U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. (Photo: Gage Skidmore)
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is urging the VA to conduct a thorough review of the quality of its privatized disability benefits examinations. This call comes in response to what she characterizes as troubling accounts of insufficient and unprofessional treatment of Veterans.
In a letter addressed to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, Warren has pressed for a response by May 14, seeking clarification on a range of issues concerning VA compensation and pension, C&P, exams administered by private contractors. Citing “numerous complaints” received from both her constituency and nationwide sources, Warren states instances where contractor examiners purportedly neglected to review Veterans’ service treatment records prior to appointments.
Additionally, she points to alleged instances of medical questionnaires being shredded instead of being included in Veterans’ medical files, reportedly due to VA policy constraints prohibiting examiners from augmenting medical records. In her communication, Warren also reveals reports of Veterans being directed to unconventional exam locations, such as broom closets, co-working offices, and hotel rooms, raising concerns about the professionalism and appropriateness of the examination environment.
The VA acknowledged Warren’s outreach and commits to providing a direct response. The department pointed out that more Veterans than ever before are receiving VA benefits and that it is processing claims at a record rate.
“VA’s mission is to provide every Veteran with the benefits that they have earned for their service to our nation, and we will never settle for anything less,” said VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes. “Whenever a Veteran applies for benefits, our goal is to provide them with the best experience possible — and do everything in our power to get to ‘yes.'”
C&P exams are an essential step in the disability benefits claims process; they help determine whether a disability is service-connected, which in turn helps determine disability ratings. The outsourcing of these examinations to private contractors, a practice authorized by Congress in 1996 to alleviate the VA’s workload, has expanded significantly in recent years, with approximately 90% of all VA disability exams now conducted by contractors. While intended to streamline operations and reduce claims backlogs, the privatization of exams has been fraught with challenges, as stated by government watchdog reports.
Reports from the VA inspector general and the Government Accountability Office, GAO, have identified systemic issues with the oversight and quality assurance of contractor-conducted exams, raising concerns about the accuracy and reliability of claims decisions. Warren’s letter draws attention to these reports and echoes the frustrations voiced by Veterans and constituents regarding prolonged wait times, logistical challenges, and the emotional toll of denied or delayed claims due to inadequate examinations.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.