Conclusion

In the course of responding to the specific tasks assigned by the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission, the committee encountered some themes that underlie the somewhat disparate topics. First, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is so focused on serving veterans applying for the various services it provides that there do not appear to be adequate resources for systematic analysis of how well it is providing those services (process analysis) or the impact of the services on the lives of veterans (outcome analysis), which in turn would enable the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to be more responsive to changes affecting its programs. Second, VBA does not have adequate resources for a systematic program of research oriented toward understanding and improving the effectiveness of its benefits programs. Third, VA is missing the opportunity to take a more veteran-centered approach to service provision across its benefits programs. Veterans with severe disabilities need coordinated care that is able to integrate their needs for medical rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation, assistive technologies, accessible transportation and housing, education and training services, and compensation to make up for loss of earning capacity that may remain after rehabilitation.

VA provides some of these services, but they are not readily accessible nor well coordinated. Addressing these issues is beyond the scope of the committee’s assignment, but we think it is worthwhile to discuss them and point to the need for them to be addressed.

Reference
https://www.nap.edu/read/11885/chapter/12