On Tuesday, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough presented the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA) with an Abraham Lincoln Pillars of Excellence award in recognition of the agency’s virtual claims clinic initiative.
Initially developed to assist veterans with pending claims during the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual claims clinics are a collaboration between NDVA, the Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA), and county veterans service officers (CVSOs) and have been continued due to their success. To date, they have resulted in nearly $2.9 million in retroactive benefits being recovered and paid to Nebraska veterans and family members.
“I want to thank and congratulate the many partners who have helped make this initiative a success,” said NDVA Director John Hilgert. “What started as a way for our state service office, CVSOs, and VBA to continue serving our state’s veterans and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic has been carried forward because everyone saw its value.”
A wide range of claims can be processed during a virtual claims clinic. Prior to the clinic, NDVA works with VBA to identify pending claims in the Veteran Benefit Management System and CVSOs conduct reviews of pending claims they have submitted for veterans in their counties. During the clinic, NDVA, VBA, and participating CVSOs work in collaboration to move the identified claims forward in the process by determining missing information, requesting a compensation and pension (C&P) exam, or resolving a variety of other issues.
Veterans with pending claims they would like reviewed in an upcoming virtual claims clinic can contact their CVSO (a directory is available at veterans.nebraska.gov/cvso) or the NDVA State Service Office at 402-420-4021 or ndva.sso@nebraska.gov. There are typically three to four clinics held each year.
