority. VARO staff also incorrectly processed 2 of the 30 cases involving proposed benefits reductions that resulted in approximately $2,000 in improper benefit payments from October 2014 until December 2014. The Director of the Wichita VARO concurred with all recommendations. OIG has plans to follow up in the future to ensure the planned corrective actions were implemented.

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 Wichita VA Regional Office Director conduct a review of the 130 temporary 100 percent disability evaluations remaining from our inspection universe as of December 10, 2014, and take appropriate actions.
No. 2
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
We recommended the Wichita VA Regional Office Director implement a plan to assess the accuracy of secondary reviews involving higher-level Special Monthly Compensation and ancillary benefits.
No. 3
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
We recommended the Wichita VA Regional Office Director implement a plan to ensure claims processing staff prioritize actions related to benefits reductions to minimize improper payments to veterans.