Winston-Salem Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office Cheryl Rawls, Director NC Association of CVSOs Spring Training Conference April 24, 2015

Overview Senior Leadership Cheryl J. Rawls – Director Leigh Ann Skeens – Assistant Director (Human Resources, Support Services, and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) Brian Ward – Assistant Director (Veterans Service Center, National Missions, and Public Affairs Officer) Douglas C. Chapman – Veterans Service Center Manager Carolyn Lightfoot – Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Officer Staffing 787 (728 permanent and 59 temporary) (69% are Veterans) Budget Total: $59,559,161 (Payroll: $57,630,998, Non-payroll: $1,889,377, Travel: $38,787) Other 3rd largest Veterans Service Center in the Nation 6th largest Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment division in the Nation

RO Staff Locations

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment TeleCounseling New initiative that will allow Veterans in the VR&E program to meet with their assigned VR&E Counselor from their personal computers at a mutually agreed upon time using Video Teleconferencing (VTC) technology Saves time and eliminates the need to travel to your training facility or local VR&E office to meet with your Counselor face-to-face to obtain assistance and guidance from your VR&E Counselor Available for Veterans in training or job seeking status in the VR&E program VR&E hiring 17 new personnel—3 Employment Coordinators to be located at Camp Lejeune, Ft. Bragg, and the Regional Office.  Improved balance in providing employment services to Ch31 Veterans and marketing opportunities to employers The average pre Ch31 salary is $529. The average post CH31 salary is $3,231.  This difference is $2,702 or a 445% increase.  69% were unemployed at the time they started receiving Ch31 services. Increased active participation rate by 5% from a low of 78% in FY14 to 83% in FY15

Compensation and Pension Organizational Priorities Priority One Claims: -Homeless, Terminally ill, Medal of Honor Recipients, Former POWs, Financial Hardships, OIF/OEF, VSI/SI, Pre-discharge, and Fully Developed Claims -Claims pending over 125 days and Roll-Overs -Reduction of 30 days (ADC) every 90 days Other Priorities: -Appeals -Non-Rating -Training -Outreach QUALITY IN ALL AREAS

Veterans Service Center Total Inventory Rating Claims Winston-Salem Veterans Service Center (VSC): 16,169 Brokered to other offices: 6,884 Pre-Discharge Claims: 8,395 Total: 31,448 Non-Rating Claims: 15,703 Appeals: 9,064 Other Claims: 22,693 Work Items: 10,847 Total Inventory: 89,755

VSC Rating

Station Quality

VSC Accomplishments FY 2015 Improved Rating Quality by 13.4 Percentage Points (Claim-Based), 3.6 Percentage Points (Issue-Based) VSC reduced backlog by 77% VSC reduced Rating Inventory by 62% Outreach Events: 7,494 contacts (88 events) Walk-ins: 3,680 Extended hours Claims Clinics

Hot Topics MyVA High Leverage Station Standardized Forms – Intent To File Outreach Continuity of Operations/WAH Non-Rating Appeals TMS Process Change

Changes To TMS Process The WSRO Training Manager will no longer set up TMS accounts for non-VA employees. Non-VA employee accounts will be set up in TMS using Managed Self Enrollment (Self Domain). Non-VA employees must contact the Sponsor/Training Manager for instructions on setting up TMS accounts. Non-VA employees will complete the required VA 10176, VA Privacy and Information Security Awareness and Rules of Behavior training, in TMS within 5 calendar days. Non-VA employees will notify the Sponsor/Training Manager when they have completed VA 10176. The Training Manager will validate the TMS account for the non-VA employee from the SELF domain into an active VA TMS account. VA TMS accounts for non-VA employees should not remain in the SELF domain more than 5 calendar days.

VA Contact Information Disability Compensation Inquiries 1-800-827-1000 Pension Inquiries - 1-877-294-6380 Life Insurance Inquiries – 1-800-669-8477 Education Inquiries – 1-888-442-4551 Home Loan Inquiries – 1-888-768-2132 Online: General Information – www.va.gov Health Care - www.va.gov/healthbenefits‎ Applications and Forms – www.forms.va.gov eBenefits - www.eBenefits.va.gov