I want to add this, not as a scare tatic, but it does sound like some vets claims are being shredded by the VA. I am sure we will learn more about this in the coming weeks.


VA claims found in piles to be shredded

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Oct 17, 2008 8:02:15 EDT

Department of Veterans Affairs regional offices have been ordered to immediately stop shredding documents after an investigation found some benefits claims and supporting documents among piles of papers waiting to be destroyed.

Claims often include personal records supplied by veterans that are not duplicated in government files and might be difficult to replace, such as certificates for births, deaths and marriage.

Peake said three of VA’s 57 regional offices were involved, without naming them. Veterans of Foreign Wars said they were told four regional offices — in Detroit, St. Louis, St. Petersburg, Fla., and Waco, Texas — were identified as having documents in shredding bins that should not have been there.

VFW National Commander Glen Gardner said the problem could be significant.

“The VA inspector general conducted a routine investigation of Detroit’s mailroom and discovered five documents in the shredder bin, then three pieces are found in St. Louis, two in Waco, and some more in St. Petersburg,” he said. “The question that begs to be asked and answered is how many veterans had their disability and compensation claims disappear down a paper shredder?”

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/10/mili...edding_101608w/

Wishing the best to all our veterans, and Welcome Home to many of you veterans!

Banchie 67' VN