1. IDVA Annual CVSO Conference
July 11, 2018

2. Indianapolis Regional Office Overview
VA Regional Office
Indianapolis Regional Office Overview

3. SECVA Top 5 Priorities Greater Choice Modernize Systems
Indianapolis
VA Regional Office
Greater Choice
Modernize Systems
Focus Resources
Improve Timeliness
Suicide Prevention
Greater Choice for Veterans
Redesign the 40/30 Rule
Build a High Performing Integrated Network of Care
Empower Veterans through transparency of information
Modernize our System
Infrastructure Improvements and Streamlining
EMR Interoperability and IT Modernization
Focus Resources More Efficiently
Strengthening of Foundational Services in VA
VA/DOD/Community Coordination
Deliver on Accountability and Effective Management Practices
Improve Timeliness of Services
Access to Care and Wait Times
Decisions on Appeals
Performance on Disability Claims
Suicide Prevention
Getting to Zero

4. Regional Office - Staffing
Indianapolis
VA Regional Office
Director
Mike Stephens
VR&E Officer
Mike Buescher
VSC Manager
Teria Dowdy
Chief Support Services
Horace Jordan
Fid Hub Manager
Hillary Jedlicka
Director’s Staff
Lisa Goebel
Human Resources
Octavia Fitzgerald
Assistant Director
Mike Scheibel
IRM FCIO
Betty Jugg
ISO
Fazan “Rocky” Ali
FY17 Ceiling: 528
Total on-board staffing is 498 as of PP20 (October 10, 2017)
IFH = 269 (286 ceiling)
VSC = 177 (188 ceiling)
VR&E = 26 (26 ceiling)
MDS = 26 (28 ceiling)
The approved FY17 ceiling is 528; we’re actively working to fill vacant positions.
Three business lines and support functions.
of our staff are out based.
7-8 out of 10 employees are Veterans, and more than that have a family member that is a Veteran

5. Regional Office – Statewide Presence
Indianapolis
VA Regional Office
Indianapolis – Regional Office
Fort Wayne – VR&E and Comp
Marion – VR&E and Comp
Camp Atterbury – MSCs (Comp)
Gary – VR&E
South Bend/Mishawaka – VR&E
Kokomo – VR&E
Columbus – VR&E
Scottsburg – VR&E
Evansville – VR&E

6. Regional Office – Statewide Impact
Indianapolis
VA Regional Office
418,579 Veterans in the state
4th largest Army National Guard
Over $1.5 billion paid annually in comp & VR&E benefits
Over $125 million paid monthly in comp & VR&E benefits

7. Regional Office – Business Lines
Indianapolis
VA Regional Office
Indianapolis Business Lines:
Indianapolis Fiduciary Hub
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
Veterans Service Center (Compensation)

8. Indy Fiduciary Hub Indianapolis VA Regional Office
The Regional Office (Service Center) proposes a competency status change.
The fiduciary process is triggered once the final competency rating is issued.
The Regional Office sends a request to the fiduciary unit for conduction of a field exam.  
The Field Examiner decides who will serve as the fiduciary.
The Veteran continues receiving the monthly benefit until a fiduciary is appointed.
Any retroactive benefits are released to the payee/fiduciary once the fiduciary is certified.

9. Indy Fiduciary Hub Fiduciary Work Pending for Indiana Indianapolis
VA Regional Office
Fiduciary Work Pending for Indiana
52,810 beneficiaries over 14 states
4,092 in Indiana
10 Field Examiners
Initial Appointments (IA)
84 pending
Average of 36 days
Target 45 days
Follow-up Examinations (FB)
1213 pending
Average of 189 days
Target 120 days

10. Indy Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
Indianapolis
VA Regional Office
356 Positive Outcomes for Hoosier Veterans in FY17
Including 228 jobs
Staff out-based throughout the State
Serving 1,752 Veterans in Indiana
Voc Rehab FYTD18: 236 positive outcomes
VRCs work at out-based sites across the state to provide services closer to Veterans

11. Indy Veterans Service Center
Indianapolis
VA Regional Office
343,511 rating claims pending
72,676 pending over 125 days
Average pending age of rating claims is 89.5 days
Voc Rehab FYTD18: 236 positive outcomes
VRCs work at out-based sites across the state to provide services closer to Veterans

