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Show HILLTOP TIMES Disability claims backlog reduced by 44 percent 10 'TIME S April 10, 2014 W ASHINGTON — One year after the backlog of pending disability compensation claims peaked at over 611,000 in March 2013, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has reduced that number by approximately 44 percent to 344,000 claims — a reduction of more than 267,000. At the same time officials have improved the accuracy of the decisions being made on veterans' disability claims. Additionally, on average, veterans are waiting 119 days less for a decision than they were at this time last year. "No veteran should have to wait to receive earned benefits," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki. "Through a combination of transformation initiatives and the hard work of our employees, we are making significant progress toward our goal of eliminating the claims backlog in 2015. We still have more work to do, and no one is more committed than our Veterans Benefits Administration employees, over half of whom are veterans themselves." The current backlog, defined as claims pending more than 125 days, is at its lowest point since March 2011, when the backlog spiked in part because Know From page 1 began appearing on service members' individual medical readiness lists on March 28. Members have 365 days to complete the three-shot series before they are flagged for non-compliance. The hepatitis B vaccine is given in three doses. • Dose 1 is given. • Dose 2 must be given at least 30 days after dose 1. • Dose 3 must be given at least 60 days after dose 2, and at least 120 days after dose 1. Commanders should ensure their Unit Health Monitors notify members of this requirement. Immediate action is recommended because it takes at least four months to complete the series. Service members can check their IMR status online by visiting the Air Force Surgeon Generals website at https:// imr.afms.mil/imr/MyIMR.aspx. Blood drive Hill AFB will hold a Team Hill April Blood Drive at the 419th Medical Training Center (Bldg. 568) from 8:30 a.m.1:30 p.m. on April 18. To make an appointment, visit http://vols.pt/KE7Bx3. For more information, contact Capt. Brian Jorgensen at brian.jorgensen.1@us.af . mil. Easter egg hunts Hill Aerospace Museum An Easter Egg Hunt will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 19. The event is open to the public and admission is free. 75th Force Support Squadron An Easter egg hunt will be held from 10-11 a.m. at the youth and adult baseball fields near the Warrior Fitness Center. Hunts will be held by age group. • 10 a.m., age 0-2, adult tournament field • 10:15 a.m., age 3-5, adult practice field • 10:30 a.m., age 6-8, youth little league field • 10:45 a.m., age 9-12, adult tournament field • 11 a.m., special needs youth, adult practice field The event is open to people with base access and is free. For more information, call 801-777-2419. `Rabbit Run' 5K run An Easter 5K "Rabbit Run" and kids one mile fun run will be held from 9-10 a.m. April 19. of the need to readjudicate 150,000 previously decided cases involving exposure to the Vietnam-era defoliant, Agent Orange. The readjudication of these claims was mandated under the Nehmer court decision and followed the secretary's decision to add ischemic heart disease, certain leukemias, and Parkinson's disease to the list of conditions presumed to be related to exposure to Agent Orange. During this same time period, VA also received and processed over 100,000 new claims for these three conditions from Vietnam veterans and survivors newly eligible for VA benefits as a result of this decision. "We knew taking care of this `unfinished business' for veterans of previous wars would initially drive up the number of claims in our system," Shinseki said. "But it was the right thing to do." Since establishing the goal in 2010 of processing all disability claims within 125 days at a 98-percent accuracy level, VA developed and is implementing a plan that transforms the decades-old, manual paper claim approach into a state-ofthe-art electronic process that leverages digital data transfer and automated calculators to reduce processing time and input errors. Hop along the bunny trail for a predicted 5K race with your friends and family in conjunction with the base Easter egg hunt. For more information, call 777-2762. eeMplizi• filmir - t VA has also increased the productivity of its claims processing workforce through enhanced training, streamlined business processes and other initiatives such as mandating overtime and prioritizing the oldest claims, allowing VA's 56 regional benefits offices to exceed monthly production records four times in fiscal year 2013. At the same time, the accuracy of rating decisions continues to improve. VA's national "claim-level" accuracy rate, determined by dividing the total number of cases that are errorfree by the total number of The 729th Air Control Squadron will hold a change of command ceremony at 10 a.m. on April 15 at the 729th ACS compound. The ceremony will recognize outgoing commander Lt. Col. Darin P. Humiston and incoming commander Lt. Col. Stuart A. Williamson. Dress for military will be uniform of the day and business attire for civilians. For more