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Ensure accurate financial incentive calculations and revisit past payments to correct errors.
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Conduct focused reviews of complex disability claim exams, such as traumatic brain injuries, military sexual trauma, and Gulf War Illness.
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Collect direct feedback from examiners to complement input from contractors, veterans, and stakeholders.
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Strengthen overall oversight of exam contractors to ensure accountability and exam quality.
The VA has agreed to formalize its processes, review prior calculations, and begin collecting examiner feedback by September 30. While the VA accepted three of the GAO’s recommendations outright, it agreed “in principle” to conduct additional reviews of complex claims, noting that further resource assessments are underway.
“These corrective steps will help ensure accuracy in incentive payments and reinforce the integrity of the VA’s disability exam process,” the GAO emphasized.
The GAO’s call for a VA exam contractor oversight boost comes as both veterans and taxpayers rely on accurate, fair, and accountable administration of disability claims.