12. Appeals Overview of Current Process
Indianapolis
VA Regional Office
The current VA appeal process, which is set in law, is a complex, non-linear process that is unlike other standard appeals processes across Federal agencies and judicial systems.
Process takes too long
On average Veterans are waiting 3 years for a resolution on their appeal.
For those appeals that were decided by the Board in FY16, on average, Veterans waited at least 6 years from filing of their NOD until the Board decision issued that year.
Process is too complex
Splits jurisdiction between VBA and the Board
Features an open record and ongoing duty to assist
Process takes too long – There is no defined endpoint or timeframe. Agency cannot manage to a set goal for resolution time.
On average Veterans are waiting 3 years for a resolution on their appeal.
For those appeals that were decided by the Board in fiscal year (FY) 2016, on average, Veterans waited at least 6 years from filing of their NOD until the Board decision issued that year.
Process is too complex – Veterans do not understand the process, it contains too many steps and it is very challenging to explain it to them in a way that is understandable.
Splits jurisdiction between VBA and the Board – Accountability does not rest with one appellate body. Also creates inherent competition for resources internally within VBA to process both claims and appeals.
Features an open record and ongoing duty to assist – Continuous evidence gathering and readjudication prolongs the ability to reach a final decision. The appeal process essentially contains a hidden claims process.
Indy:
DRO 4,849 working November 2014
Traditional 1,248 working February 2016

13. Appeals Overview of Current Process
Indianapolis
VA Regional Office

14. Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act
Indianapolis
VA Regional Office
“Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017”
President Trump signed the law on August 23, 2017
Understandable process
Multiple options for Veterans instead of one
Improved notice as to which option might be best
Early resolution of disagreements
Each lane with a clearly defined start/end point
Higher-Level Review and Appeal lanes provide quality feedback to VBA
Workload transparency for better workload/resource projections
VBA as claims agency, Board as appeals agency
Efficient use of resources for long-term savings

15. Appeals New Framework Indianapolis VA Regional Office
Evidence Only Docket
When this option is selected on the NOD, the appellant may submit evidence within the 90 day window following submission of the NOD.
Direct Docket
When this option is selected on the NOD, the appellant receives direct review by the Board of the evidence that was before the AOJ in the decision on appeal. VA has established a 365-day timeliness goal for the Direct Docket.
Hearing Docket
When this option is selected on the NOD, the appellant will be scheduled for a Board hearing. Additionally, the appellant may submit evidence within the 90 day window following the scheduled hearing.
Veterans cannot choose multiple lanes concurrently. They may pursue only one lane at a time for the same claimed issue.
Choosing one lane over another does not preclude Veterans from later choosing a different lane.
There are no limits to the number of times a Veteran may pursue a claimed issue in any of the given lanes.
Effective date is protected as long as the Veteran pursues the same claimed issue in any of the lanes within the established timeframes.
Duty to assist applies only in initial claims and the new framework’s supplemental claim lane. It does not apply to the higher-level review or appeal lanes.
Higher-level review replaces the current de novo Decision Review Officer process.

16. Legacy Appeals Inventory - RAMP
Indianapolis
VA Regional Office
The sizable inventory of appeals from decisions issued prior to the effective date of the new law must be completed under legacy procedures.
VA worked with VSOs and other stakeholders to design expanded opt-in opportunities in a Rapid Appeals Modernization Program (RAMP).
OPT in to RAMP!
The sizable inventory of appeals from decisions issued prior to the effective date of the new law must be completed under legacy procedures.
VA worked with VSOs and other stakeholders to develop opt-ins to the new framework, which are in Public Law
VA continues to assess the current and future allocation of its employees to work appeals to ensure that the pending legacy appeals inventory is addressed in a timely and efficient manner.
VA is also working with VSOs and other stakeholders to design expanded opt-in opportunities in a Rapid Appeals Modernization Program (RAMP).
Allow most Veterans with legacy compensation appeals to convert to the new process before Public Law is fully implemented
Early access to the benefits of the new process
Opt-in to one of the VBA lanes
Oldest first by appeal stage (NOD, Form 9, Remand, certified to the Board but not activated)

17. Contact Information
Indianapolis
VA Regional Office
Michael Stephens
Director
(317)
Michael Scheibel
Assistant Director
National Help Line

18. Questions
Indianapolis
VA Regional Office