information, call 801-777-5007 Asphalt paving to begin HAFB movie theater reopens Phase 1 of a construction project to update South Gate Drive is about 80 percent complete. Asphalt paving on South Gate Drive, just east of Building 5, will start this month. Phase 2 will start on April 17. Due to the construction, handicap parking will be moving from the southeast corner of Building 5 to the north side of the building, on A-street. The Base Theater is up and running better than ever. The Base Theater shows newly released movies for free. Three movies are shown every Saturday at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. There is a snack bar that helps support initiatives of the base's First Four organization. Snacks are available for reasonable prices. For more information, contact Airman 1st Class Richard Burgula at 903952-2393 or richieburgula@ gmail.com . Public meeting on gas station cleanup Hill Air Force Base is accepting public comment on a proposed plan for cleanup at Operable Unit 11. OU 11, which is located onbase near the Autopride gas qi A MICHEL DU CILLE Washington Post 729th ACS change of command Cinco de Mayo 5K run will be at 9 a.m. on May 3 in front of the Warrior Fitness Center, 7250 Balmer St. (Bldg. 533). The cost is $25 until April 25 and $30 from April 26 through May 3. Payments can be made at Bldg. 1258, Room 8. On-site registration and check-in will be at 8 a.m. For more information, contact 2nd Lt. Eien Williams at eien.williams.2@us.af.mil or 2nd Lt. Christopher Rocker at christopher.rocker@us.af.mil . 111111101111 Al station, includes contaminated ground water and soil from different types of fuels and solvents. The public will be allowed to comment on the plans through April 23. To see the proposed plan, visit www.hillrab.org/ OU11 ProposedPlan. A Cinco de Mayo 5K run Army Sgt. 1st Class James Crowell stretches outside the barracks at Fort Benning, Ga., to alleviate pain from injuries from a fall and a Humvee accident in Iraq. Live music at The Landing DISCOUNTED BEC EMISSIONS CHECK cases reviewed, is currently 91 percent — an eight-percentagepoint improvement since 2011. When measuring the accuracy of rating individual medical conditions inside each claim, the three-month accuracy level is 96.5 percent. VA's accuracy measures are statistically valid and the process has been independently verified by the Institute for Defense Analyses. VA claims processors continue to prioritize disability claims for homeless veterans, those experiencing extreme financial hardship, the terminally ill, former Prisoners of War, Medal of Honor recipients, and veterans Musician Paul Howell returns to The Landing on Friday, April 11. Drinks and appetizers will be offered to all those in attendance. For more information about upcoming events at The Landing, call 801-777-3841. Walk-in service ends at Tricare The 75th Medical Group TRICARE Service Center closed April 1. Walk-in service is no longer provided at 200 TRICARE Service Centers stateside. This change is an effort by the Department of Defense to manage costs and is estimated to save $254 million over the next five years. Military members, their family members and all other filing Fully Developed Claims. Filing an electronic FDC is the quickest way for a veteran to receive a decision on their compensation claim. Regardless of the status of their compensation claims, veterans who have served in combat since Nov. 11, 1998, are eligible for five years of free medical care from VA for any illness associated with their service. Veterans can learn more about disability and other Veterans benefits on the joint Department of Defense/VA Web portal eBenefits at www. ebenefits.va.gov . TRICARE eligible beneficiaries are encouraged to utilize United Healthcare Military and Veterans toll free number at 877-988-9378 or their website at www.uhcmilitarywest.com for all TRICARE related issues and questions. Beneficiaries can perform all administrative tasks online 0g or by phone. Hill's TRICARE office was run in concert with the base's 75th Medical Group. The office was at 7321 Balmer St. (Bldg. 570). Beneficiaries can get more information and sign up for updates at www.tricare.mil/tsc or call 877-988-WEST. Open 7 Days a Week HIM ARV DISCOUNTS DINE-1N & TAKE-OUT Now in CLEARFIELD! 129 S. State St. 801.776.9365 801.77e9L 3V www.wasatchibkrebm HOMES & TOWNHOMES from the 170's Choose From Over 30 Move in Ready Homes within 15 miles of HAFB Or Build Your Dream Home... *VA Finance Programs* Linda Robinson (801) 695-2284 IVORY LI FREE SPAY/NEUTER FOR DOGS AND CATS IN UTAH!* More than 12,000 pets were killed in Utah's shelters last year. Spaying or neutering helps reduce the number of pets who enter our state's shelters, saving thousands of precious lives. Spay or neuter your dog or cat to help Save Them All . PREVENT MORE. FIX AT MONTH FOUR. Provided by Best Friends Animal Society - Utah Show your Hill ID badge for a discounted emissions check as part of the Base Emissions Compliance program. Learn more at: CRLL TO MAKE FIN RPPCINTMENT. fix-utah.org 866-PETS-FIX (738-7349) 801-525-8252 ED KENLEY 1. Quick Lane' T.E 6 .1 , 0 1:46111,11 .Utah residents must show proof of low income to qualify for a free spay/neuter voucher. Visit our website for the qualifying income chart. |